Psychological features of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus on the setting of obesity

Abstract

DOI: 10.52705/2788-6190-2024-04.2-01
УДК 618.3-06:616.379-008.64]-056.257:616.891.6

The objective: of the study is to determine the psychological characteristics of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the setting of obesity during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum period.
Materials and methods. 134 pregnant women were examined and divided into 4 groups: the first group consisted of 37 (27.6%) pregnant women with GDM in the setting of obesity, the second group consisted of 40 (29.8%) pregnant women with GDM and normal body mass index (BMI), the third group consisted of 32 (23.9%) obese pregnant women, and the control group consisted
of 25 (18.7%) pregnant women without extragenital and obstetric pathology. All women underwent a general clinical and instrumental examination. The psychological state of women was determined using the GAD-7 (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7) questionnaire, which we improved and adapted to the state of pregnant women.
Results. According to the results of the interview of pregnant women with GDM and obesity, 94.6% of women were easily irritated, 86.5% of women were in constant anxiety, 81.1% could not relax, 89.2% had sleep disorders in the form of insomnia, and 91.9% had increased appetite and cravings for sweets. Similar changes in the psychological state were noted in obese women – 78.1% worried about various things, mainly safety, and had sleep disturbances, 81.3% of women got tired quickly, and 87.5% had increased appetite. Pregnant women with GDM also had psycho-emotional disturbances, but to a lesser extent –- every second woman felt that something terrible would happen, 52.5% had sleep disturbances (intermittent sleep), and 45% could not calm their anxiety.
The results of the survey of women in labour are characterised by an improvement in the psychoemotional state due to the birth of a child, apathy has decreased and almost disappeared, self-confidence and enthusiasm have appeared, the feeling of loneliness has disappeared, and appetite has normalised. However, the symptoms of anxiety remained almost unchanged, fatigue, sleep disorders, irritation, anxiety, tension, inability to relax, which was due to the concern for the child’s condition and responsibility for him, especially during military operations in the frontline area.
Conclusions. Assessment of anxiety and psychoemotional disorders in pregnant women and women in labour using the improved GAD-7 scale allows timely detection of disorders and taking measures to eliminate them. In pregnant women with gestational diabetes on the background of obesity under martial law, a significant level of anxiety and psychoemotional stress is determined. After 1 month after childbirth, the level of psychoemotional stress decreases in women in labour, and anxiety remains at a high level, which may be due to being in the frontline areas under martial law.