Speakers - WNSC 2024

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) refers to the occurrence of any degree of impaired glucose tolerance in pregnant women during pregnancy. GDM has short-term and long-term adverse effects on both the pregnant woman and the newborn, reducing the quality of life. GDM may increase the risk of developing preeclampsia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes in pregnant women, and they are more prone to undergo cesarean section and experience preterm birth. Furthermore, GDM is also associated with fetal macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia, death, and an increased risk of future development of type 2 diabetes. Pregnancy is a crucial period in a woman's life as it involves commitment, establishing attachment, and self-preparation, requiring continuous learning and adjustment to enter a new stage and embrace the new maternal role. According to a survey conducted on 6,421 pregnant women by Canadian scholars, it was found that 12% of women experienced high levels of stress, which may lead to maladaptive coping and excessive pressure and even trigger depressive emotions in women. Particularly, women with high-risk pregnancies may endure greater stress and are more likely to experience depressive feelings. Research suggests that women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a higher prevalence of depression. A study examining stress, depression, anxiety, and physical activity levels in 632 Hispanic women with GDM found that these women experienced more severe stress and tendencies towards depression than pregnant women without GDM. In a survey conducted involving 95 women with GDM, it was found that 33.4% of the women exhibited symptoms of depression. Another study compared 180 women with GDM to 186 women with normal blood glucose levels and found that women with GDM had higher levels of depression compared to women with normal blood glucose levels.