Knowledge, attitude and risk perception for diabetes among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has gained increasing attention as a predictor of future diabetes in women. Women with GDM are six times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life than women without GDM. GDM has a recurrence rate of 35–80%, and risk of recurrent GDM is directly associated with previous pregnancies with GDM. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional survey design was used to collect data from the participants. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. All pregnant women confirmed by an abnormal glucose challenge test as per the WHO criteria to have GDM were included. Pregnant women with Type 2 diabetes/preexisting diabetes were excluded. Data was collected from 100 mothers. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 26.7±3.7 years. The mothers were recruited for the study as early as 24 weeks to 39weeks with a mean POG of 31.75±4.3 weeks. Also there exists perfect positive correlation between knowledge and attitude(r =1,p=0.073).Seventy seven percent of the pregnant women with GDM perceived low risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in future. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for culturally accepted way of education and health promotion activities for women with GDM to prevent the early onset of Type 2 diabetes Mellitus.