Cross-continental research supports pregnant women with gestational diabetes

The Danida-funded VALID II research project shows that informal support is vital in helping women manage gestational diabetes. These findings come from a long collaborative partnership between clinical researchers and anthropologists from Vietnam and Denmark.

By Elena Adamo, Pernille Friis and Vibeke Quaade

In our daily lives, it is often the people around us who help us get through life’s challenges: family members who remind us to rest, friends who check in. This kind of informal support can be just as important as professional help, especially when it comes to our health. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common medical complication during pregnancy, but treating it with medicine alone is not enough.

The Danida-funded research project  “Living Together with Chronic Disease: Informal Support for Diabetes Management in Vietnam: Phase II – Gestational Diabetes in Vietnam (VALIDII)” shows that informal support plays a key role in helping women manage GDM. By combining medical science with deep insights into everyday life and culture, the project highlights how powerful it can be when formal treatment is supported by informal care. These findings come from a unique collaboration between clinical researchers and anthropologists from Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy (TBUMP) in Vietnam and the two Danish universities, the University of Copenhagen and the University of Southern Denmark.

A long-lasting partnership
VALID II builds on the earlier VALID I project, a collaboration that began in 2018. Together, VALID I and II bring together interdisciplinary research, capacity building and practical interventions, such as the introduction of diabetes clubs and education programmes, to strengthen diabetes care in Vietnam’s Thai Binh province.

While VALID I (November 2018-March 2024) explored the role of informal care in supporting Vietnamese people with diabetes in their everyday lives, VALID II (December 2022 – November 2026) focuses on gestational diabetes and the challenges it poses for women and their families.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy. It causes high blood sugar that can affect the pregnancy and the baby’s health. By blending medical knowledge and anthropology, VALID II aims at improving self-care for women affected by GDM, and it shows the powerful impact of combining formal treatment with informal, everyday support.

The Danish-Vietnamese collaboration in the health sector
The two VALID projects are linked to the Strategic Sector Cooperation on Health in Vietnam, a collaboration between the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. This collaboration focuses on strengthening primary healthcare systems to better prevent, detect and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs). VALID II’s findings contribute directly to these goals.

Self-care and clinical testing: the marriage of anthropology and clinical research
We can measure blood sugar levels, but it is anthropology that really helps us understand what happens beyond the numbers, how women feel, what support they have, and what shapes their everyday decisions. So, while a dedicated clinical team in the VALID II project screens women for GDM and tracks health indicators, anthropologists provide insight into lived experiences and social dynamics.

Early findings are already making a difference. More women are now being tested for GDM, and those diagnosed are benefiting greatly from the support of their families and friends.

“We see from early data that the number of OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) screenings has increased thanks to better awareness of GDM” says Thanh Duc Nguyen, Head of International Relations Department at TBUMP and Project Coordinator in Valid II.

The research also shows that 23% of women diagnosed with GDM reported signs of depression. However, women who had strong support from their family, friends or partners were much less likely to experience depression. Those who lived in their community of birth also reported better support and stronger mental health.

These early results highlight just how important it is to raise awareness of GDM, not just among women themselves, but also within their wider support networks. It shows that treating GDM requires looking beyond the physical condition to also support women’s emotional wellbeing and social lives.

“The interdisciplinary partnership between anthropology and clinical research is at the heart of VALID II’s impact” says Ditte Søndergaard Lind, associate professor at the University of Southern Denmark, really capturing the key feature of this project.

Beyond self-care, towards policy impact
GDM is just one example of a broader global rise in chronic conditions. Beyond educating women on how to care for themselves, VALID II also aims to contribute to more inclusive and effective health systems.

The project engages a wide network of stakeholders from pregnant women and their families to healthcare professionals, local authorities and public health organisations. The goal is to ensure that the insights from VALID II lead to real, lasting improvements in maternal health and diabetes care.

For example, early detection of gestational diabetes can make a big difference, not only for pregnant women, but for their babies and families too. Among the  aspirations of the research project is to influence policy making, and VALID II highlights the need to make GDM screening part of routine maternal healthcare. This means ensuring that affordable and accessible tests are available, especially in rural areas where resources are limited. When screening is made simple and widespread, more women can get the care they need, when they need it.

 

On 11 April 2025, Danida Fellowship Centre visited the VALID II project at Thai Binh University, TBUMP. We also visited Thai Binh Maternity Hospital. Read an article about our visit here. A warm thanks to everyone who welcomed us.

Participants from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

Professor Christina Anne Vinter and Associate Professor Ditte Søndergaard Linde

Participants from Thai Binh Maternity Hospital

(Mr) Do Van Tan, deputy director 

(Ms) Tran Thi Thu Ha, head of the Out-patient Dept.

Participants from Thai Binh University of Medicine & Pharmacy (TBUMP)

Assoc. Prof. (Mr) Nguyen Duy Cuong, MD, director of TBUMP

Assoc. Prof. (Mr) Nguyen Xuan Bai, MD, deputy director of TBUMP

Assoc. Prof. (Mr) Nguyen Duc Thanh, MD, head of the International Relations Dept.

(Ms) Tran Thi Huong, master student, officer in the International Relations Dept.

(Mr) Nguyen Dang Kien, MD, PhD, lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology Dept.

(Mr) Le Minh Hieu, Master, MD and PhD candidate, lecturer in Internal Medicine Dept.

(Ms) Dang Thi Ngoc Anh, Master, MD, lecturer in Public Heath Faculty

(Ms) Nguyen Thi Ai, Master, PhD candidate,lecturer in Public Heath Faculty

(Ms) Vu Thi Kim Dung, Master, MD, lecturer in Public Heath Faculty

 

 

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