The effect of caring intervention (physical activity, diet and counseling) on gestational diabetes for pregnant women with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome and its indexes is one of the critical health problems during pregnancy. This study aimed to examine the effects of a care intervention program on pregnancy outcome in pregnant women with Metabolic Syndrome during 2017-2018.

METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted in 120 singleton pregnant women with metabolic syndrome. The participants were selected using purposive sampling method from pregnant women referred to two health centers of Babol. They were randomly divided in two control and intervention groups (60 samples in each group). Intervention group received one motivational interview session for 120 min, two consultation sessions with expert for nutritional recommendations based on Nutrition Guidelines of Ministry of Health for Pregnant Women. They were also theoretically and practically provided by three training sessions for physical activity and pregnancy exercises combining pelvic floor muscles, bodybuilding, muscle strengthening, stretching, and relaxation and walking activities. To follow up on the intervention, the researcher made a phone call with the participants in intervention group every 10 days to two weeks. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed using SPSS software.

RESULTS: The obtained results showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in maternal complications including gestational diabetes, hospitalization due to gestational diabetes, nutritional diet for gestational diabetes, pregnancy weight gain and 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose test ( p  ≤ .01). There was no significant difference in terms of demographic, midwifery and metabolic syndrome indices between the intervention and control groups.

CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicated that intervention program improved the maternal pregnancy outcome such as gestational diabetes and weight gain during the pregnancy in the intervention group. This program had no adverse effects for the mother who is consistent with pregnancy health objectives.