Last Updated on October 23, 2024

Misdiagnosed Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. This condition poses health risks for both mother and child; thus, proper diagnosis and management is crucial in ensuring their safety. If your doctor’s misdiagnosis of this condition has led to harm (in either mother or child), you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes – or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) – occurs due to hormonal changes that a pregnant woman is experiencing. Whereas normal pregnancies are capable of producing enough insulin to battle GDM, some mothers cannot produce enough insulin to resist the condition. Some genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to the on-set of gestational diabetes.[1]

Here are some risk factors associated with the condition:

  • Maternal obesity
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Family history
  • History of gestational diabetes
  • Macrosomia (having a larger baby inside the womb)
  • Metabolic issue

It is your healthcare provider's responsibility to identify these risk factors and prescribe all necessary tests

How Common is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a common complication in pregnancies. In the US, about 7% of pregnancies are affected by GDM. Incidence is significantly higher in Europe where about 11% of pregnancies are complicated by the condition. A recent study by the International Diabetes Federation estimates that about 17% of all pregnancies are met with GDM globally.[1]

Envelope Icon

Doctor Misdiagnosed Your Gestational Diabetes?

Reach out to know your legal options. We provide free non-obligatory consultations for affected families.

Contact Us

How Could Gestational Diabetes Tests Be Wrong?

Mothers at risk of gestational diabetes should be tested around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. There are 2 main approaches when diagnosing GDM, any/both of which can be prescribed by your doctor based on what is ideal for your case.[1] While these tests are designed to catch gestational diabetes at different extents, some professional lapses may contribute to the misdiagnosis of the condition.

These medical lapses include (but are not limited to):

  • Mistiming the required tests
  • Improper sample handling
  • Misinterpretation of results
  • Overlooking confounding factors (i.e., recent food intake or other medications)
  • Improper equipment calibration
  • Documentation and communication errors (within the medical team)

The lapses will undoubtedly lead to misdiagnosis – effectively delaying all necessary treatments. On the other hand, cases wherein the diagnosis was false-positive would expose both mother and child to unnecessary (and potentially harmful) medications.

Potential Long-Term Complications and Mismanagement

Gestational diabetes, when left unmanaged, can make deliveries difficult. It is an important risk factor that contributes to incidences of birth injury. It can also lead to adverse outcomes for mothers if doctors fail to respond to labor difficulties.

Here are some potential long-term complications that may stem from gestational diabetes misdiagnosis:

For false-negative diagnosis (unmanaged gestational diabetes):

  1. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
  2. Fetal seizures and potential brain damage
  3. Birth fractures
  4. Erb’s palsy
  5. Intrauterine fetal demise (stillbirth)

For false-positive diagnosis (unnecessary interventions):

  1. Unnecessary cesarean section
  2. Iatrogenic preterm delivery
  3. Overzealous induction of labor
  4. Excessive use of labor-inducing medications

All medical expenses (past and future) are considered in a medical malpractice claim. In birth injury cases, compensation ensures that an injured child is provided with all the necessary support for their growth and development. Injured mothers must also be allowed to return to their healthiest state.

Apart from medical expenses, other economic and non-economic losses are also factored in. Lost income, emotional trauma, and decreased quality of life are some of the more common considerations. For actual compensation figures, please refer to our previous wins.

Envelope Icon

Seeking Medical Compensation?

We help families hold negligent doctors accountable. Clients do not need to pay anything unless we win.

Contact Us

Speak to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

At the Porter Law Group, our team of proven medical malpractice lawyers delivers ideal results. We take pride in helping families rebuild after unfavorable circumstances. We operate on a contingency basis – meaning you do not need to pay us anything unless we win your case. Through this approach, we can better support families during their times of need.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, please reach out to us for a non-obligatory free case evaluation. You can also contact us at 833-PORTER9 or info@porterlawteam.com to schedule a consultation.

