Maternal health webinars help close gaps in care for gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM, is a form of diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy that causes high blood sugar levels, which can affect both the pregnancy and a baby's health.
The exact causes of GDM are still unclear, but hormones in pregnancy play a significant role, along with diet, exercise and maternal health prior to pregnancy.
GDM is associated with increased rates of maternal mortality and complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including higher risk of needing a C-section and developing preeclampsia, a complication marked by dangerously high blood pressure.
The good news is that gestational diabetes is treatable. Most mothers can have a healthy pregnancy and baby when they work with their health care provider to properly manage their diabetes.
Power in partnership
In 2025, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota partnered with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to create a maternal health webinar series for healthcare professionals - including midwives, community health workers and doulas - focused on GDM prevention and treatment.
"It is important to create a greater understanding of GDM because it remains a major contributor to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes," said Delali Degbey, Senior Community and Member Health Program Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "Prevalence continues to rise across the United States, with disproportionately higher rates in certain population groups."
The maternal health webinar series included three webinars led by doctors of obstetrics and gynecology, university professors, midwives and nurses. Key objectives included:
- Increasing early detection and treatment of GDM in disproportionately impacted communities
- Overcoming barriers to care
- Reducing rates of postpartum diabetes
More than 8,000 healthcare professionals attended the webinar series, including the live and on-demand sessions. The total patient reach of this content was an average of more than 43,000 patients per month, with a potential impact of 524,000 patients annually. Across the three webinars, four in five participants said they felt confident they could integrate webinar content into their practice.
Learn more
The maternal health webinar recordings are available on the ADA website and offer continuing education credits, further supporting professional development and enhancing the quality of maternal healthcare.
Additional resources are available at: Women's Health Toolkit | American Diabetes Association
