Gestational Diabetes and Perinatal Depression: an Intervention Program

Gestational Diabetes and Depression in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period Among Women: A Longitudinal Study and Interventive Program

Background: The gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression are both global public health issues with high prevalence. Non-perinatal diabetes mellitus and depression are confirmed to have reciprocal influence, which is bidirectional relationship. However, there are still no any confirmations of relationship in the perinatal period. The reason could be that these kinds of studies mostly had been done for postpartum depression, they had rarely been discussed with a clearly sequential influence between gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression. Additionally, there have not been so many Asian countries which been done this kind of studies, therefore, this study will focus on the relationship of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression.

Purpose: This study will discuss the bidirectional relationship of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression. In the other words, the prenatal depression influences on gestational diabetes mellitus, and vice versa. Those changeable factors, such as social support, health behavior, prenatal body index, weight gain during pregnancy, perinatal complications…etc, will be tested for whether they could be regulators or not between the gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression.Afterwards, a part of participants with diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus will receive the intervention of health education to influence the health behavior, then depression and other obstetrics and gynecological results will be tested for effects.

Background: The gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression are both global public health issues with high prevalence. Non-perinatal diabetes mellitus and depression are confirmed to have reciprocal influence, which is bidirectional relationship. However, there are still no any confirmations of relationship in the perinatal period. The reason could be that these kinds of studies mostly had been done for postpartum depression, they had rarely been discussed with a clearly sequential influence between gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression. Additionally, there have not been so many Asian countries which been done this kind of studies, therefore, this study will focus on the relationship of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression.

Purpose: This study will discuss the bidirectional relationship of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression. In the other words, the prenatal depression influences on gestational diabetes mellitus, and vice versa. Those changeable factors, such as social support, health behavior, prenatal body index, weight gain during pregnancy, perinatal complications…etc, will be tested for whether they could be regulators or not between the gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal depression. Afterwards, a part of participants with diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus will receive the intervention of health education to influence the health behavior, then depression and other obstetrics and gynecological results will be tested for effects.

Method: The researchers will explain the purpose, procedure, and informed-consent of this study, then informed-consent form will be signed, and the structured questionnaire at 22nd week of pregnancy (including basic information (age, level of education and occupation of the participant and her partner, household income, and status of marriage), marriage satisfaction, obstetrics and gynecological history (history of abortion, intended pregnancy , and artificial insemination), psychiatric history, family history of diabetes mellitus, height, pre-pregnancy weight, sleeping status, and basic knowledge of gestational diabetes mellitus) will be given to fill out. The participants will be needed to record the value and date and time of blood sugar, and the picture of meals and snacks. After the first questionnaire is received from participants and their partners, a website of health education of gestational diabetes mellitus with several short clips of health education (maternity management/counseling, healthy lifestyles, partner support...etc) for participants and their partners of experimental group will be given. However, the participants and their partner of controlled group only receive a website of health education of gestational diabetes mellitus without any clips of health education. Afterward, structured questionnaire will be also given to the participants and their partners at 35th week of pregnancy, 3rd month and 6th months after delivery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus.
• 2. No any history of disease* before the pregnancy or do have history of disease* without taking any medicines. (*disease, eg. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism...etc.)
• 3. No recurrent pregnancy loss and stable condition in the first trimester of pregnancy.
• 4. Using smart phone.
• 5. Being willing to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- 1. No diagnosis of diabetes mellitus before pregnancy.