Many expectant parents, especially those expecting for the first time, have various worries and anxieties during pregnancy. Although many of those concerns are unnecessary because they never come to fruition, there are some pregnancy conditions that do pose significant risks to both mother and child. One of those conditions is gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a kind of diabetes that appears in pregnant women who have not previously been diabetic. The condition involves increased blood sugar levels in the mother’s blood. It usually resolves itself when treated properly or after the baby is born. When an expectant mother has gestational diabetes, her glucose levels are increased because the hormones that the placenta releases can impair proper insulin regulation. During a pregnancy affected by gestational diabetes, the hormones that are released improperly makes it more difficult for the mother’s body to manage her blood sugar levels.
When gestational diabetes is diagnosed and treated early, many mothers have perfectly healthy babies and there are no long-term complications for mother or baby. However, when gestational diabetes isn’t diagnosed and treated promptly, there can be serious complications to both mother and child – some that may be lifelong. That’s why testing for gestational diabetes is part of normal routine prenatal care. It’s a doctors’ responsibility to make sure that the testing is done correctly and that mothers-to-be are properly treated and monitored when they are found to have the condition.
When a woman develops gestational diabetes during pregnancy, they are at risk for various severe complications, including:
Mothers are not the only ones at risk when they develop gestational diabetes. So are their babies. Here are some of the dangers that those infants face:
Doctors have a responsibility to properly identify, diagnose, and treat any medical problems during pregnancy. When gestational diabetes is recognized and treated early, the risks to mother and baby are greatly decreased. The failure to timely diagnose gestational diabetes that causes harm to mother or baby may be found to be the responsibility of a doctor or other medical professional. When that happens, the family may be entitled to compensation through a birth injury lawsuit.
If your family has suffered injuries due to gestational diabetes not being diagnosed and properly treated, then you may be able to file a claim for the financial burden and pain and suffering it caused. At Ross Feller Casey, our experienced attorneys and on-site physicians can help you with your claim. We have handled many gestational diabetes birth injury cases and have a track record of securing large financial recoveries for families who have been affected by medical negligence or malpractice.
Contact our law office today to schedule your free case review. Let Ross Feller Casey help your family as we have helped so many others.
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