Gestational Diabetes Stress

[bunnyjadwiga]

Apologies for dumping this on your friendslist, but I want this quote out there:

"Clinicians must consider the impact on women's lives of stressors such as the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus. The addition of careful diet planning, blood glucose monitoring, as many as three to four injections of insulin per day, additional visits to the health care provider, and increased fetal assessment may overburden some women who already experiencing stress. In developing a mutually agreed upon plan of care with women with gestational diabetes mellitus, clinicians must assess other stressors in the women's lives, their support systems, and their other responsibilities. Women must be offered understanding, professional support in their attempts to adhere to the treatment plan."

[Emphasis mine]
Cynthia Armstrong Persily, RN, Phd. "Relationships between the Percieved Impact of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Treatment Adherence." Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, Sept. 1996, 25:7 (601-607) p. 606.

Comments

[alphaggek.livejournal.com]

AMEN! And you never really got a "agreed upon plan of care" did you hon? Your doc at the time shoved it down your throat, didn't he?

[anastasiav.livejournal.com]

Probably you don't have time to embroider this on a sampler (with bold and cites) and give it to them as a holiday gift, huh?

I'd absolutely print out the article and give it to them with highlights, however.

Its a proven fact that stress affects insulin levels in "regular" diabetics. Why wouldn't that hold true for GD as well.

Sheesh.

(A related point: Almost every woman I know with frustrating GD and/or "overcare" stories like yours lives in NJ or PA. I wonder if its a regional thing, maybe related to the way certain laws are written...?)

[hroar.livejournal.com]

Being a male diabetic, I agree wiht your emphasis. Sheesh! Idiots, who dont realize this!

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

One would think that this would have been relatively easy to understand when that article was published... and that was *twelve years ago*... plenty of time for folks to put it into practice even if they hadn't figured it out before '96. Le heavy sigh.

**hugs**

[amazon-42.livejournal.com]

Hon, can you find someone to do a maternity massage fo you? I'm serious. It might actually help your glucose levels.

BTW, this is why I was considered such a royal pain in the ass at my OB clinic. I refused to have anything shoved down my throat. Made up my own plans. Tested when I felt it was neccessary.

But then, not all of us have 3 pharmacists, a nurse, and 2 doctors in the family.

No matter what doctors say about preferring knowledgable patients, the fact is, most loathe them. Especially the REALLY educated patients, the ones who can not only call "bullshit" but cite their sources.

If nothing else? Have Jurgen give you a nice pedicure and massage.