Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital provides diagnosis and treatment for gestational diabetes.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition where blood sugar levels are elevated during pregnancy in women that have not been diagnosed with diabetes. This type of diabetes is only during pregnancy and goes away after the baby is born or delivered. The exact cause of gestational diabetes is unknown. However, gestational diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes because it is not caused because of an inability to produce insulin, rather it is caused by effects of hormones released during pregnancy and insulin resistance.
Risk Factors
The following are common risk factors associated with gestational diabetes.
- Overweight
- Family history of prediabetes/diabetes
- History of gestational diabetes
- Age
- Race
- Delivering a baby over 9lbs
Diagnosis and Treatment
Gestational diabetes can be diagnosed by a doctor through a physical exam, medical history or a diabetes screening at the first prenatal visit for a women with diabetes or diabetes testing performed at 24-28 weeks of gestation.
Treatment for gestational diabetes is determined by your doctor but may include the following:
- Special diet
- Exercise
- Daily blood glucose monitoring
- Insulin injections
- Oral anti-diabetic medication
Always consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Referral to the Diabetes and Nutrition Counseling services:
In order to provide the best care possible, referral to any of the diabetes and nutrition counseling services is coordinated through your physician.
CONTACT US
LOCATION
Diabetes and nutrition counseling services is located on the campus of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital in Medical Office Building 1.
1040 N. Mason Road
Medical Office Building 1, Suite 103
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
314.996.3823 office
314.996.3270 fax