Gestational Diabetes Management

The Gestational Diabetes Management Program supports expecting mothers navigating the challenges of gestational diabetes. We deliver this service via telehealth, and it’s available to all Women's Health Connecticut OB patients who have received their provider’s referral.

Ruth Ferrarotti, ANP-BC, APRN, CDCES, facilitates the program. Ruth has over 40 years of experience counseling and treating diabetes patients. This comprehensive program includes:

• Guidance on diet and exercise
• Glucose monitoring and tracking
• Insulin management
• Education on the use of continuous glucose monitors (when needed)

After an initial consultation, a specialist will work with you on a management and treatment plan along with a schedule of follow-up sessions. Our primary goal is to provide holistic care to help ensure healthy outcomes for mother and baby.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition that arises during pregnancy when a hormone made by the placenta prevents the body from effectively using insulin. If left untreated, it may lead to complications that affect both mother and baby. According to the Centers for Disease Control, gestational diabetes may affect up to 10% of pregnancies in the US.

Without appropriate prenatal care or interventions, gestational diabetes can lead to:

• Having a large baby that requires a C-section
• High blood pressure for the mother (preeclampsia)
• Low blood sugar for the baby (hypoglycemia)
• Obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life for the baby

While it’s not possible to prevent gestational diabetes completely, many things, including diet and exercise, can be done to reduce your risk. With early detection and the right resources to assist with lifestyle changes, gestational diabetes can be managed, ensuring a safe and healthy pregnancy and an uncomplicated birth.

Although any woman can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, some factors that may increase risk include:

• Being overweight or obese (A BMI of 25 and above)
• Having a sedentary lifestyle
• Having polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Previously delivering a baby weighing over 9 lbs
• Race or ethnicity (gestational diabetes disproportionately affects women who are Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American)

If you have any of the above risk factors, it’s vital to be proactive and discuss them with your healthcare provider to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

For the most part, gestational diabetes has no noticeable signs or symptoms. Some report increased thirst or more frequent urination. That is why the glucose test is standard for all pregnancies, regardless of the absence of any perceived risk factors. If you are seeking to become pregnant and are at a heightened risk for diabetes, speak with your Women's Health Connecticut provider to check your risk and provide counsel.

Because gestational diabetes has very few symptoms, it is standard to test all pregnant women. The glucose screening test, typically performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, measures your blood glucose level. However, if you are at increased risk for gestational diabetes, your provider will likely recommend taking the test earlier.

The standard two-step test usually takes 1-3 hours. First, you drink a glucose solution. After one hour, your provider draws a blood sample and tests your glucose levels. If your blood glucose level is high, you will need a follow-up test. Alternatively, your provider might opt for a two-hour test, where you drink the glucose solution at a lab and have blood drawn every 60 minutes, totaling three blood draws.

To prepare for the glucose screening test, you must fast (no food or drinks other than water) for 8-14 hours before the test.

Your provider will discuss the outcomes and any necessary next steps based on the results.

 Ruth Ferrarotti, ANP-BC, APRN, CDCES

Ruth has been a Diabetes Educator since 1990. In 1997, she joined the Department of OB/GYN at Hartford Hospital to work with colleagues on the start-up of a diabetes in pregnancy program and continue to provide care at Women's Ambulatory Health Services. In 2000, she became a Nurse Practitioner, further expanding her involvement in the care of women experiencing diabetes during pregnancy.

Kim Parrow, FNP-C

Kim Parrow, FNP-C, started her nursing career in 1998 working in women’s healthcare, specifically in labor and delivery, high-risk pregnancy care, maternal-fetal medicine, and gestational diabetes education.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Simmons College and Regis College. She has been a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society since 1997. Her mission as a women’s healthcare provider is to provide quality care to women and to assist her patients in achieving optimal health by providing individualized care.

Outside of work, Kim enjoys daily walks and Pilates classes. She also loves spending time with her husband and three children.

Jennifer Lloyd, FNP-BC, APRN, BC-ADM

Jenn is a Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of clinical practice in the field of nursing. Her patient care experience has centered around diabetes mellitus, inspiring her to achieve additional board certification in Advanced Diabetes Management for best outcomes. As a dedicated patient advocate, she prioritizes building strong relationships with her patients to enhance their understanding of their diagnoses and improve their self-management skills.

Outside of work, Jenn enjoys reading and spending time by the lake with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs.