Gestational diabetes—high blood sugar during pregnancy—affects nearly 1 in 4 pregnant women in Hong Kong, which is twice the worldwide rate. Researchers talked to 16 Hong Kong women about their struggles managing this condition. They found that cultural food traditions, busy schedules, and lack of support made it hard for women to stay healthy. The good news? Women said they’d love to use phone apps and digital tools that understand their culture and give them personalized help. This study shows that technology designed specifically for Hong Kong families could make a real difference in keeping both mothers and babies healthier.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What makes it hard for pregnant women in Hong Kong to manage gestational diabetes, and what kind of help they actually want
  • Who participated: 16 women living in Hong Kong who had gestational diabetes while pregnant or within the past year. They were managing their condition at home in their community.
  • Key finding: Women face three main challenges: cultural food traditions that conflict with diabetes management, not having enough time and energy to exercise, and not getting enough support from doctors and healthcare providers. However, they’re motivated to stay healthy to protect their babies and respond well to advice from doctors and other women.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a pregnant woman in Hong Kong with gestational diabetes, digital health tools designed for your culture could help you manage better. This suggests that one-size-fits-all apps might not work as well as tools that understand your food traditions and family situation. Talk to your doctor about what tools might work best for you.

The Research Details

Researchers had one-on-one conversations with 16 women in Hong Kong who had gestational diabetes. They asked detailed questions about their experiences, challenges, and what kind of help they needed. The researchers used a framework called the Health Belief Model, which helps explain why people do or don’t take care of their health based on what they believe about their risk and what barriers they face.

After collecting all the conversations, the researchers carefully read through everything the women said and looked for patterns—common themes that came up again and again. This approach, called thematic analysis, helps researchers understand people’s real-life experiences rather than just testing a specific hypothesis.

The study included both women who were currently pregnant and women who had given birth within the past year, all managing their condition in their home communities rather than in hospitals.

This research approach is important because gestational diabetes is a serious problem in Hong Kong that needs solutions tailored to the specific culture and lifestyle there. By listening directly to women’s experiences rather than just looking at numbers, researchers can understand the real barriers they face and what would actually help them. This kind of research is especially valuable for designing new health tools and programs that people will actually use and benefit from.

This study is qualitative research, which means it focuses on understanding people’s experiences deeply rather than testing a large group. With 16 participants, this is a small but focused study. The researchers used a recognized framework (Health Belief Model) to guide their questions, which strengthens the research. The study was published in a respected medical journal (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth), which means it went through expert review. However, because only 16 women participated and they were all from Hong Kong, the findings may not apply exactly the same way to other groups or cultures. This study is best used alongside other research to understand the full picture.

What the Results Show

The research confirmed that all five main factors from the Health Belief Model affect how women manage gestational diabetes in Hong Kong. Women understood they were at risk and that gestational diabetes was serious, but they faced real obstacles in managing it.

The biggest barriers women mentioned were: (1) Cultural food traditions that conflict with diabetes management—many traditional Hong Kong foods are high in sugar or carbohydrates, and women felt pressure from family to eat these foods; (2) Not having enough time and energy to exercise because of work, family responsibilities, and pregnancy fatigue; and (3) Not getting enough support and guidance from their healthcare providers.

On the positive side, women were highly motivated by wanting to protect their baby’s health. They also responded well to advice and encouragement from their doctors and from other women who had experienced gestational diabetes. These “cues to action” (reminders and support from trusted sources) made a big difference in whether women stuck with their management plan.

Women expressed strong interest in using digital health tools—apps and online programs—to help manage their condition. They specifically wanted tools that understood their cultural background and food traditions, rather than generic advice that didn’t fit their lives. They also wanted guidance that changed based on which trimester of pregnancy they were in, since needs are different at different stages. Additionally, women wanted built-in emotional support, recognizing that managing a health condition during pregnancy can be stressful and anxiety-producing. The study suggests that family-centered approaches—involving husbands, mothers, and other family members—would be more effective than focusing only on the pregnant woman.

This research adds important detail to what we already know about gestational diabetes management. Previous studies have shown that gestational diabetes is more common in certain populations, including Asian women. This Hong Kong study helps explain why—it’s not just genetics, but also the interaction between cultural food traditions and modern healthcare approaches. The finding that women want culturally tailored digital tools aligns with recent global research showing that one-size-fits-all health apps often don’t work well. This study provides specific evidence that Hong Kong women would benefit from technology designed with their culture in mind.

This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, only 16 women participated, which is a small number. While this allowed for deep, detailed conversations, it means we can’t be completely sure these findings apply to all Hong Kong women with gestational diabetes. Second, the study only included women in Hong Kong, so the results may not be the same for other Asian populations or other countries. Third, we don’t know if the women who agreed to participate in the study were different from those who didn’t—for example, they might have been more motivated or more interested in technology. Finally, this study describes what women said they want and need, but it doesn’t test whether digital tools actually help them manage their diabetes better. More research would be needed to prove that apps and digital solutions actually improve health outcomes.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a pregnant woman in Hong Kong with gestational diabetes: (1) Work with your healthcare provider to develop a management plan that respects your cultural food traditions while keeping blood sugar controlled—this is possible with creative problem-solving; (2) Ask about digital health tools or apps designed for your community, as these may be more helpful than generic tools; (3) Involve your family in your management plan, as family support appears to be very important; (4) Connect with other women managing gestational diabetes, either in person or online, as peer support helps with motivation. These recommendations are based on what women in this study said would help them, though more research is needed to confirm that these approaches actually improve health outcomes.

This research is most relevant for: pregnant women in Hong Kong diagnosed with gestational diabetes; healthcare providers in Hong Kong and other Asian communities caring for women with gestational diabetes; technology developers creating health apps for Asian populations; and public health officials in Hong Kong working to reduce gestational diabetes rates. This research may be less directly applicable to pregnant women in other countries with very different food cultures and healthcare systems, though some lessons about cultural tailoring might apply elsewhere.

If you implement these strategies, you might notice improvements in blood sugar control within 2-4 weeks, though this varies by individual. The real benefits—a healthier pregnancy and healthier baby—develop over the full course of pregnancy. After delivery, managing gestational diabetes becomes less critical, but women who had it should continue healthy habits and get screened for type 2 diabetes in the years after pregnancy, as gestational diabetes increases that risk.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily blood sugar readings at the same times each day (fasting, before meals, and 2 hours after meals), along with what you ate and how much you exercised. Also note your energy level and mood. This creates a complete picture of what affects your blood sugar and helps you and your doctor see patterns.
  • Use the app to log traditional Hong Kong meals and snacks you eat, then get instant feedback on how they affect your blood sugar. The app could suggest modified versions of traditional recipes that are lower in sugar but still taste authentic and satisfy cultural food traditions. Set reminders for short walks or gentle exercises that fit into your busy schedule, even if it’s just 10 minutes at a time.
  • Set up weekly check-ins where you review your blood sugar patterns and identify your biggest challenges. Use the app to track which foods cause the biggest blood sugar spikes for you personally (since everyone is different), and gradually build a personalized list of foods that work well for you. Share your app data with your healthcare provider at each visit so they can see your real-world management and adjust advice as needed.

This research describes women’s experiences and preferences regarding gestational diabetes management in Hong Kong. It does not provide medical advice. If you are pregnant or have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you must work with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized management plan. Blood sugar management during pregnancy is important for both your health and your baby’s health. Do not make changes to your diet, exercise, or medications based on this article alone. Digital health tools and apps should be used to support, not replace, care from your doctor or midwife. Always discuss any new health tools or management strategies with your healthcare provider before starting them.