Gestational Diabetes and Birth Injuries
Pregnant women at risk of developing diabetes due to medical negligence
One of the most common maternal risk factors facing pregnant women is developing gestational diabetes. An estimated 2 to 10 percent of women develop gestational diabetes while pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And gestational diabetes can result in a high-risk pregnancy.
If not treated immediately, gestational diabetes can put a woman’s health and well-being at risk. Her fetus can also be harmed, resulting in a serious birth injury, which can have lifelong health consequences for the child.
Experienced medical professionals know how to diagnose and treat gestational diabetes. Unfortunately, some doctors miss the warning signs or misdiagnose what’s wrong. When that happens, medical negligence may be to blame.
Cleveland birth injury lawyer John A. Lancione has years of experience handling negligence claims involving gestational diabetes. That’s because The Lancione Law Firm only handles birth injury and medical negligence cases nationwide.
Attorney Lancione has a well-earned, national reputation for successfully resolving such complex legal cases. He knows the law. He understands how the legal system works. That’s why other law firms routinely refer birth injury cases to us. We know how to get the job done right.
What is gestational diabetes?
This type of diabetes only affects pregnant women. As with other types of diabetes, women with gestational diabetes cannot make enough insulin, a hormone created by the pancreas that allows the body to process sugar and turn it into energy.
Women with gestational diabetes use insulin less effectively and often develop an insulin resistance. As a result, their bodies need more insulin. If not properly diagnosed and treated, women with gestational diabetes can develop high blood pressure, which can put themselves and their child at risk during pregnancy.
Infants of mothers with gestational diabetes are also at risk of serious health problems as children and later in life. Such health problems include:
- Heavier than normal birth weight, which can result in delivery complications.
- Being born prematurely.
- Being born with respiratory distress syndrome, a neonatal respiratory disease in which infants have trouble breathing due to lack of surfactant (protective coating) in the lungs.
- Increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes as an adult.
What are common symptoms?
There are many warning signs of gestational diabetes in pregnant women. Such symptoms can include:
- Frequent urination.
- Blurred vision.
- Bladder infections.
- Fatigue.
Experienced gynecologists and other doctors know what warning signs to look for in pregnant women. They’re familiar with the symptoms of gestational diabetes and administer medical tests right away if something seems wrong. They’re also aware of pre-existing medical conditions which could increase the likelihood of women developing gestational diabetes.
When doctors fail to take such warning signs and risk factors seriously, they need to be held accountable for their actions. That’s our job and we welcome the opportunity to learn more about what happened and to explain the legal options available to you.
Hold medical professionals accountable for their actions. Contact us
If diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, gestational diabetes can often be managed and not cause harm to pregnant women and their fetuses. When negligent doctors and other medical professionals miss these warning signs, Ohio birth injury attorney John A. Lancione can help you hold them accountable for their actions.
We know how to carefully analyze medical records and search for evidence in support of injury claims. We also frequently consult with medical experts for a more in-depth analysis into exactly what went wrong.
Most important, we never lose sight of what matters most – your best interests. If you ever have a question about the status of your case, you can call attorney Lancione anytime on his personal cellphone.
Put your trust in a law firm that puts your needs first. Contact The Lancione Firm and schedule a free consultation with a Cleveland birth injury lawyer you can trust – John A. Lancione. You can reach us online or call (440) 331-6100 or (877) 515-4369 to schedule an appointment.