Written By
Eric C. Nordby
Personal Injury Attorney
Eric, with nearly three decades of experience in personal injury litigation, holds a law degree with honors from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University. His extensive career encompasses diverse state and federal cases, resulting in substantial client recoveries, and he actively engages in legal associations while frequently lecturing on legal topics.
Legally Reviewed on October 23, 2024
Michael S. Porter
Personal Injury Attorney
Originally from Upstate New York, Mike built a distinguished legal career after graduating from Harvard University and earning his juris doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He served as a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, gaining expertise in trial work, and is now a respected trial attorney known for securing multiple million-dollar results for his clients while actively participating in legal organizations across Upstate NY.
This Article Was Professionally Reviewed
This page was Legally Reviewed by Michael S. Porter on October 23, 2024. Our experts verify everything you read to make sure it's up to date. For information on our content creation and review process read our editorial guidelines. If you notice an error or have any questions about our content please contact us.
PLG Personal Injury Logo

Get a Free Consultation

Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss your case and to gain some peace of mind from having all of your questions answered.
Our mission is simple: to defeat the powerful insurance companies that will stop at nothing to take advantage of our injured clients and their families.

If you or a family member has suffered a catastrophic injury or death due to someone’s negligence, you get only one shot to hire the best law firm for your family—the one with the experience and proven ability to get our clients the justice they deserve. Choose the Porter Law Group.
PLG Logo
Albany Office
69 State Street
13th Floor
Albany, NY 12207
Buffalo Office
50 Fountain Plaza
Suite 1400
Buffalo, NY 14202
NYC Office
1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th floor
New York, NY 10036
Rochester Office
510 Clinton Square, Rochester, NY 14604
Syracuse Office
100 Madison Street,
15th Floor
Syracuse NY 13202
Avoid sharing confidential information via contact form, text, or voicemail as they are not secure. Please be aware that using any of these communication methods does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

The information contained on this site is proprietary and protected. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying or dissemination will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not, nor should it be taken as medical or legal advice. None of the content on this site is intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Attorney Advertising.

We serve clients in every city and county in New York State. These include places like: The Adirondacks, Albany, Alexandria Bay, Amsterdam, Astoria, Auburn, Ballston Spa, Batavia, Beacon, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Canandaigua, Carthage, Cattaraugus, Catskill, Cayuga Lake, Cazenovia, Chelsea, Clayton, Clifton Park, Cobleskill, Colonie, Cooperstown, Corning, Cortland, Delhi, Delmar, Dunkirk, East Aurora, East Hampton, Elmira, Fayetteville, Finger Lakes, Flushing, Fredonia, Fulton, Garden City, Geneva, Glen Cove, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Gouverneur, Great Neck, Greenwich Village, Hamilton, Hammondsport, Harlem, Haverstraw, Hempstead, Herkimer, Hornell, Hudson, Huntington, Ilion, Ithaca, Jamaica, Jamestown, Johnstown, Kingston, Lake George, Lake Placid, Lewiston, Little Falls, Liverpool, Lockport, Long Island City, Lowville, Malone, Manhattan, Manlius, Massena, Medina, Middletown, Monticello, Montauk, Mount Vernon, New Paltz, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Norwich, Nyack, Ogdensburg, Old Forge, Olean, Oneida, Oneonta, Ossining, Oswego, Penn Yan, Peekskill, Plattsburgh, Port Chester, Potsdam, Poughkeepsie, Queens, Rhinebeck, Riverhead, Rochester, Rome, Rye, Sag Harbor, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Seneca Falls, Seneca Lake, Skaneateles, SoHo, Southampton, Spring Valley, Staten Island, Stony Brook, Suffern, Syracuse, Tarrytown, The Bronx, Thousand Islands, Ticonderoga, Troy, Tupper Lake, Utica, Warsaw, Waterloo, Watertown, Watkins Glen, Wellsville, White Plains, Williamsburg, Woodstock, Yonkers, and many more communities throughout New York State.

Copyright © 2024, Porter Law Group. Personal Injury Lawyers
Made with 💛 by Gold Penguin
magnifiercross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram