About this Webinar:

The clinical management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) can result in the medicalisation of eating with women often experiencing stress and anxiety about food choices, a disrupted relationship with food, creation or escalation of underlying disordered eating behaviours, or triggering a return of previous eating disorder symptoms. Within recent years, the impact of the additional stigma experienced by women with GDM, as well as weight stigma, is also increasingly documented.

This webinar will focus on:

• Identifying risk factors;

• Utilising additional tools available such as blood glucose monitoring with thorough nutritional screening to identify clients who are experiencing eating disorder symptoms;

• Strategies of how to reduce stigma and advocate for a non-diet weight-inclusive diabetes model of care.

Presented By: Melissa Matheson, Senior Dietitian & Exercise Physiologist

Mel is a Senior Dietitian based at the Dubbo Community Health Service, she is the lead dietitian for local Outpatient Eating Disorder care to both paediatric and adult clients from Dubbo and surrounding western areas. Mel is passionate about advocating for the role of dietitians within treatment models, equity of health access in regional areas, and clinical supervision. Mel has been working at the Dubbo Diabetes Unit for over 10 years. During this time she has observed a challenging intersection between service treatment models and the importance of eating disorder screening, early intervention, and timely utilisation of referral pathways.