Sleep facilitators and barriers in gestational diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders can exacerbate abnormal glucose metabolism and increase the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. However, data on sleep in gestational diabetes mellitus remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To explore the sleep facilitators and barriers in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus to inform the development of interventions aimed at promoting maternal and child health. METHODS: This was a prospective qualitative interview study. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus who attended the obstetric clinic of a tertiary general hospital in Fujian Province from February 2024 to May 2024 were included. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and underwent one-on-one, semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Colaizzi's content analysis method was used to identify themes. RESULTS: Eighteen participants were included in the study. Sleep facilitators and barriers in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus were categorized into the following themes: 1. Disease effects; 2. Physiological and psychological changes during pregnancy; 3. Daily behaviors and environmental factors; 4. Family support; 5. Need for professional medical services. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should consider enhancing sleep hygiene education and developing targeted interventions, such as relaxation training, based on the identified factors for patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.