Psychosocial well-being and diabetes distress in the transition to motherhood among women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

Objective: To investigate the associations between psychological well-being, measured with the Postnatal Well-being in Transition (PostTrans) Questionnaire, and diabetes distress among mothers with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Method: Eighty-two postnatal women completed a cross-sectional survey. The survey included the Diabetes Distress Scale, and the PostTrans Questionnaire to assess the psychosocial well-being of women transitioning to motherhood. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess associations.

Results: Using the Diabetes Distress Scale (cut-off score ≥ 2), the overall prevalence of diabetes distress was 64 %. Psychosocial well-being was negatively associated with diabetes distress (B=─1.65; 95 % CI, ─2.02, ─1.29; P < 0.001), and more strongly with regimen-related distress (B= ─1.90; 95 % CI, ─2.44, ─1.35; P < 0.001). Four sub-scales of the PostTrans Questionnaire (coping with diabetes and managing an infant, anxiety and guilt about diabetes, sensitivity to opinions, healthcare professional support and information) were negatively associated with diabetes distress score (B between ─0.42 and ─0.68), while receiving family support and prioritising self-care did not show a statistically significant association with diabetes distress.

Conclusion: Psychological factors unique to postnatal women and a lack of healthcare professional support are significantly associated with diabetes distress. However, it is unclear whether lack of family support and self-care behaviours could contribute to increased diabetes distress. Interventions that target psychological factors and that involve healthcare professionals, may optimise diabetes self-management and infant care.