IMPACT OF GROUP COUNSELING ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF DIABETIC PREGNANT WOMEN

Gestational diabetes has many complications for mother and baby. Therefore, preventing and recognizing of mothers in the pre-diabetic stage is very important in promoting the health of the mother and the baby. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of group counseling on the quality of life of pre-diabetic mothers in Karaj in 1396. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of group counseling on the quality of life of pre-diabetic mothers in Karaj in 2017. This is a quasi-experimental clinical trial performed on 90 pre-diabetic pregnant women referring to selected health centers in Karaj in 2017. The sample were divided into two groups, intervention group (n = 45) and the control group (n = 45). The control group received only routine care and the intervention group received group counseling in 4 sessions per week. In both groups, quality of life and fasting blood glucose were before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16), independent t-test, paired t-test and ANCOVA were used. The results showed that group counseling in the experimental group had a significant effect on improving the quality of life of pregnant mothers in terms of physical and mental health (P <0.05). But there was no change in the quality of life of the mothers in the control group. The mean of fasting blood glucose level after the study significantly decreased in the experimental group (P <0.05), but fasting blood glucose changes in the control group were not significant. Group counseling was effective on quality of life and fasting blood glucose control in pre-diabetic pregnant women Therefore, counseling strategies for this group of pregnant mothers should be used to improve their quality of life.