Women in Melbourne’s east and southeast are benefiting from a unique five-week program aimed at helping postpartum mums who have experienced gestational diabetes.
The Women After Gestational (WAG) program, run by the Diabetes Education team at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, targets women post-birth, providing a free healthy lifestyle program.
It is run at maternal and child health centres in the cities of Stonnington, Glen Iris, Boroondara and Whitehorse.
The interactive program includes education on healthy cooking and eating, stress and depression, keeping motivated and active, and the importance of sleep.
Gestational diabetes is the fastest growing type of diabetes in Australia, affecting thousands of pregnant women.
Women with gestational diabetes have a 50 per cent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within five to 10 years after having their babies, and women who have had gestational diabetes have a one in three chance of developing it again in future pregnancy.
Lifestyle changes including diet, physical activity and weight loss can reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes among women with a history of gestational diabetes by 50 per cent.
The women are supported for 12 months after the program, which is set to be used in other municipalities.
 program, run by the Diabetes Education team at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, targets women post-birth, providing a free healthy lifestyle program.){kind=link}