According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis in 2014, in the United States, gestational diabetes may have a prevalence rate as high as 9.2%.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis in 2014, in the United States, gestational diabetes may have a prevalence rate as high as 9.2%.
Pregnant women without a history of diabetes, but who have a high sugar (blood glucose) levels while pregnant are said to have gestational diabetes. The CDC reports that 1% to 14% of pregnant women in the US are likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
When a pregnant woman who has never had diabetes develops diabetes, then she can be considered to have gestational diabetes. Sometimes known as maternal diabetes, this diabetes, as with all types of the condition, is caused by glucose increase in the blood. This would ordinarily be caused by the natural insulin resource in the body.
Though, during pregnancy, certain insulin-resistant hormones, like oestrogen, is released by your body to help in increasing the glucose amount in your blood. This is beneficial as it helps in passing extra nutrients to your unborn baby.
Therefore, pregnant women do not only have extra glucose in their blood, but also have cells that do not respond well to insulin. To cope with this, more insulin needs to be produced by the body.
However, there are some women who already have glucose levels that are higher than normal, meaning that their body is unable to produce enough insulin to cope with the glucose increase. Consequently, the glucose amount in the blood becomes too high, causing the pregnant woman to develop gestational diabetes.
Potential Complications of Diabetes during Pregnancy
When gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy, it can increase the risk of certain complications, including:
- Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy
- Premature birth
- Placental abruption
- The necessity to induce labor
- Hypoglycemia in the newborn baby
- Macrosomnia, a condition in which a baby is too large for its gestational age
- Trauma during birth, either to the mother or baby, such as shoulder dystocia
- Perinatal death, which means death around the time of birth
Gestational Diabetes and Medical Negligence
Gestational diabetes needs to be carefully and properly managed to ensure that both mother and baby remain healthy. Treatment varies according to individual cases, but will require a pregnant woman to control the levels of glucose in her blood. This may involve regular exercise, change in diet and the use of medication.
If gestational diabetes is not treated and monitored properly, it increases the risk of complications for both mother and baby – complications that can be as serious as miscarriage and still-born birth. It is therefore crucial for medical professionals in New York to take all necessary measures to diagnose, treat and manage the condition. If this is not done and results in harm to the mother or baby, it may lead to a medical negligence claim or lawsuit. This may arise due to failure to:
- Identify signs of the condition
- Conduct screening tests
- Take action based on test results
- Appropriately manage the condition
- Monitor both the mother and baby’s health
Get Legal Help for Gestational Diabetes Malpractice in New York
If you or your child has suffered due to gestational diabetes caused by medical negligence in New York, you should immediately seek the help of the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000.
No one said trying these cases are easy. Anyone who says that is ignorant and not being honest about the situation. But RMFW Law has a background in litigating these types of cases. We have the expert/s to back up your claims if they are viable. What is your side of the story? Call us today!
