Expectations and experiences regarding family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood in women with type 1 diabetes – A qualitative study
(2026) In Women's Health 22.- Abstract
Background: Optimal treatment and support in family planning for women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and follow-up during pregnancy are important, however, there is limited knowledge from the women’s perspective on their considerations of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood. Objectives: To explore expectations and experiences of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood among women with T1D. Design: We employed a qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews. Methods: We conducted semi-structured individual interviews (June to November 2022) with 17 women with T1D aged 18–45 at a diabetes outpatient clinic in Norway. We analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes, each with sub-themes, linked to... (More)
Background: Optimal treatment and support in family planning for women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and follow-up during pregnancy are important, however, there is limited knowledge from the women’s perspective on their considerations of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood. Objectives: To explore expectations and experiences of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood among women with T1D. Design: We employed a qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews. Methods: We conducted semi-structured individual interviews (June to November 2022) with 17 women with T1D aged 18–45 at a diabetes outpatient clinic in Norway. We analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes, each with sub-themes, linked to a timeline from planning the pregnancy to becoming a mother were identified: (1) Existential considerations in family planning; (2) Ambiguous information sources and the need for individualized guidance about pregnancy and T1D; (3) Preparations for pregnancy and balancing uncertainties during pregnancy; and (4) Motherhood intertwined with diabetes. Overall, the women expressed a need for support in handling and managing their glucose control in the phase of family planning, during pregnancy, and when preparing for the role of mother. Conclusion: Women with T1D reported many worries and concerns related to family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood, and thus, individualized information and support related to diabetes and reproductive health should be an integrated part of follow-up care. Women with T1D seem to have high expectations and strong commitment to their diabetes self-management during pregnancy, conditional on support and guidance from health care providers (HCPs). A sensitive approach from HCPs in clinical consultations is vital to meet the individual woman’s need for support. More research about reproductive health in women with T1D is needed, especially regarding how motherhood and diabetes intersect in everyday life.
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- author
- Anurathan, Jesini Selvarasa ; Varsi, Cecilie ; Stalheim, Astrid Melteig ; Steintorsdottir, Sandra Dis ; Wisting, Line ; Berntorp, Kerstin LU ; Iversen, Marjolein M. ; Qvigstad, Elisabeth and Strandberg, Ragnhild B.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-01-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- diabetes mellitus type 1, family planning, motherhood, preconception care, pregnancy, qualitative study
- in
- Women's Health
- volume
- 22
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105033033649
- pmid:41832774
- ISSN
- 1745-5057
- DOI
- 10.1177/17455057261425791
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
- id
- 5dbf40ca-62a5-4645-adf7-604e80314b12
- date added to LUP
- 2026-05-12 13:39:45
- date last changed
- 2026-06-09 15:28:20
@article{5dbf40ca-62a5-4645-adf7-604e80314b12,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Optimal treatment and support in family planning for women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and follow-up during pregnancy are important, however, there is limited knowledge from the women’s perspective on their considerations of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood. Objectives: To explore expectations and experiences of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood among women with T1D. Design: We employed a qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews. Methods: We conducted semi-structured individual interviews (June to November 2022) with 17 women with T1D aged 18–45 at a diabetes outpatient clinic in Norway. We analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes, each with sub-themes, linked to a timeline from planning the pregnancy to becoming a mother were identified: (1) Existential considerations in family planning; (2) Ambiguous information sources and the need for individualized guidance about pregnancy and T1D; (3) Preparations for pregnancy and balancing uncertainties during pregnancy; and (4) Motherhood intertwined with diabetes. Overall, the women expressed a need for support in handling and managing their glucose control in the phase of family planning, during pregnancy, and when preparing for the role of mother. Conclusion: Women with T1D reported many worries and concerns related to family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood, and thus, individualized information and support related to diabetes and reproductive health should be an integrated part of follow-up care. Women with T1D seem to have high expectations and strong commitment to their diabetes self-management during pregnancy, conditional on support and guidance from health care providers (HCPs). A sensitive approach from HCPs in clinical consultations is vital to meet the individual woman’s need for support. More research about reproductive health in women with T1D is needed, especially regarding how motherhood and diabetes intersect in everyday life.</p>}},
author = {{Anurathan, Jesini Selvarasa and Varsi, Cecilie and Stalheim, Astrid Melteig and Steintorsdottir, Sandra Dis and Wisting, Line and Berntorp, Kerstin and Iversen, Marjolein M. and Qvigstad, Elisabeth and Strandberg, Ragnhild B.}},
issn = {{1745-5057}},
keywords = {{diabetes mellitus type 1; family planning; motherhood; preconception care; pregnancy; qualitative study}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{Women's Health}},
title = {{Expectations and experiences regarding family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood in women with type 1 diabetes – A qualitative study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17455057261425791}},
doi = {{10.1177/17455057261425791}},
volume = {{22}},
year = {{2026}},
}