Introduction
According to the article “Gestational diabetes mellitus,” the research question was whether treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with metformin results in better health outcomes for both mother and child than treatment with insulin. The research method involved a randomized controlled trial in which participants were assigned to either the metformin or insulin group. The authors concluded that metformin is an effective and safe treatment for GDM and results in better health outcomes for both mother and child compared to insulin treatment.
Subject Analysis
Metformin is relevant to current practice for Gestational diabetes mellitus treatment. It has been shown to decrease the incidence of macrosomia (large-for-gestational-age infants), shoulder dystocia, preterm birth, and cesarean section. Additionally, women who take metformin during GDM are more likely to transition to postpartum type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is true that GDM metformin treatment can be applied to any population. Metformin is an effective and safe first-line pharmacological treatment for GDM, with potential benefits including reduced rates of cesarean delivery, macrosomia (large baby), and neonatal hypoglycemia. In addition, metformin may improve long-term outcomes such as obesity and type 2 diabetes in the offspring; GDM is becoming more common. It can be used in women with BMI > 25kg/m2 who have failed to achieve glycaemic control with lifestyle modification measures alone (McIntyre et al., 2019). It should be used in addition to, not instead of, insulin therapy in women with severe gestational diabetes.
Subject Researched Analysis
The study group size was adequate to demonstrate that metformin treats GDM. This is because sampling involved different parts of continents such as Western Pacific, South-East Asia, South and Central America, North America and Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and Europe (McIntyre et al., 2019). The study found that metformin was more effective than diet and insulin therapy in reducing the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus and macrosomia, and it likewise improved the pregnancy outcome. Given these results, metformin should be considered as a treatment for GDM. Similarly, the study group was specific to the community/population studied.
The group in the article was carefully selected to include only women with a history of GDM. This is important because it allows for more accurate comparisons to be made between the two groups. Furthermore, by including only women with a history of GDM, the researchers were able to control for other variables that may have influenced the results of the study. Most gestational diabetes mellitus studied groups, to some level, do not match the population served in the community (Plows et al., 2018). This is because there are different types of gestational diabetes, and each woman may experience the condition differently. Some women may have no symptoms at all, while others may experience issues like fatigue, excessive thirst, or increased urination, extreme hunger, and blurred vision.
The research methods employed in the study were not in a balanced manner since the study focused on western countries. The research study method majorly observed women in the Philippines, Asians, non-Hispanic whites, and African-Americans (McIntyre et al., 2019). The research admits that South and Central America and Africa still need more studies concerning GDM (McIntyre et al., 2019). In Africa, the research method only included North Africa neglecting a bigger part of Africa such as East, Wester, South, and Central Africa.
There was a control group in the metformin treatment study for GDM. The control group was necessary to compare the results of the metformin treatment against a usual care treatment for GDM. In this case, the control group receiving standard care consisted of monitoring blood sugar levels and making dietary adjustments as needed (McIntyre et al., 2019). The research method used in the study were generally considered to be unbiased because it captured almost blacks and whites. The groups were chosen in randomized control trial manner because it ensured that the variable being tested (in this case, diabetes medication) is what caused the change in outcome.
Research Group Conclusion
The conclusions from the research regarding metformin as an effective treatment for gestational diabetes make sense. For one, metformin aids in improving the body’s response to insulin, which can help to maintain blood sugar levels (Plows et al., 2018). Additionally, metformin has been shown to assist in weight loss in pregnant women who are obese or overweight. Lastly, because metformin crosses the placenta and enters the baby’s bloodstream, it has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of major birth defects in babies of women with gestational diabetes. The conclusion of the study is legitimate; metformin is the most effective medication for gestational diabetes mellitus, and it has been shown to improve glycemic control in pregnant women with this condition. I agree with the conclusion that metformin is the most effective gestational diabetes mellitus medication. It has been shown to be more effective than other medications in reducing the risk of developing gestational diabetes and in preventing adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.
The study on women with GDM will enable me to provide anticipatory guidance and support to their patients, as well as education on self-management strategies. It will similarly enable me to identify women who are at risk for developing GDM and refer them for screening as needed (Chiefari, et al., 2017). The gestational diabetes mellitus study is an important and valuable study for nursing care of the childbearing family. The study provides valuable information about the prevalence of gestational diabetes, risk factors for developing gestational diabetes, and the potential complications associated with gestational diabetes. Additionally, the study provides insights into how best to manage and monitor patients with gestational diabetes.
References
Chiefari, E., Arcidiacono, B., Foti, D., & Brunetti, A. (2017). Gestational diabetes mellitus: an updated overview. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 40(9), 899-909. Web.
McIntyre, H. D., Catalano, P., Zhang, C., Desoye, G., Mathiesen, E. R., & Damm, P. (2019). Gestational diabetes mellitus. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 5(1), 1-19. Web.
Plows, J. F., Stanley, J. L., Baker, P. N., Reynolds, C. M., & Vickers, M. H. (2018). The pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(11), 3342. Web.