Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

Dr. Stephen Gabbe, Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist: We have therapies that work which are either going to be insulin, or we use metformin, which is an oral pill that is safe as well, and we've been using now for quite some time.

Announcer: As many as 50% of pregnant people with gestational diabetes will need help with blood glucose regulation. That is only possible with medication.

Dr. Kamilah Dixon, Ob/Gyn: First step, we calm down, right? Take a deep breath. You're working very hard to make sure that you and your baby have a safe pregnancy. But for a lot of women, about a third, it won't work. And that means that at that point, there are options for medication. These medications have been studied for many, many, many years. They're safe, which is why we recommend that they're being used during pregnancy.

Patient: I was managed with metformin. An oral medication was my first, and then this time I am on insulin. So I kind of have experience on both of those pathways. So with that it makes me feel like I'm safe, like my baby's safe. And also remember it's all temporary, you know. You'll, you'll meet the baby, and then you're kind of good to go after that. 

Announcer: The important question of when to start medication, and which medication is right
for you, is an important conversation to have with your obstetrician. 

Brenda Widmayer, Diabetes Nurse: The benefit to working with pregnant women who have diabetes is they are usually very motivated.