BACKGROUND:
Pregnancy with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) requires intensified medical management and self-care. However, little is known about how women experience pregnancy while living with T2DM.

OBJECTIVES:
To explore the pregnancy experiences of women living with T2DM.

METHODS:
A qualitative interview study was conducted at a specialist antenatal clinic in a university hospital in Sweden. Eleven women with a pre-pregnancy diagnosis of T2DM participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed inductively using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS:
One overarching theme was identified: Pushed to the limit, driven by love, supported by four sub-themes. (1) A familiar diagnosis, but an unfamiliar experience described how women felt unprepared for the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy. (2) Blood glucose levels: intense monitoring and inconsistent communication highlighted how continuous monitoring was both supportive and overwhelming, with conflicting advice contributing to uncertainty. (3) Feeling seen or overlooked captured mixed care experiences, including weight stigma and lack of holistic support. (4) Pregnancy as a mental and physical trial reflected the strain of managing T2DM, while also showing the women’s determination, fuelled by care for the unborn child.

CONCLUSIONS:
Women with T2DM experience pregnancy as clinically and emotionally demanding, often receiving inconsistent support. Nevertheless, their motivation to protect their babies drives their perseverance. Antenatal care should be adapted to their specific needs, with emphasis on routine preconception counselling, coherent care pathways, and person-centred communication.

KEY MESSAGE:
Women with T2DM navigate pregnancy with strength and determination, yet may feel overwhelmed and unsupported. Compassionate care, clear communication, and continuity beginning with pre-conception care can make a meaningful difference for maternal wellbeing. Complications - GDM 2