Well-being, diabetes management and breastfeeding in mothers with type 1 diabetes - An explorative analysis

The aim was to explore and investigate associations between well-being, diabetes management and breastfeeding in mothers with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) up to six months postpartum.

An explorative analysis of self-reported questionnaires measuring general well-being, sense of coherence, self-efficacy of diabetes management and experiences of diabetes management during breastfeeding, which were distributed to 155 mothers with T1DM at two months and at six months after childbirth. The questionnaires were answered by 128 (82.5%) at two months and 137 (88.4%) at six months after birth. Statistical analysis included; descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon sign-rank test, sign test and Spearman's correlation coefficient (r_s).

The majority of the mothers had fairly high levels of general well-being and diabetes management but a quarter had a low sense of coherence at both two and six months after birth. A weak association was found between more unstable blood glucose levels and lower general well-being at two months postpartum, but no other associations with erratic glycaemia was found. Those with lower grades of general well-being and sense of coherence had a higher need of professional support to manage their diabetes than they were offered, at both two and six months.

To develop more optimal care routines for mothers with T1DM after childbirth, further studies are needed to identify those most in need of additional support.