Legal Assistance for Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a relatively common issue during pregnancy, affecting thousands of women every year. It describes, in essence, high glucose levels and extra insulin during pregnancy. To prevent complications during pregnancy, early diagnosis of gestational diabetes is crucial. This allows physicians to treat the condition, reducing the risk of harm to both the mother and the baby. Failure to diagnose gestational diabetes can lead to serious health issues, including the following harms and birth complications::

• High blood sugar levels in infant
• Extra insulin in the infant’s pancreas
• Fetal macrosomia (“fat baby” syndrome)
• Brachial plexus or shoulder dystocia injury from excessive fetal size
• Increased risk of obesity later in life
• Increased risk of labor and delivery problems
• Early delivery risks, including respiratory distress in premature infants
• Increased risk of preeclampsia
• Development of type 2 diabetes in mother
• Increased risk of gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies
• Stillbirth

When symptoms of gestational diabetes present in an expecting mother, it is an obstetrician or gynecologist’s (OBGYN’s) duty to detect them, order appropriate tests, and diagnose the condition in a timely manner. That way, the mother can begin treatment. Changing diet, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight can all potentially treat gestational diabetes before it adversely affects the mother and infant. Failure to fulfill an OBGYN’s duties to diagnose gestational diabetes on time to prevent harm, resulting in injuries to the mother or child, is medical malpractice.