They offer face to face and telephone appointments, working closely with the obstetric team, diabetic team, sonographers and dietician to provide the best care for you and your baby.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease where the body is unable to produce or respond to the hormone Insulin, which can result in high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
There are three main types of diabetes
- Type 1 – a lifelong condition where the body produces little or no insulin
- Type 2 – when the body doesn’t use or produce insulin properly
- Gestational diabetes – high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.
It can happen at any stage of pregnancy but is more common in the second or third trimester. It happens when your body cannot produce enough insulin – a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels.
DapSie (diabetes and pregnancy structured information and education)
The diabetic midwives and dietician hold two sessions each month at The James Cook University Hospital for women who have gestational diabetes and their partners. These take place on:
- Mondays, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesdays 5pm to 7pm
The sessions enable you to share your experience, learn more about gestational diabetes mellitus, how it affects you and your baby and learn how diet and lifestyle changes can help you to manage your condition.
To find our more or to book on to an upcoming session speak to your midwife or contact the diabetic specialist midwives.
Contact details
To speak to the diabetic specialist midwives, please phone 07974 608 858 Monday to Friday. Please leave a clear message with your full name and contact number and someone will call you back.
Alertnatively, you can email [email protected]
Women who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes or those with gestational diabetes mellitus requiring insulin will be supported by the diabetic specialist nurses and an individualised care plan provided to them.
The diabetic specialist nurses can be contacted on 07970 250290 Monday to Friday- please leave a clear message with your full name and contact number and someone will call you back.
Additional drop-in clinic
The diabetic specialist nurses also have a drop-in clinic Monday to Friday between 11am and 1pm in the Diabetic Centre at The James Cook University Hospital. The centre is located in the hospital’s south entrance.
Useful links
Please note South Tees NHS Foundation Trust recommends that your postnatal diabetes check is 12 to13 weeks after birth at GP.