HARDERWIJK / ZEEWOLDE – For pregnant women with diabetes, internists, gynaecologists, nurse specialists and diabetes nurses and dieticians from St Jansdal join forces with primary care midwives from the East Flevoland and Northwest Veluwe regions. This means that pregnant women with diabetes can go to the right healthcare providers even faster. The care providers work together in a Midwifery Partnership (VSV).
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“About seven percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes,” says nurse specialist Inge van de Belt. “It is important for the health of mother and baby that this diabetes is treated as well as possible during pregnancy. Diabetes in pregnancy entails risks, such as overgrowth of the baby, and therefore greater health risks for mother and child. This also applies to women who are already known to have diabetes before they become pregnant. Women with gestational diabetes need a good follow-up, including lifestyle advice in the hospital, because studies show that there is a risk of up to 50 percent of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in old age.”
Within the VSV (Zorg die Bevalt) it has been agreed in collaboration with the internists and gynaecologists of St Jansdal that pregnant women in Lelystad can now also get a blood test around the sugar solution, in order to be able to diagnose gestational diabetes. Internist-endocrinologist Mariska Vlot: “Partly due to our renewed protocol for pregnant women with diabetes, we can now offer the same care for all pregnant women with diabetes from the referral area of St Jansdal. Recommendations have also been drawn up for special groups of pregnant women, such as patients after gastric bypass surgery, which primary care midwives can also work with. Pregnant women with diabetes can also quickly contact the right healthcare providers because we work as a team.”
If the glucose is well regulated, the pregnant woman remains under the obstetrician’s control. About two percent of pregnant women with gestational diabetes maintain high glucose levels despite dieting. Then the care is transferred to the gynecologist and internist of St Jansdal. “An ultrasound is made more often to keep a close eye on the growth of the baby”, explains gynecologist Marleen van Vugt. “Learning to measure blood sugars is also important and the dietician is involved in this, because a healthy diet is of great importance. Nevertheless, sometimes medication in the form of insulin is necessary.” Board member on behalf of the cooperative primary obstetricians Stephanie Penterman is pleased with the collaboration: “Good cooperation between primary obstetricians, gynaecologists and the diabetes team at St Jansdal is essential to provide good care for mother and child. Providing care close to the pregnant woman is our starting point and the necessary care in close cooperation with the chain partners in the hospital!”
More information about gestational diabetes can be found on the website: www.stjansdal.nl/zwangerschapsdiabetes.
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