Background: Of all diabetes types, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has the least consistent support including peer support, government funded programs and subsidies. How best to communicate a GDM diagnosis to women and to support them thereafter also remains unclear.

Aim: To examine from the community perspective, what the preferred models are for diagnosis and communicating criteria, as well as care and support for women with GDM.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted at Women with prior lived experience or at risk of GDM and their partners were invited to share their perceptions and experiences on what the preferred criteria for GDM should be (based on existing medical evidence and their perceptions of what this means for practice), who should deliver a GDM diagnosis, using what words, how it should be delivered and suggesting what supports for these women and their families are important. Discussions were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings were collated into a service framework combining both community and HCPs perspectives from the focus groups.

Results: Overall, 6 community members and their partners and 6 HCPs participated. Key themes included: the need for agreed GDM criteria between primary and secondary care; better collaboration between primary and secondary care for delivery of diagnosis and support services; preference for earlier diagnosis/single-step screening and increased promotion of early lifestyle interventions; acknowledgement of the overwhelm of diagnosis and information overload and burden for both community and HCPs in the delivery of information; and recommendations of improved communication methods.  The proposed service framework has been called GDM CARE, with the acronym representing core themes (Communication/Collaboration, Acknowledgement/Accessibility, Relationships and Earlier diagnosis).

Conclusions: Community and HCPs agree on preventative measures (earlier treatment/diagnosis) for the greatest benefit, especially in vulnerable groups. There is a mutual understanding of the overwhelm of sudden diagnosis, as well as the burden experienced by both women experiencing a diagnosis, and HCPs delivering diagnosis and support. The GDM CARE Framework, developed through lived experience aims to support both consumer and HCPs in the application of criteria related to early diagnosis, treatment and primary/secondary collaboration should be assessed for improved care.