The 2014 Ministry of Health guidelines recommend that all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) should be offered dietary advice either by, or in conjunction with a dietitian. However, there are a limited number of dietitians who specialise in diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) in New Zealand. Furthermore, the number of women with GDM referred to DIP services in New Zealand is projected to increase by 35-40% due to both the increasing prevalence of GDM and implementation of compulsory screening. Therefore, dietary advice to women with GDM will likely often be provided by ‘non-specialist’ dietitians. At present, there are no standards of care for the nature or delivery of this dietary advice.
Aims
To develop an evidence-based national standard of care (SOC) for dietitians, to ensure accurate and consistent dietary advice for women with GDM in New Zealand.
Methods In 2015, eight Diabetes in Pregnancy Specialist Dietitians across seven major District Health Boards began collaboration on the development of a national nutritional SOC for GDM. The current ‘Dietitians New Zealand SOC for the nutritional management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults’ was adapted for GDM based on consensus agreement of reviews of the literature and international guidelines on the medical nutritional therapy (MNT) of GDM.
Results
The development of a national SOC provides a concise guide for dietitians and other members of the DIP team to ensure that up to date and evidence-based dietary advice is delivered to women with GDM throughout New Zealand. Given the complexity of MNT in GDM, we believe that dietary advice to women with GDM should ideally be provided by dietitians.
Conclusion
The development of a national nutritional SOC for GDM will likely improve the care of women with GDM throughout New Zealand.