Maternal characteristics, physical activity and quality of life in women with normal and impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes five years after gestational diabetes

Abstract

Degree Project Thesis, Programme in Medicine. TITLE: Maternal characteristics, physical activity and quality of life in women with normal and impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes five years after gestational diabetes. Abstract Background Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Within five years postpartum, 30% of women with history of GDM develop T2D. Despite this well-known correlation we lack appropriate studies on markers that can identify women with history of GDM at risk for T2D. Aims The aim of this thesis is to study the differences in maternal characteristics, physical activity and quality of life between women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and T2D five years after diagnosed with GDM. Methods 507 women diagnosed with GDM during 2005-2009 were recruited from Sahlgrenska University Hospital and were invited to participate in a 5-year follow-up visit. Totally 163 women participated. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, blood samples, physical measurements and questionnaires were filled in and collected during the visit. Results Higher BMI, insulin treatment during pregnancy, non-Nordic origin, heredity for diabetes, low socioeconomics, low gestational age at diagnosis and delivery, were more common among women who develop T2D five years after diagnosed with GDM. NGT women had highest scores in self-estimated quality of life, followed by the IGR and T2D women respectively, but only the GH scale was statistical significant. No significant results on physical activity levels were found. Conclusions Certain maternal characteristics are more common among the women who develop T2D and that can be used when designing proper follow-up programs for these women. Our nonsignificant results on physical activity levels might be due to the low physical activity levels within the whole GDM-population in our study, or that other factors such as eating behavior have stronger impact. It is possible that the diagnosis of T2D change the woman’s view of her health, which results in reduced quality of life. Key-Words: Gestational diabetes, glucose tolerance, physical activity