{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T05:51:19Z","timestamp":1781675479065,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781654400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Endocrinol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related metabolic disorder that increases risks of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, as well as long-term type 2 diabetes. Effective glycemic management requires addressing women\u2019s dynamic experiences and needs across pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, current evidence lacks longitudinal insights into patients\u2019 real-world experiences and unmet needs in glycemic self-management. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal experiences and needs of women with GDM regarding blood glucose management using a patient journey mapping approach, to inform person-centered care models and improve self-management outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A longitudinal qualitative design was conducted. Eighteen women with GDM were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Xinxiang, China, between September 2025 and March 2026. Semi-structured interviews were performed at three time points: diagnosis (24\u201328 weeks\u2019 gestation), antenatal follow-up (3 months post-diagnosis), and postpartum follow-up (6 months post-diagnosis). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, and a patient journey map was constructed covering tasks, pain points, and emotional dimensions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Nineteen themes and subthemes emerged across three phases. During the diagnostic phase, women experienced emotional distress, knowledge gaps, and lifestyle adaptation difficulties. In the antenatal phase, self-management behaviors became internalized, accompanied by persistent vigilance, fatigue, and declining social support. Postpartum, women faced self-management burnout, role conflicts, and challenges in long-term glycemic control. The journey map visually depicted dynamic changes in emotions, tasks, and pain points throughout the continuum.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Glycemic management in GDM is phased and long-term, characterized by evolving experiences and needs. A tiered, nurse-led healthcare system integrating family support and\n                      <jats:italic>\u201c<\/jats:italic>\n                      Internet+\n                      <jats:italic>\u201d<\/jats:italic>\n                      technologies is recommended to deliver stage-specific interventions. Strengthening multi-source support and self-efficacy may reduce burnout and promote sustained self-management. These findings provide evidence for optimizing comprehensive care pathways for women with GDM.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2026.1866055","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,17]],"date-time":"2026-06-17T04:51:10Z","timestamp":1781671870000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A longitudinal qualitative study on the experiences and needs of women with gestational diabetes regarding blood glucose management using a journey map"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Qiong","family":"Gao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Delivery Room, Xinxiang Central Hospital","place":["Xinxiang, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuxia","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xinxiang Central Hospital; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Lifecycle Health Management and Humanistic Care Xinxiang","place":["Xinxiang, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lili","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing, Henan Medical University","place":["Xinxiang, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cimei","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics, East District Hospital, Xinxiang Central Hospital","place":["Xinxiang, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fuqin","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Delivery Room, Xinxiang Central Hospital","place":["Xinxiang, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Minghao","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing, Henan Medical University","place":["Xinxiang, Henan, 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