Massachusetts marks third Gestational Diabetes Awareness Day as cases rise

Massachusetts will recognize Gestational Diabetes Awareness Day again on Nov. 15, highlighting early, team-based care as gestational diabetes cases continue to climb. B.E.A.T Gestational Diabetes and 360Girls&Women are also pushing a federal nutrition coverage bill and earlier screening to reduce complications for mothers and babies.

Why it matters: - Gestational diabetes can raise pregnancy complications and increase long-term type 2 diabetes risk for mothers and children. - Early diagnosis and coordinated care can reduce complications during pregnancy and lower risks after delivery. - Rising case counts in Massachusetts and nationally make prevention and earlier intervention a public health issue, not just an individual pregnancy issue.

What happened: - Massachusetts will again recognize Nov. 15 as Gestational Diabetes Awareness Day. - Gov. Maura Healey proclaimed the observance for the third straight year. - B.E.A.T Gestational Diabetes® Inc. and 360Girls&Women® are using this year’s observance to focus on early, coordinated care. - Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, CEO of 360Girls&Women® and executive director of B.E.A.T Gestational Diabetes® Inc., said more women are being diagnosed each year and the first weeks after diagnosis matter.

The details: - A national analysis of more than 12 million first births, published in December 2025 in JAMA Internal Medicine, found gestational diabetes rose every year from 2016 to 2024. - The national rate increased 36%, from 58 to 79 cases per 1,000 births. - In Massachusetts, gestational diabetes affected 5,417 births in 2023, or 8.1% of all births, according to the Department of Public Health. - Massachusetts births with gestational diabetes were up 40% from 3,876 in 2014. - Anderson-Haynes said early education, proper testing and expert nutrition support can prevent complications or reduce their severity. - Anderson-Haynes said care should continue through delivery and postpartum. - Anderson-Haynes said women with gestational diabetes and their children are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. - Anderson-Haynes said women do best with a multidisciplinary team that includes a registered dietitian nutritionist, a certified diabetes care and education specialist, physicians, nurses and doulas. - Anderson-Haynes described her own experience of having elevated blood sugar at 28 weeks and being denied a second oral glucose tolerance test. - Anderson-Haynes said she sought a second opinion after a provider dismissed her concern as normal.

Between the lines: - The campaign is pairing awareness with a policy push, not just education. - B.E.A.T. wants more use of preventive nutrition care before a gestational diabetes diagnosis, especially for patients with prediabetes or hypertension. - The group is also trying to expand who can refer patients to registered dietitian nutritionists. - Anderson-Haynes' personal story underscores a broader gap: even health professionals can struggle to get timely testing and answers. - The push for earlier screening suggests the current 24- to 28-week testing window may miss some risk earlier in pregnancy.

What's next: - B.E.A.T. is urging health care providers, registered dietitian nutritionists, patients and families to contact Congress in support of the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, S. 3934/H.R. 6199. - The bill would extend Medicare nutrition coverage beyond diabetes and kidney disease to conditions including prediabetes and hypertension. - The bill would also allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants and clinical nurse specialists to refer patients to registered dietitian nutritionists. - B.E.A.T. is calling for research into tests that could identify gestational diabetes risk earlier than standard screening. - B.E.A.T.'s resources are available at more information. - Anderson-Haynes is available for interviews and broadcast demonstrations, including a "Diabetes-Friendly Pregnancy" holiday culinary demo.

The bottom line: - Massachusetts is using Gestational Diabetes Awareness Day to spotlight a growing pregnancy health problem and to argue for earlier, more coordinated care that starts before diagnosis and continues after birth.