Beyond Pregnancy: Reducing Postpartum Diabetes Risk and Supporting High-Risk Women with GDM | Recording-Beyond Pregnancy: Reducing Postpartum Diabetes Risk and Supporting High-Risk Women with GDM

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This webinar, moderated by Dr. Denise Frazalka, focuses on reducing postpartum diabetes risk and supporting high-risk women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The panel includes experts Dr. Cassandra Henderson, Dr. Terry Hernandez, and Dr. Amy Valente, who explore GDM’s implications, challenges, and strategies for postpartum care.<br /><br />Dr. Henderson explains gestational diabetes as diabetes first diagnosed in the second or third trimester, emphasizing underlying chronic insulin resistance worsened by pregnancy. GDM increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) tenfold, with about 50% progressing to T2D within 10 years. Risk is heightened by age over 25, family history, obesity, elevated fasting glucose, and social determinants like economic insecurity rather than race alone. Postpartum glucose screening is critical but underused due to systemic and personal barriers, including lack of primary care, time constraints, financial issues, and low risk perception. Community programs like WIC and the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) support dietary guidance, breastfeeding, and lifestyle changes proven to reduce T2D risk.<br /><br />Dr. Hernandez highlights barriers to postpartum care at individual, interpersonal, systemic, and community levels, including cultural beliefs, lack of social support, fear of testing, mistrust, and structural racism. Strategies to improve care include culturally sensitive education, integrated maternal-child visits, use of telehealth, care coordination, motivational interviewing, and community health workers who improve engagement and outcomes.<br /><br />Dr. Valente emphasizes a holistic, longitudinal approach to postpartum care beyond glucose testing. She notes rising GDM rates, postpartum depression risks, and the importance of extending Medicaid coverage to improve follow-up. Programs like patient navigation, text messaging, home visits, and doula support enhance engagement. Breastfeeding significantly lowers long-term diabetes risk in women with GDM. Culturally tailored family-based education programs show promise in promoting healthy behaviors.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar advocates for multidisciplinary, patient-centered, culturally competent care, leveraging community resources and policy changes to support women with GDM in preventing T2D and cardiovascular disease for maternal and intergenerational health.

Keywords

postpartum diabetes risk

gestational diabetes mellitus

GDM

type 2 diabetes prevention

postpartum care strategies

insulin resistance in pregnancy

postpartum glucose screening barriers

community health programs

culturally sensitive education

telehealth in postpartum care

breastfeeding and diabetes risk