Half of women with gestational diabetes report facing stigma

Half of women with gestational diabetes have reported facing stigma during pregnancy and beyond birth, which researchers have warned can take a ‘significant toll’ on their wellbeing.

New research, funded by Diabetes UK and led by researchers at Kings College London and University College Cork, surveyed 1,800 women across the UK who had experienced gestational diabetes and conducted focus groups to understand the drivers of stigma.

It found that nearly half of the women (49%) felt judged for having gestational diabetes while 47% felt judged because of their body size.

More than 80% felt that other people did not understand gestational diabetes and more than a third (36%) hid their diagnosis from others.

The survey also showed that women reported experiencing stigma in healthcare settings, with 48% of respondents saying professionals made assumptions about their diet and exercise and 52% feeling judged based on their blood glucose results.

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The researchers are calling for targeted interventions to reduce stigma, alongside structured emotional support for women during and after pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes to improve mental and physical health outcomes. 

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research and clinical at Diabetes UK, said: ‘Stigma can have a dangerous and devastating impact on pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes, particularly at a time when emotions and anxieties may already be heightened.

‘We know that stigma can lead to shame, isolation and poorer mental health, and may discourage people from attending healthcare appointments, potentially increasing the risk of serious complications.

‘This research highlights the urgent need for better support systems, based on understanding and empathy to ensure no one feels blamed or judged during their pregnancy.’

Gestational diabetes occurs when high blood sugar levels develop in pregnancy and it can lead to complications for both mother and baby during pregnancy and after birth.

It affects about one-in-20 pregnancies in the UK, with risk factors including being overweight or obese, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, and being from a South Asian, Black or African Caribbean or Middle Eastern background.

The new research, revealed at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool this week, also showed that the scale of stigma experience by women with gestational diabetes can take a ‘significant toll’ on their wellbeing.

Nearly two thirds (64%) felt they were denied a ‘normal’ pregnancy, while 76% reported a lack of control over their pregnancy.

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More than a third (36%) of women felt abandoned by healthcare services after giving birth, and a quarter reported continuing to experience depression or anxiety postpartum.

The researchers have called for ‘meaningful action’ to reduce stigma, alongside emotional support for women during and after pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes.

Professor Angus Forbes, lead researcher from King’s College London, said: ‘Stigma and emotional distress are far more common in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes than many realise.

‘Everyday interactions – even with those who mean well – can deepen this harm, shaping women’s emotional wellbeing and the choices they feel able to make.

‘It’s clear that meaningful action is needed to protect women’s mental and physical health.’

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The survey also found that many women experienced emotional distress at diagnosis, with about two thirds (68%) reporting anxiety, 58% feeling upset and 48% experiencing fear.

Some 61% said that gestational diabetes had negatively affected their feelings about future pregnancies. 

A version of this article was first published by our sister title The Pharmacist