Background/Aims
Many women do not meet nutritional guidelines for pregnancy, including women with diabetes in pregnancy. During COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in New Zealand, women faced significant external stressors and lifestyle changes: such as food availability, reduced physical activity, and financial uncertainty. We were concerned that nutrition may have been further compromised by these restrictions. A self-reported online survey was performed to investigate the immediate effect of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on dietary intake and lifestyle behaviours among pregnant women with diabetes.
Subjects/Methods
The survey was sent to 82 pregnant women who had Type 1, Type 2, or Gestational Diabetes, and attended the Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic in Wellington, New Zealand in May 2020, while the most restrictive COVID-19 measures were in place. All women received standard pregnancy nutrition advice provided by a dietitian and monitored blood glucose levels with nursing support.
Results
Fifty women (61%) responded to the survey. There was no evidence of differences in dietary intake during, compared to before the restrictions, for most food items. There was evidence women consumed more bread OR (95% CI): 0.39 (0.18 to 0.83) p = 0.02; less battered fish: 3.11 (1.20 to 8.05) p = 0.02; and less hot chips/fries: 6.32 (2.67 to 14.93) p <0.0001, during the restrictions. During lockdown women consumed more meals at home: 0.05 (0.14 to 0.15) p <0.0001; less takeaways: 3.63 (1.54 to 7.34) p = 0.003; and less restaurant and café meals: 15.05 (6.03 to 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. See published full Journal Article DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.07.011