African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0816
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 2276

Full Length Research Paper

Pilot project for education of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients – Can it be beneficial?

Valentina Petkova1*, Milen Dimitrov2 and Stanislav Geourgiev3
1Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. 2Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria. 3Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Published: 15 September 2011

Abstract

The objective of this issue is to assess the effectiveness of an educational program on patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The study design is a case-control study that includes30 pregnant women, mild GDM; between 19 and 41 years of age, without severe complications of diabetes. The women were divided into two groups – passing education Group I (n=15), and Group II (n=15), not passing education. A 1-month education was conducted. The clinical data and metabolic control for the two groups were evaluated. Group Ð†I shows better improvement in comparison with Group I, and also mild improvement in the blood glucose level. The patients’ quality of life improves with about 1.0 point at average according to the applied questionnaire.  This is the first time that the education is being done by pharmacists to patients with GDM at pharmacy conditions. The results prove that the educational approach has the potential to improve patient’s quality of life.

 

Key words: Gestational diabetes mellitus, education, pharmaceutical care.

Abbreviation

GDM, Gestational diabetes mellitus; GCT, glucose challenge test; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test; BMI, body mass index; QOL, quality of life.