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Gestational diabetes is a diabetic or high blood sugar situation that begins and usually is confined to pregnancy. It is a condition primarily of the second and third trimester of pregnancy and is identified in the last few weeks of the second trimester of pregnancy. If you think that your condition has worsened as a result of medical negligence, contact our gestational diabetes solicitors for advice at no cost.

Pregnancy hormones can block insulin from doing the work it is supposed to do. This means that blood glucose levels can increase in the blood of pregnant women.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes include being older than age 25 when you are pregnant. If you have a family history of diabetes, you are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes or if you have given birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds or had a birth defect at birth. If you show sugar in your urine during a prenatal visit prior to being tested for gestational diabetes, you are at risk. If your blood pressure is too high or you have too much amniotic fluid around the baby, you are at higher risk. If you have had an unexplained stillbirth or miscarriage, you are at risk and if you were overweight before your pregnancy, you can have gestational diabetes around that pregnancy.

Symptoms of pregnancy afflicted with gestational diabetes are few. You could have blurry vision, tiredness, frequent infections, such as bladder, vaginal or skin infections, increased thirst, nausea and vomiting, increase in urination and weight loss that is unexplained by your appetite.

The tests for gestational diabetes occur using an oral glucose tolerance test at around 24 to 28 weeks. This is a screening test for diabetes that is followed by a regular oral glucose tolerance test (a three hour test) to confirm the presence of diabetes of pregnancy. Some women with risk factors are tested earlier than 24 weeks. Haemoglobin A1C tests are sometimes done to follow the pregnancy and the blood sugar. It s also recommended that a woman check her blood sugars at home to see what the blood sugars are doing during the day.

Treatment of gestational diabetes involves having a registered dietician teach you things to eat and things not to eat. The pregnancy is followed more closely to make sure nothing happens to the baby. It is recommended that your weight be as low as possible so the baby doesn't grow too big.

Ultrasounds of the baby are done to follow the baby's weight and to see that it remains active. Some women have frequent non-stress tests to see if the baby's heart rate goes up when it moves. Stress tests are done to see if the baby will tolerate labour contractions. If all of these are normal, then the baby can remain in the uterus until it is time to be born.

Diet and exercise are important in treating gestational diabetes. The best way to maximize your diet is to eat many different foods, all of which are healthy for you. You'll be taught how to read food labelling so you avoid sugars in foods and make the right decisions around choosing foods for pregnancy and diabetes. If you are on a special diet or are a vegetarian, talk to your dietician about which are the best foods to eat.

You should have a diet moderate in fat and high in protein with low amounts of simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates, including whole grains, vegetables and fruits are healthy for you to eat. You shouldn't have a lot of simple sugars in your diet, meaning you can't have sweets or fruit juices.

You should have a prenatal vitamin every day and you may need to take extra calcium or iron. You shouldn't eat twice as much food as in "eating for two" but instead should eat around 300 calories per day more than you normally eat.

In some cases, insulin is used or other diabetic medicine so as to bring the blood sugar back to normal. In most cases, however, diet and exercise can be the only treatment you need. Regular blood sugar monitoring is done in most cases.

Most women with gestational diabetes do not go on to develop regular diabetes but their risk for diabetes is higher than the average person. Babies tend to be larger than women without gestational diabetes. Birth injuries due to a large sized infant are more common. The baby is more likely delivered by caesarean section.

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Medical Negligence Solicitors

Our gestational diabetes solicitors operate the no win no fee scheme which is totally without risk. You only pay legal charges if the case is won. There are no upfront charges to pay whatsoever. If you would like to discuss your potential compensation claim with a specialist medical negligence solicitor just complete the contact form or email our solicitors offices or use the helpline. Once you have provided sufficient information you will speak with a gestational diabetes solicitor who will advise you on the prospects of success for your claim and an estimated amount of compensation that may be awarded. Our advice is totally without cost and there is no further obligation to use our legal services. Do yourself justice and give us a call.