Gloria Formoso1,2, Cristina Bianchi3,4, Silvia Burlina3,5, Elisa Manicardi3,6, Maria Angela Sculli3,7, Veronica Resi3,8, Laura Sciacca3,9. 1. Interassociative Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group, Italian Association of Diabetologists (AMD), Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), Rome, Italy. gloria.formoso@unich.it. 2. Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST, Ex CeSIMet) G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. gloria.formoso@unich.it. 3. Interassociative Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group, Italian Association of Diabetologists (AMD), Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), Rome, Italy. 4. Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. 5. Department of Medicine, DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. 6. Diabetes Unit, Primary Health Care, Local Health Authority of Reggio Emilia-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy. 7. Endocrinology and Diabetes, Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli Hospital, Reggio Calabria, Italy. 8. Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 9. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Abstract
AIMS: As recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), health practitioners should encourage a healthy nutrition and adequate weight gain during pregnancy in order to ensure favorable pregnancy and fetal outcomes, and to prevent diseases later in life for both mother and child. The purpose of this online survey was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the 2009 IOM recommendations among healthcare professionals managing nutritional therapy in pregnancies complicated by diabetes in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using an online self-administered questionnaire undertaken between October and December 2021. RESULTS: Of the 220 participants 89% were diabetologists/endocrinologists/internal medicine specialists and 11% dietitians/nutritionists. The survey found that the 53% of respondents provide a personalized diet to pregnant women with diabetes, while 32% a standard diet plan and only 15% healthy dietary advice. The 69% of the participants investigated for appropriate gestational weight gain, mainly based on pre-pregnancy BMI (96%), gestational weight gain (GWG) at first prenatal visit (80%) and presence of twin pregnancy (58%). Maternal weight gain was evaluated at each regularly scheduled prenatal visit and compared with IOM recommendations for the 87% of healthcare professionals. Diet plan was periodically re-evaluated and/or modified (90% of participants), based on inadequate maternal weight gain and/or fetal growth abnormalities (78%), trimester transition (53%), changes in physical activity and/or a "feel hungry" (50%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey reported the knowledge and attitude of IOM guidelines and the nutritional knowledge and practice of Italian professionals on the nutritional management of diabetes in pregnancy. The application of these recommendations seemed more feasible in clinics/team dedicated to "Diabetes in Pregnancy".
AIMS: As recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), health practitioners should encourage a healthy nutrition and adequate weight gain during pregnancy in order to ensure favorable pregnancy and fetal outcomes, and to prevent diseases later in life for both mother and child. The purpose of this online survey was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the 2009 IOM recommendations among healthcare professionals managing nutritional therapy in pregnancies complicated by diabetes in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using an online self-administered questionnaire undertaken between October and December 2021. RESULTS: Of the 220 participants 89% were diabetologists/endocrinologists/internal medicine specialists and 11% dietitians/nutritionists. The survey found that the 53% of respondents provide a personalized diet to pregnant women with diabetes, while 32% a standard diet plan and only 15% healthy dietary advice. The 69% of the participants investigated for appropriate gestational weight gain, mainly based on pre-pregnancy BMI (96%), gestational weight gain (GWG) at first prenatal visit (80%) and presence of twin pregnancy (58%). Maternal weight gain was evaluated at each regularly scheduled prenatal visit and compared with IOM recommendations for the 87% of healthcare professionals. Diet plan was periodically re-evaluated and/or modified (90% of participants), based on inadequate maternal weight gain and/or fetal growth abnormalities (78%), trimester transition (53%), changes in physical activity and/or a "feel hungry" (50%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey reported the knowledge and attitude of IOM guidelines and the nutritional knowledge and practice of Italian professionals on the nutritional management of diabetes in pregnancy. The application of these recommendations seemed more feasible in clinics/team dedicated to "Diabetes in Pregnancy".
Authors: Andrea Tumminia; Nunzio M Scalisi; Agostino Milluzzo; Giuseppe Ettore; Riccardo Vigneri; Laura Sciacca Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 5.555