Diabetes Ireland > Experiences of weight management journey during and after pregnancy in women living with diabetes: a mixed methods study.

Experiences of weight management journey during and after pregnancy in women living with diabetes: a mixed methods study.

Name of Study

Experiences of weight management journey during and after pregnancy in women living with diabetes: a mixed methods study.

 

Purpose of Study (300 words)

This research in women living with diabetes aims to explore their experience of weight changes during and after pregnancy. Participants will be asked to complete a short online questionnaire and if interested can participate in a virtual focus group which aims to:
• Explore knowledge and experience and identify barriers that influence weight change during and after pregnancy
• Identify useful resources to support managing weight after pregnancy.

 

As the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase, the number of women in the UK who have pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes (T1DM) or T2DM has doubled. Managing diabetes during pregnancy is challenging and many women are at risk of gaining excess weight during this time. However, there are currently no UK guidelines on how much weight pregnant women living with diabetes should gain and many women are not routinely weighted in antenatal clinics.

 

Researchers have reported that women who gain too much weight during pregnancy are at risk of retaining this extra weight following pregnancy and in future years. Additionally, evidence suggests that many women do not receive information and education on appropriate weight gain, therefore it is likely that women’s understanding of the risks to retaining weight following pregnancy are poor and they are not aware of the associated risks and trajectory of obesity in the future.

 

Therefore, exploring knowledge, and challenges to weight changes during and after pregnancy in women living with diabetes are warranted.

 

However, to date, this information has not been collected amongst women living with GDM T1DM and T2DM diabetes. Therefore, to determine the best way of supporting women current practices and knowledge need to be established in the management of these women’s postpartum weight.

 

Findings from this research will be used to inform the development and pilot of an educational resource to raise awareness of importance of managing postpartum weight for those women living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or having experience of gestational diabetes. This is subject to take approximately 1-2 years as this is part of a PhD programme within Ulster University.

 

 

Type of Study (observational/exploratory etc)

Observational study

 

Are you recruiting participants for this trial?

  • Yes

 

State geographical location of study (city/county/country) (single or multiple sites)

Ireland and UK

 

Who can take part?

Women aged 18 years or older who had at least one full-term, singleton baby within the last 3 years, are currently living with type 1, type 2 diabetes or were diagnosed with gestational diabetes during their last pregnancy and can read and understand English.

 

What will the participants be asked to do? (max 300 words)

Participants will be asked to voluntarily complete an online anonymous questionnaire using REDCap software which will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Interested participants will be offered the opportunity to attend an online focus group discussion via Microsoft Teams to discuss their experiences. Focus groups of 3-8 women living with type 1 or type 2 or gestational diabetes and have had a recent pregnancy within the last 3 years, lasting approximately 30-60 minutes.

 

Recruitment Start Date

10/21/2025

 

Recruitment Finish Date

21/04/2026

 

Study Duration

6 months

 

This study is funded by:

Department of Economy and Ulster University

 

For further information contact:

Ms Samantha McCombe

 

Phone

(+44) 07542900858

 

Email

McCombe-S1@ulster.ac.uk

 

NAME – completed this form

Samantha McCombe

 

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