Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Effects of online support and social media communities on gestational diabetes: A systematic review
Zilin Cheng1, Haijing Hao2, Fotini Tsofliou3
1Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication in pregnancy that can lead to negative maternal and fetal outcomes. Online support interventions have been suggested as a potential tool to improve the management of GDM.
Objective:
This systematic review aimed to summarize the effectiveness of social media and online support interventions for the management of GDM.
Methods:
We conducted a thorough systematic search across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, following PRISMA guidelines, and supplemented it with a manual search. Our results included both qualitative and quantitative research. We rigorously assessed quantitative studies for bias using ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools, ensuring the reliability of our findings.
Results:
We incorporated a total of 22 studies, which were comprised of ten qualitative and twelve quantitative studies. Online support interventions were found to have a positive impact on promoting self-care and improving healthcare outcomes for women with GDM. Individualized diet and exercise interventions resulted in lower odds of weight gain and GDM diagnosis, while online prenatal education increased breastfeeding rates. In addition, telemedicine options reduced the need for in-person clinical visits and improved patient satisfaction.
Conclusions:
Online support interventions show potential to improve outcomes in patients with GDM in this small literature review. Future research is also necessary to determine the effectiveness of different types of online interventions and identify strategies to improve engagement and the quality of the information provided through online resources.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
Self-Help Support Groups
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

