Assessment of the knowledge of pregnant women with gestational diabetes regarding diet and physical activity in Morocco

Abstract

Gestational diabetes is an increase in blood sugar levels that appears during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of pregnant women with gestational diabetes regarding diet and physical activity. We conducted a descriptive observational study using a well-structured questionnaire to evaluate data from 100 pregnant women with gestational diabetes. The average age of pregnant women was 30.92 years, with a notable concentration of participants in the 25-29 age group. The distribution of educational levels shows that secondary school constitutes the largest proportion at 32.0%. A very large percentage of participants agreed on the importance of incorporating vegetables and fiber into their diet while abstaining from processed meats. However, only 30% of participants understood the importance of choosing monounsaturated fats over saturated fats. 80% of our participants recognized the importance of physical activity in managing gestational diabetes. The results underline the need for better information and improved dietary education and physical activity for these patients in order to improve the outcome of these pregnancies at risk of complications.