Women's views on postpartum testing for type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: Six month follow-up to the DIAMIND randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the views of the women who participated in the DIAMIND randomised trial of postpartum SMS reminders to test for type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes (GDM) on their preferred type of postpartum reminder system and barriers and facilitators to completion of postpartum diabetes testing.

Method: A written questionnaire was sent to women with recent GDM who participated in the DIAMIND trial (n=276) via post or email at six months after the birth of their baby.

Results: 208 women (75%) returned the study questionnaires. Preferred postpartum reminder types were: SMS (67%), email (17%), postal (12%) and voice call (1%). Women who had not yet completed an OGTT indicated that they planned to undertake one in the future (61%). Common barriers to postpartum OGTT completion included: not having enough time (73%), inadequate childcare (30%), and a need to focus on the health of the baby (30%). The most common facilitator was having a shorter test (33%).

Conclusions: Improved childcare quality and access as well as more research into a shorter, more convenient test procedure for type 2 diabetes screening are needed. Reminder systems for postpartum diabetes screening should be electronic where possible.

Keywords: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry—ACTRN12612000621819; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Postpartum care; Screening; Type 2 diabetes; Women's views.