The women’s family is also greatly impacted by GDM. A study by Carolan (2012) shows that a
woman relies greatly on her family, in particular, her partner to help cope with the shock of the
diagnosis, come to terms with the illness, and when learning to manage GDM. This study points
out that husbands and partners offered the most support by eating the same food as the woman,
encouraging them to avoid overeating and by accompanying them during exercise (Carolan 2012, p.
6). Women in the study further pointed out that they relied heavily on their mothers and other
family members to support them by listening and offering advice in times of confusion and
uncertainty (Carolan 2012, p. 7). The study concluded that self-management of GDM was largely
facilitated by the support of family members, meaning that family members must adapt to lifestyle
changes and emotional challenges in order to lessen the impact of GDM on the family unit.