Knoxville Birth Injury Attorneys

Gestational Diabetes - Overview

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that women may develop while they are pregnant.  In the U.S., it is reported that between 2 - 7% of all expectant mothers will develop gestational diabetes.  When people have diabetes, it is harder for their bodies to break down glucose (sugar), which provides energy for the cells in their bodies.  In order to alleviate this problem, people are prescribed insulin, which helps deliver glucose to the cells of the body. 

Women that have gestational diabetes encounter problems because glucose is staying in their bloodstreams instead of moving to their bodies' cells and being converted into energy.  Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy because the increased hormones in women's bodies make it harder for them to use and produce insulin.  Usually, the body will respond efficiently to this problem by having the pancreas produce more insulin.  However, when expectant mothers have gestational diabetes, their pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin, which results in high glucose levels remaining in the blood.

Gestational Diabetes & the Law

After women have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, their OBGYNs and doctors must carefully monitor their pregnancies and the health of their babies.  Often times, when women have this condition, the excess glucose they have in their bloodstream can enter their babies' bloodstreams.   Once this happens, their babies may gain too much weight due to the excess sugar in their systems.   When babies are very large, it can lead to Macrosomia.  Macrosomia occurs when large babies get stuck in their mothers' birth canals because the width of their shoulder is too large.  When this occurs, birth injuries may result as OBGYNs try to deliver the babies.

Anytime parents have infants who sustained birth injuries due to gestational diabetes and the negligence of medical professionals, it is always in their best interests to discuss their legal options with an understanding birth injury lawyer, such as the lawyers at the Law Firm of John Whitfield.

Knoxville Gestational Diabetes Lawyers

The Law Firm of John Whitfield has served as professional litigators and also compassionate advocates for numerous clients in Tennessee.  If you are looking to speak with trusted and dependable Knoxville birth injury lawyers, contact the Law Firm of John Whitfield today to set up an initial consultation!