‘Is gestational diabetes a severe illness?’ exploring beliefs and self‐care behaviour among women with gestational diabetes living in a rural area of the south east of China

This study highlighted the serious lack of knowledge, lower level of risk awareness and poor self-care behaviour among women in this group. Health professionals were found to be the most important source of knowledge about gestational diabetes for these women. The influence of Chinese culture was demonstrated. Gestational diabetes among these women can most likely be improved by training the health professionals and by health education involving individuals, families and the rural communities.