Hitomi Fukunaga
Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital, Japan
Title: The effects of diabetes education by a nurse practitioner on outcomes for gestational diabetes mellitus patients
Biography
Biography: Hitomi Fukunaga
Abstract
Background & Aim: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) education was implemented by a Nurse Practitioner (NP) once a week in Nippon Medical School Musashikosugi Hospital. Here, we present the effect of such education over the period 2011-2015 for patients with GDM.
Methods: From 2011-2015 there were 267 patients with GDM from 4626 pregnant women and 247 GDM patients were analyzed. At 26-28 weeks of gestation, a 75g OGTT was performed and patients with more than one point positive for Japanese GDM diagnostic criteria received clinical education for GDM management every 2 weeks. Education encompassed dietary advice, which was suitable for patient life style and instruction in self-monitoring of blood glucose or insulin injection.
Results: One point positive patients were 145 (58.7%), two points positive patients were 82 (33%) and three points positive patients were 20 (8%) in Japanese GDM diagnostic criteria. 46 (18.6%) patients received insulin therapy. Glycated albumin was 13.1±0.13% (mean±2SD) at the first visit to our center and 12.8±0.08% (mean±2SD) in the period of delivery (p<0.01). Weight of the new born was 3083±476 g (mean±2SD). 79 (32%) patients received Cesarean section. There were 2 still births and one of them was twins.
Findings: It is important to educate intensively to give an understanding of therapy for GDM over short periods. Since we educated the patients in outpatient　departments, the education provided was suitable for the patient’s own lifestyle. The education by the NP is useful for treating GDM patients to ensure normal gestational periods and normal newborn.