‘Women with Diabetes: Things you need to know (but maybe don’t!)’: A pre-conception counselling resource to raise awareness of the importance of pre-pregnancy care among women with diabetes
by Queen’s University Belfast
Funded by Diabetes UK the aim of the “Women with Diabetes” resource is to increase women’s awareness about the importance of planning for pregnancy and to positively influence attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions towards seeking pre-pregnancy care and preventing unplanned pregnancies. Originally produced as a DVD and later converted to a website, the resource was designed and developed in collaboration with women with diabetes under the direction of healthcare professionals in accordance with NICE pre-pregnancy care guidance. This resource has been embedded in routine care in Northern Ireland since 2010. An evaluation of the DVD among 97 women with diabetes demonstrated that it was effective in increasing knowledge and enhancing attitudes of women with diabetes to pre-pregnancy care.
View the video here.
"An excellent entry that was designed by users with professional support. There is a lot of potential in terms of adoption and spread. A lot of work went into this and it’s a great resource."
The PADDLE – an education tool for healthcare professionals involved in delivering diabetes-related pregnancy care
by Portsmouth Diabetes Pregnancy Team, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Evidence from previous studies has suggested that group settings offer improved and cost-efficient opportunities for people to learn about diabetes and pregnancy. The team at Portsmouth developed an education tool called the PADDLE for use in a group setting. Standing for ‘Pregnancy and Diabetes – Developing in a Learned Environment‘, the PADDLE is a pictorial navigational tool to lead learning in several areas of diabetes and pregnancy, including women considering having a child and women who are pregnant. In an audit of patients who used the tool, PADDLE education improved understanding of gestational diabetes, target glycaemia levels and diet.