Gestational Diabetes Plan Puts Her Back on Track
20 weeks into her third pregnancy, Kayla needed to find a new OB-GYN who would take her gestational diabetes concerns seriously. Luckily, the doctor who delivered her second baby, and who knew her medical history, was back in town.
Kayla Gregorich was 20 weeks into the pregnancy for her third child when the OB-GYN she’d recently been seeing in Ohio told her she’d be taking a leave of absence for a few years — starting in two weeks.
Naturally, Kayla panicked. She’d had gestational diabetes during her 2nd pregnancy. Her mom had preeclampsia with both her and her brother. High-risk pregnancies ran in the family. What if she couldn’t find a new OB-GYN she felt comfortable with or who took her concerns seriously?
A serious but controllable condition
Gestational diabetes affects 2-10% of U.S. pregnancies every year.* But it can be controlled.
When you have gestational diabetes your body doesn’t make or process insulin effectively during pregnancy. This causes your blood sugar levels to rise. This may cause your baby to receive more sugar than it needs and grow larger than normal in the womb.
It can also put you at risk for health complications, including preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy).
Your physician may test you for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant (or earlier if you have certain risk factors, such as obesity). You can often manage gestational diabetes with diet and exercise alone. In some cases, your physician may recommend medication to control your blood sugar levels.
Getting Kayla back on track
When Kayla learned that Dr. Nicole Carlson, who’d delivered her second baby, and who knew her medical history, was back and accepting patients at Grove City, her worry melted away.
“Because we had that history, I immediately knew that gestational diabetes testing needed to be done, and preventive measures put into place,” said Dr. Carlson.
Now that Kayla is back on track with her prenatal care, she’s looking forward to delivering her baby with Dr. Carlson at the new Wexford Hospital. In the meantime, she continues her bi-weekly visits to Grove City for monitoring and blood tests.
“Everyone is so nice there,” she said. “From the security guards to the receptionist to the nurses.”
As for Dr. Carlson, Kayla said, “She’s one of the best doctors I’ve ever had. More than a doctor — like a friend who always makes you feel completely comfortable.”
Managing gestational diabetes
With the help and guidance of the diabetes experts at AHN Grove City, you can have a healthy pregnancy with gestational diabetes. To help you keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range, our team will develop a treatment plan that’s tailored to you.
Comprehensive gestational diabetes testing and treatment at AHN Grove City
Gestational diabetes, while concerning, is also controllable. If you have gestational diabetes, the diabetes specialists at the AHN Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Health (CDEH) can help.
- Gestational Diabetes
- Gestational Diabetes and Medical Care
- Women’s Health Services at AHN Grove City
- AHN Grove City
Sources for: Gestational Diabetes Plan Puts Her Back on Track
*CDC: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/gestational.html
