Nursing activities in assisting women with gestational diabetes

Abstract

Gestational diabetes is a metabolic disease that occurs due to increased insulin resistance caused by gestational hormones. Gestational diabetes affects approximately 15% of pregnancies worldwide. In Brazil, 7.6% of women over 20 years of age treated by the Unified Health System are affected by gestational diabetes. 94% of the cases presented present only decreased glucose tolerance and 6% have hyperglycemia at the level of diabetes outside of pregnancy. The study aims to analyze nursing activities in the care of women with gestational diabetes. The methodology is structured on an integrative literature review, of a narrative and descriptive nature, with a bibliographic survey on the Scielo, Virtual Health Library (BVS) and PubMed platforms, using the following descriptors in the search: nursing actions, health education and care for diabetic pregnant women, limited to the period from 2019 to 2024. The studies point to a therapeutic approach that consists of strategies that combine the practice of physical exercises and regular monitoring of blood glucose, mainly associated with dietary changes; in some cases, pharmacological therapy is necessary. As for the practice of physical activities, these should be supported and encouraged throughout pregnancy, always guiding patients about the exercises that should not be performed and a duration of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, is recommended, taking into account the condition of each patient. It is important that pregnant women are instructed to self-monitor their fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, keeping track of these measurements in a diary to be presented to the doctor and the healthcare team that is monitoring them. Self-monitoring is essential for pregnant women to better understand the influence of diet and exercise on blood glucose levels and maternal and fetal well-being.