Background:  Recent changes to the diagnostic criteria for GDM has resulted in an increase of approximately 30% of cases at our service.  Around 60% of those diagnosed require insulin therapy. Routinely education on insulin administration has been done on an individual basis. With the increase in the number of women requiring education but no extra Diabetes Nurse Education (DNE) hours available, it was decided that the DNE should trial a change to group education.

Aims:  We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of group education for insulin initiation within our patient group.  We also aimed to show that the time needed to conduct the group was not significantly longer than individual consults.

 Methods:  Patients with GDM requiring insulin were selected to attend either a group session or to receive individual education.  A questionnaire was developed and administered to ascertain the knowledge retention by the participant at the completion of the session.  Questions included knowledge of prescribed dose, timing of doses and injection sites, definition and treatment of hypoglycaemia and when to call the DNE. Groups were limited to no more than 6 women.

Findings:   11/22 attended the group session.  Answers demonstrated that the retention of knowledge was the same regardless of whether the participant was seen in a group or individually. One participant found it distracting to have an interpreter in a group session. Each group session took about the same amount of time as an individual appointment.

Conclusion:  DNE time can be optimised by conducting group education sessions for women with GDM for insulin initiation. Group education sessions are well accepted amongst our GDM population.  There was no deficit in patient knowledge or understanding.