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Abstract

There is increasing interest in the use of metformin in gestational diabetes (GDM) but limited data on its impact on patients’ quality of life or treatment satisfaction. We assessed patients’ perspectives using the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL) and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) in GDM women recruited postnatally and treated with metformin (n=68), insulin (n=32) or metformin and insulin (n=28) during pregnancy. Women with GDM taking either metformin or insulin demonstrated a higher quality of life (QoL) amongst each of the 19 life domains tested than women on the combination. Metformin treatment was associated with the least negative impact on QoL (−1.6) as compared with insulin and insulin + metformin groups (−1.7, -1.9) respectively. The Total Treatment Satisfaction (TTS) was highest in metformin treated patients (5.2) compared with insulin (4.7) or the combination (4.6). Metformin, compared with insulin either alone or in combination had the most favourable overall impact on patient reported quality of life and treatment satisfaction. These findings strengthen the case for considering metformin in GDM if lifestyle measures alone do not provide adequate glucose control.

Keywords

gestational diabetes metformin quality of life treatment satisfaction

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Metformin effects on treatment satisfaction and quality of life in gestational diabetes

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