Table 1.

Semi-structured Interview Guide

Preconception/Pre-Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Knowledge

Before you were diagnosed with GDM, did you know anything about it? Did any of your health care providers ever discuss ways to prevent gestational diabetes either before you were thinking of becoming pregnant or early on in your pregnancy? If so, what was discussed?

Pregnancy

After being told you had GDM, did you receive any education on how to take care of yourself and manage your GDM? If so, what types of education did you receive? Do you remember who talked to you about how to take care of yourself and manage your diabetes? If so, who was this person? Did you ask any questions? If so, what questions did you ask? Were you referred to a nutritionist, dietitian, or diabetes educator after you were told you had GDM? If so, did you get to see this person? If not, what were some of the reasons why you did not get to see this person? For the women who were not referred, would you have liked to have been referred to a nutritionist, dietitian, or diabetes educator after you were told you had GDM? Please explain why this would have been important to you? Were you able to follow the advice given to you by your health care provider, nurse midwife, or dietitian? Is there anything that you think would have made it easier for you to take care of yourself or to make it easier to follow the advice? Did anyone talk with you about how you can reduce your risk for gestational diabetes in future pregnancies? What were you told about breast feeding? Were you encouraged to breast feed? What were you told about the potential risk for future development of type 2 diabetes? What were you told about the importance of being screened for diabetes after delivery?

Postpartum

Do you remember going to see your obstetrician or primary care doctor 6 weeks after you had your baby, also called the postpartum visit? Can you tell me why it was important for you to go to this appointment? If not, what were some of the reasons why you did not go to the six-week postpartum visit? Do you remember being tested for diabetes about 6 weeks after delivery? How many of you remember having this test? If not, what were some of the reasons why you did not go to get this blood test to check for diabetes? After you had gestational diabetes, has anyone been told they have diabetes? If yes, what education did you receive? Were you referred to a diabetes educator or support group? Did you attend? Can you tell me why you did or did not go to this support group or diabetes educator? Does your health care provider talk to you about preventing diabetes? What do they specifically talk to you about? Is there anything that stops you from following the advice of your health care provider to prevent diabetes? If so, what? What would you tell a pregnant friend about GDM? Is there anything that we have not asked that you want us to know about your experience with GDM?