Exploring the Lived Experience of Women with Gestational Diabetes

The CDE Academy is proud to invite you to register for our next Journal Club Webinar. Each session is real-time, online and CPD-accredited.

All our topics are carefully selected to be of interest to all members of the wider interdisciplinary diabetes team.

More Than a Pregnancy Complication

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents a critical point at which the changing metabolic demands of pregnancy meet the psychological impact of a sudden, high-stakes diagnosis. For the diabetes care team, effective management requires balancing maternal and fetal health with the lived reality of a pregnancy that may rapidly become highly medicalised.

In this Journal Club, we will bridge the gap between the laboratory and the living room, examining both the biological mechanisms that shape GDM and the experiences of women managing intensive monitoring, lifestyle changes, uncertainty and concerns about their own health and that of their babies.

From Pathophysiology to Lived Experience

The first review, by Mittal et al., explores the complex pathophysiology of GDM. Pregnancy-induced insulin resistance, placental hormones and inadequate pancreatic beta-cell compensation combine to create a unique metabolic environment in which maternal hyperglycaemia may develop.

The review also examines the roles of inflammation, genetic susceptibility, epigenetic influences and fetal programming. These mechanisms remind us that GDM is not simply a transient complication of pregnancy, but an important indicator of future metabolic risk for both mother and child.

The second paper, by Dunne et al., shifts the focus from molecular pathways to women’s lived experiences. Drawing on an Irish national survey co-designed with women who had experienced GDM, the authors highlight the cognitive burden of glucose monitoring, rapid dietary change and treatment decisions made within a compressed and emotionally demanding period.

Women described variable access to information and support, together with feelings of anxiety, guilt, stigma and loss of control. The findings challenge healthcare professionals to consider not only whether glucose targets are achieved, but also how the language, structure and continuity of care influence confidence, mental wellbeing and engagement.

Beyond Pregnancy

Although GDM is a powerful predictor of future type 2 diabetes, clinical engagement is often intensive during pregnancy and considerably less consistent after the baby is born. This creates an important opportunity to strengthen postpartum follow-up, support breastfeeding and mental health, and help women translate awareness of future risk into practical, sustainable prevention.

This session is not simply about achieving glucose targets during pregnancy—it is about aligning rigorous metabolic management with empathetic, person-centred support so that every woman feels informed, supported and empowered rather than defined by her diagnosis.