A condition most commonly found in diabetic patients, hypoglycemia is an ailment characterized by low blood sugar levels, according to MedlinePlus. Other groups of people may also be at risk of hypoglycemia, including women during early pregnancy.
If a doctor fails to diagnose and address low blood sugar levels in a pregnant woman, it may lead to complications. In such cases, hypoglycemia lawyers in New York can review any legal options available to recoup damages that might result.
Causes of Hypoglycemia
As mentioned above, hypoglycemia is most common in patients who are diabetic, such as those who take insulin to treat their diabetes. Sometimes, though, a non-diabetic pregnant woman can also struggle with hypoglycemic episodes because a woman’s hormones during pregnancy – hormones that affect the way the body produces and uses insulin – can be affected.
Sometimes, morning sickness that causes nausea or vomiting can also interfere with the amount of food a woman eats while pregnant, which can cause hypoglycemia-like symptoms. Usually, hypoglycemia can be prevented by properly monitoring blood sugar levels, changing eating patterns or taking medication.
How can undiagnosed or untreated hypoglycemia harm a pregnancy?
Hypoglycemia is characterized by symptoms that can be dangerous for the mother during pregnancy. Some symptoms of hypoglycemia are listed below.
- Blurred vision
- Sweating
- Extreme fatigue
- Mood changes
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance
- Headache
- Shaking
- Cognitive problems (trouble thinking or remembering information)
- Loss of consciousness (fainting)
For a pregnant woman, perhaps the most dangerous consequence of hypoglycemia is that it can lead to the loss of consciousness. If a pregnant woman faints, she is at risk of incurring injuries to both herself and her fetus from the fall. For example, she may hit her head during the fall, causing a concussion or more serious type of traumatic brain injury. Or she may land at an angle that causes harm to the fetus. If the latter happens, the woman may go into premature labor, bleed excessively or lose the baby.
Other complications also may affect pregnant women with hypoglycemia, and any woman experiencing symptoms should consult her doctor for a thorough evaluation. The doctor should evaluate the mother and may make recommendations for managing hypoglycemia during pregnancy.
Proper Prenatal Care Matters
One of the most effective ways to prevent or reduce the effects of hypoglycemia while pregnant is with proper prenatal care. Unfortunately, some women who seek prenatal care don’t always get the treatment that they need and deserve. Sometimes, a physician may fail to recognize and diagnose hypoglycemia in a pregnant woman, and therefore may fail to treat the condition. When a healthcare provider does not properly treat hypoglycemia, the mother may be at risk of the complications mentioned above.
If your prenatal healthcare provider failed to diagnose your hypoglycemia during pregnancy, and if the failure led to harm to yourself or your child, an attorney can help file a medical malpractice claim for damages. This requires establishing that the physician was negligent in failing to diagnose, treat or provide recommendations to manage the condition; it also requires establishing that this poor prenatal care led to injuries.
Take Legal Action with Our Hypoglycemia Attorneys in New York
Harm to an unborn child is a devastating experience for any parent, especially when that harm was preventable with better prenatal care. If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, the hypoglycemia lawyers in New York at Gacovino, Lake & Associates will fight to make sure you get the compensation your family deserves. Call us now at 800-550-0000 to get started.
