Going up, going down: the experience, control and management of gestational diabetes mellitus among Southeast Asian migrant women living in urban Australia

Issue addressed: In many developed countries the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (ADO) for Asian-born women is higher than other groups. Studies suggest that some vvomen have limited knowledge of the disease and poor self-management leading to health problems for themselves and their baby. Few studies report the experience of ADM among Southeast Asian migrant vvomen living in Australia and factors that influence their management of the disease. Methods: A qualitative interpretive design was used to explore Southeast Asian migrant women's experience and management of ADM. Women diagnosed with the disease during pregnancy were recruited from an antenatal clinic at two Sydney metropolitan hospitals. Nineteen women were interviewed in their first language. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: A diagnosis of ADM conferred an unanticipated 'up and down' experience for this group of Southeast Asian women. Their experience of the disease, likened to an elevator ride, was modulated by `insulin' and 'information' used to control the disease and manage blood glucose levels, dietary levels, exercise levels and anxiety levels. Conclusions: Health promotion material that captures the fluctuating experience of ADO has the potential to help women, particularly at the time of diagnosis, to be better prepared, and health professionals to he better informed to control and manage the disease more effectively. So what? ADO is a serious problem. the model generated from our study has the potential to better inform health professionals to prepare women for the inevitable fluctuating physical and emotional effects of the disease. Culturally sensitive material and an educational strategy based on the model may also facilitate women's lifestyle changes and compliance, and improve migrant vvomen's relationship with, and trust in, health professionals involved in their GDM care.