Self-Care Behaviors in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

Gestational diabetes (GD) is a type of diabetes that is considered a prevalent health issue that has been reported to represent an increasing trend in the past two decades. It is demonstrated that the prevalence of GD is irrespective of the country’s income status and is associated with complications of maternal and fetal due to maternal hyperglycemia. Although no specific treatment for GD has been established, various studies have suggested self-care as a potential strategy. Therefore, the current study aimed to review the effectiveness of self-care in pregnant women with GD. The findings revealed that increasing awareness of the pathophysiology and consequences of GD along with improving self-care behaviors such as monitoring blood glucose levels, changing lifestyle, and maintaining mothers’ health can potentially improve indicators related to diabetes. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and evaluation of related clinical/laboratory indicators in this content appear to be crucially required to confirm current understanding.