It has become a fairly routine procedure for pregnant women to be tested for Gestational Diabetes, but many parents are unaware of the impact this can have on both the mother and the child. Expectant parents must understand the risk factors and how this condition can impact the baby, including the increased risk of a birth injury.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels that occur in women who previously did not have diabetes. The condition usually occurs around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy when the body's hormonal changes can make it harder for insulin to regulate blood sugar levels effectively. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that help the baby's development, but these hormones can also interfere with the action of insulin in the mother's body. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. When insulin becomes less effective, blood sugar levels can rise, leading to gestational diabetes.

The number of instances of Gestational Diabetes has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2021, JAMA published a study indicating that rates of Gestational Diabetes had increased from 4.8% to 6.4% of live births. It is expected that rates will continue to rise over the next few years. The increase is being seen across all racial groups, but women of color are at a much higher risk of developing Gestational Diabetes.

What Are the Risks Factors of Gestational Diabetes?

A variety of temporary illnesses can affect even a healthy pregnancy. However, gestational diabetes does have several risk factors that could make it more likely. It is important to be aware of these risk factors and discuss them with your medical provider. The most common risk factors include:

  • The mother being overweight or gaining significant weight in pregnancy
  • The mother is over the age of 25 years old
  • Having previously developed Gestational Diabetes in a previous pregnancy
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
  • Family History of Diabetes

Gestational diabetes does not usually cause noticeable symptoms. However, some women may experience increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision. If left unmanaged, gestational diabetes can pose risks to both the mother and the baby. Complications for the mother may include:

  • Preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy).
  • Cesarean delivery.
  • An increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

The baby may have an increased risk of excessive birth weight, low blood sugar levels at birth, and a higher likelihood of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.

Gestational Diabetes & Birth Injuries

When a pregnant woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it can be managed with the appropriate care. This includes eating a balanced diet, appropriate physical activity, and monitoring blood sugar. Depending on the severity, it may be necessary to prescribe insulin or other medications. Regular check-ups with healthcare providers are essential to monitor the condition and ensure the well-being of both the mother and the baby. After delivery, blood sugar levels usually return to normal, but women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future and should be monitored regularly.

However, if your medical provider fails to diagnose or adequately manage your gestational diabetes, it can increase the risk of complications, including birth injury. Having gestational diabetes alone is insufficient to warrant working with a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville, as it is a natural risk associated with pregnancy. It would be necessary to prove that your medical care failed to diagnose the condition, misdiagnosed it, or did not offer the appropriate care to manage your condition. It is also necessary to prove that those actions resulted in injury to you or your newborn. A birth injury lawyer in Knoxville can help you assemble the evidence required to file a birth injury lawsuit if you have a viable case. Some of the complications that can be linked to mishandled gestational diabetes include:

  • Preeclampsia - Preeclampsia is a common condition, not exclusive to gestational diabetes, where the blood pressure is significantly raised in the later stages of pregnancy and during labor. If it is not managed correctly, the results can be devastating, including stroke, organ failure, and other life-threatening situations for the mother and baby. It also drastically increases the risk of birth injuries. Mismanagement of either preeclampsia or gestational diabetes resulting in a birth injury warrants a consultation with a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville to determine your next steps.
  • Premature Birth - Mismanagement of gestational diabetes frequently results in premature birth, which in turn increases to the risk of serious birth injury. If your premature child has suffered a birth injury as a result of doctors failing to manage or diagnose your gestational diabetes, then you should make it a point to talk with a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville to see if you have a valid lawsuit.
  • Fetal Macrosomia - This occurs when a baby grows to an abnormally large size (over 8.5 pounds) before birth. Gestational diabetes triggers the baby to overproduce insulin and gain weight. In general pregnancy, Fetal Macrosomia occurs in 9% of live births, but Gestational diabetes increases it to around 50%. Due to the baby's larger size, a vaginal birth can be tricky, and the infant is more likely to get stuck in the birth canal. This can drastically increase the risk of birth injury, so your medical team needs to prepare for potential problems. Failure to do so is grounds for medical malpractice and is worth discussing with a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville.
  • Hypoglycemia - In some cases, gestational diabetes can also affect the child after birth. The overproduction of insulin can trigger neonatal hypoglycemia, which causes dangerously low blood sugar in the infant after birth. This is extremely dangerous and may trigger seizures.

If you believe that poor management of gestational diabetes has resulted in an otherwise preventable birth injury, talk to an experienced birth injury lawyer in Knoxville and find out how to proceed with a potential birth injury lawsuit.

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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.

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