Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs are well-equipped to manage gestational diabetes

Women’s bodies respond differently to the insulin hormone when they are pregnant, which causes about 5% of pregnant women to develop a problem. Should gestational diabetes develop during pregnancy, it is very important for mother and baby to receive care and special monitoring. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obstetricians have the experience and knowledge needed to handle this serious condition.

What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?

Any pregnant woman can develop gestational diabetes, but certain factors put a mother at higher risk for developing the condition. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, gestational diabetes is more likely to occur in women with any of these risk factors.

• Women age 25 or older
• Overweight women
• Women who have already had gestational diabetes
• Women who have given birth to a large baby
• Women with a close family member with diabetes
• Women who have previously had a stillbirth
• African American, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic, Latina and Pacific Islanders

Expert diagnosis and treatment are important for mother’s and baby’s health

Screening for gestational diabetes is an important part of prenatal care. In most cases, our Grapevine and Fort Worth obstetricians will perform this test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, but we screen for the condition earlier in women who have risk factors.

If the screening test indicates that a woman has gestational diabetes, she will need to be closely monitored. In most cases, the condition can be controlled with daily tracking of glucose levels at home, healthy eating and regular exercise. However, some women may require oral medications or insulin.

Properly managing gestational diabetes is extremely important for both mother and baby because the condition can cause complications. Without care, a baby who is born to a mother with gestational diabetes is at risk for becoming very large; breathing difficulties; jaundice; and low glucose levels.

Mothers with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia and having a cesarean birth.

Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs are here for you during your high-risk pregnancy

There is good news for mothers with gestational diabetes—with proper care and monitoring, the risk that both mother and baby may develop problems decreases. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth obs will provide you with excellent care and monitoring, ensuring that your high-risk pregnancy goes as smoothly as possible. Contact us to make an appointment for your prenatal care and delivery.