Gestational Diabetes
When to Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if a woman who is taking insulin for gestational diabetes:
- Is losing consciousness or becomes unconscious.
- Has symptoms of
low blood sugar and her symptoms do not get better or go away after being given sugar.
- Has a low blood sugar level (less than 50 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL), and is not able to keep food down.
- Is becoming more and more sleepy and has a blood sugar level of less than 60 mg/dL after following steps for dealing with low blood sugar.
Call your doctor if you have gestational diabetes and:
- You notice a change in the pattern of fetal movements called kick counts, or you stop having them.
- You are taking insulin and you have not talked with your doctor about how to deal with low blood sugar levels.
- Your blood sugar level does not rise above 60 mg/dL after following the steps for dealing with low blood sugar.
- Your blood sugar level is above normal and you have not talked with your doctor about how to deal with high blood sugar.
- You are taking insulin and your blood sugar level stays high after taking a missed dose of insulin or taking an extra dose of insulin (if prescribed by your doctor).
- You have problems with high or low blood sugar levels. If you are taking insulin, you may need to change how much you are taking.
- You are sick for more than 2 days (unless it is a mild illness, such as a cold) and you:
- Have been throwing up or have had diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
- Think your symptoms, such as feeling very thirsty and weak, are being caused by high blood sugar.
- Have tried the home treatments suggested by your doctor, and they have not worked.
- Have blood sugar levels consistently above 150 mg/dL.
You should also call your doctor if you think you have symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, and blurred vision.
For information about when to call your doctor for other pregnancy-related issues, see the topic Pregnancy.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you get better on your own, you won't need treatment. If you get worse, you and your doctor will decide what to do next. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you are pregnant and have risk factors for or symptoms of gestational diabetes.
Watchful waiting also is not appropriate if you are taking insulin and have symptoms of low blood sugar that do not go away after following the steps for dealing with low blood sugar. Call your doctor or seek emergency medical care.
Who to See
Health professionals who can diagnose and treat gestational diabetes include:
- A specialist in the care of pregnant women (obstetrician).
- A family medicine doctor or general practitioner who has an interest or training in gestational diabetes.
- A nurse practitioner who has training in the care of pregnant women.
- A physician assistant who has training in the care of pregnant women.
- A certified nurse-midwife or certified professional midwife.
If you need insulin shots, you may see a specialist called an endocrinologist or a doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies called a perinatologist. After a visit with a specialist, you can usually return to the care of your regular doctor.
After you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you may be referred to other health professionals who can help you understand what gestational diabetes means. These may include:
- A certified diabetes educator (CDE). A CDE is a registered nurse, dietitian, doctor, pharmacist, or other health professional who has training and experience in caring for people with diabetes. A CDE can help you understand how to take care of yourself and help you adjust to living with gestational diabetes.
- A registered dietitian. All women who have gestational diabetes need to see a dietitian for help choosing the best foods. Follow-up visits with a dietitian are helpful if you need to change your eating habits.
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: December 4, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Lois Jovanovic, MD - Endocrinology | |
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