The Impact of COVID-19 on diet and lifestyle behaviours for pregnant women with diabetes

Abstract

Background/aims: A self-reported online survey was performed to investigate the immediate effect of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in New Zealand on dietary intake, and lifestyle behaviours among pregnant women with diabetes.

Participants/methods: The survey was sent to 82 pregnant women who had Type 1, Type 2 Diabetes, or Gestational Diabetes and attended the Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic in Wellington, New Zealand in May 2020, while the most restrictive COVID-19 lockdown measures were in place. All women received standard pregnancy nutrition advice provided by a dietitian, were monitoring blood glucose levels with nursing support, and seeing specialist endocrinologists and obstetricians for their pregnancy care.

Results: Fifty women (61%) responded to the survey. There was no evidence of differences in dietary intake during the restrictions, compared to before, for most food items. During the restriction's women consumed more bread (Odds Ratio (95% CI): 0.39 (0.18-0.83) p = 0.02); less battered fish: 3.11 (1.20-8.05) p = 0.02; and less hot chips/fries: 6.32 (2.67-14.93) p < 0.0001. During the restriction's women consumed more meals at home: 0.05 (0.14-0.15) p < 0.0001; less takeaways: 3.63 (1.54-7.34) p = 0.003; and less restaurant and café meals: 15.05 (6.03-37.59) p < 0.0001, when the services reopened.

Conclusions: The nutrition of pregnant women with diabetes was not compromised during a brief COVID-19 lockdown restriction. This finding is reassuring, with countries worldwide adopting brief intermittent lockdown periods to restrict the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Diabetes; Gestational Diabetes; Nutrition; Pregnancy.