HUGs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Healthy living and type 2 diabetes screening understanding after gestational diabetes
IRAS ID
328524
Contact name
Hermione Price
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 22 days
Research summary
Women with a history of gestational diabetes (GD - diabetes first identified during pregnancy) are seven times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) than women without this history. Due to this increased risk, guidelines recommend annual screening for these women to monitor for signs of rising blood glucose levels and offering lifestyle advice, specifically around increasing exercise and healthy diet, aimed at preventing or delaying onset of T2DM.
Evidence shows that attendance rates for screening are poor, and these women struggle to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviours following the birth. Attempts to develop programmes specifically tailored for these women have been unsuccessful. Recent reviews have sought to investigate the views of women with a history of GD regarding T2DM screening and healthy lifestyle behaviours, to better understand the barriers and facilitators faced. As babies grow older and families change, the needs of these women also change. The reviews did not distinguish timepoints in their analysis and synthesise potential changes over time, limiting their findings.
Partners of these women are likely to have an important role in supporting screening attendance and healthy behaviours, little is known about their understanding of the risk of developing T2DM following GD and how they may help or hinder their partner.
Healthcare professionals (HCPs) caring for women with a history of GD are another support. Again, little is known about their understanding of the future risk following GD and the support offered.
This study aims to explore the views of women with a history of GD around perception of risk of future development of T2DM and their views around healthy lifestyle and diabetes screening attendance, with a focus on looking for changes to views over time. As partners and HCPs have an important role in supporting these women, their views will also be explored.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0726
Date of REC Opinion
10 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion