Work

Diabetes risk perception in women with recent gestational diabetes: delivery to the postpartum visit

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Low perceived risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) may be a barrier to lifestyle change in women with recent gestational diabetes (GDM). We assessed perceived risk for T2DM at delivery and postpartum. METHODS: We used a validated diabetes risk perception instrument to survey women with GDM at delivery and postpartum. We compared women with low perceived risk for T2DM at delivery to those with high perceived risk. RESULTS: The majority (N = 43 of 70, 61%) perceived high risk at delivery. Women who perceived low risk were younger (30.7 ± 6.3 versus 35.0 ± 4.5 years, p = 0.003) than women who perceived high risk. Although knowledge of risk factors for T2DM was poor (mean 6.0 ± 1.9, of 11 points), 95% correctly identified GDM as a risk factor. Perceived risk was maintained in most (N = 51 of 58, 88%) who returned for their postpartum visit. Low perceived risk was not associated with loss to follow up, however correct identification of GDM as a risk factor was protective (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.005, 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Risk perception is accurate in most women with GDM at delivery and postpartum. Further study is needed to translate perceived risk into preventive behaviors in women with recent GDM.

Source: The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine

DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2012.746302

Authors: Chloe A Zera, Jacinda M Nicklas, Sue E Levkoff, Ellen W Seely

Institutions: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of South Carolina

Language: English

Topic: Gestational Diabetes Research and Management

Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Public Health Service, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health