Effective Education Strategies for Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Park,  Jeong Eun

doi:2012.13.3.148

J Korean Diabetes > Volume 13(3); 2012 > Article

Information Desk

The Journal of Korean Diabetes 2012;13(3):148-151.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/jkd.2012.13.3.148 Published online September 30, 2012.

임신성 당뇨병의 이해를 통한 효과적 교육전략

박정은

Effective Education Strategies for Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Jeong Eun Park

Department of Nursing, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University, Seoul, Korea. parkje33@paran.com

Abstract

Stress management is a very effective educational strategy for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The long-term goal for women with GDM is prevention of diabetes in both mothers and their offspring. Thus, when we teach the women with GDM, we must emphasize continuous lifestyle modification and regular monitoring of blood glucose during the postpartum period. In obese women with GDM who maintain normoglycemia, the optimal gestational weight gain for a favorable pregnancy outcome is about 3 kg, much less than that given by the guidelines of the Institute of Medicine. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can potentially identify women who are have a high risk for adverse outcomes associated with GDM, including macrosomia and postpartum glucose intolerance. Until delivery, it is important that HbA1c levels are maintained below 6.0%, but ideally should be less than or equal to 5.5%.

Key Words: Gestational diabetes, Stress, Obesity, Weight gain, Glycosylated hemoglobin A