International Women's Day: Addressing the Impact of Gestational Diabetes on Women's Mental Health

By: Rhea Gupta 

On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day. While this day highlights women's progress and resilience worldwide, it also serves as an opportunity to address important health issues that continue to impact women's public health globally. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition that affects physical and mental health, thus understanding its effects on glucose metabolism and emotional well-being is important to help create better healthcare policies for these women. 

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, usually between weeks 20-24 (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which results from the immune system attacking insulin-producing cells, GDM is caused by hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). Specifically, production of hormones by the placenta, such as estrogen, cortisol, and placental lactogen, may result in blocking insulin’s ability to effectively regulate blood sugar (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). If the pancreas is unsuccessful in compensating by producing enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and this leads to insulin resistance (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.).

What are some risk factors:

Some factors may increase the risk of developing GDM (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.): 

• Family history of diabetes 

• Obesity 

• Age over 25 

• Pre-diabetes or history of insulin resistance 

GDM is considered to be a manageable and preventable type of diabetes with proper care (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). However, the reality of its implications extend beyond pregnancy, particularly affecting a woman's mental health (Oorschot et al., 2022). 

The Impact of Gestational Diabetes on Mental Health

A GDM diagnosis may bring on additional stress, anxiety, and depression for women undergoing pregnancy (Nazarpour et al., 2024). Research shows that women with GDM have a higher risk of developing mental health disorders, thus which may also persist postpartum (Oorschot et al., 2022). 

GDM increases risks of mental health for several reasons (OuYang et al., 2021; Nazarpour et al., 2024): 

• Physiological changes: fluctuating glucose and hormone levels may affect susceptibility. 

• Healthcare disparities: studies show that women with diabetes are less likely to seek psychological support, and rely on alternative medicine, such as herbal medicine, instead of consulting professionals. 

• Postpartum risks: women with GDM have increased risk of postpartum depression, due to the hormonal fluctuations and stress of newborn care. 

How to support individuals with GDM (Mayo Clinic, 2022): 

• Encourage healthy lifestyle changes: this includes physical activity to lower blood glucose levels and alleviate discomforts, and focusing on a balanced diet based on health care providers' recommendations. 

• Constantly monitoring blood glucose levels to ensure levels are consistent

• Providing support and help to the individual cope through this period of their life. This can be through understanding the depths of GDM to familiarize yourself with what that person is going through to act with empathy, and encouraging check-ins with health care professionals as needed for better mental health support. 

• Supporting women with GDM includes helping them prepare for appointments, ensuring they have the right questions for their healthcare provider, and offering emotional support during this time.

As a society, we must recognize the broader implications of GDM on both physical and mental health. Gestational diabetes is not only specific to the duration of pregnancy, it can have long-term effects on the individual, therefore demanding further attention from healthcare professionals, and policymakers to overcome the mental health consequences. By advocating for better healthcare access, increasing awareness, and providing support, we can help women navigate GDM and ensure healthier futures for both mother and child. 

References

John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes/gestational-diabetes#:~:text=What%20is%20gestational%20diabetes%20mellitus,being%20absorbed%20by%20the%20cells 

Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 9). Gestational Diabetes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gestational-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355345 

Nazarpour, S., Simbar, M., Kiani, Z., Khalaji, N., Khargh, M. K., & Naeiji, Z. (2024). The relationship between quality of life and some mental problems in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 24(511). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05960-4

Oorschot, T., Adams, J., & Sibbritt, D. (2022). Is mental health comorbidity an influencing factor in the health service utilisation of women with diabetes mellitus?. PLOS One, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272041

OuYang, H., Chen, B., Abdulrahman, A., Li, L., & Wu, N. (2021). Associations between Gestational Diabetes and Anxiety or Depression: A Systematic Review. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2021(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9959779