Sweet Success

Normal hormone changes of pregnancy may cause some pregnant women to have higher blood sugar levels, especially in the third trimester of their pregnancy. This condition known as “Gestational Diabetes” is a complication for about 7 to 14% of pregnant women, and often highest for women among certain ethnic groups such as African American, Asian American, East Indian, Latina/Hispanic and Native American. Blood sugar levels that stay elevated can be dangerous for the baby, but when blood sugars are well controlled, then gestational diabetes need not adversely affect a baby at all.

For over twelve years, CommuniCare’s Perinatal Program has been offering Sweet Success, a specialized team based approach to prenatal care for women with diabetes. Sweet Success participants receive individualized care from a Sweet Success team, including intensive case management and coaching by a Certified Nurse Midwife and Diabetes Educator, individualized meal planning and nutrition counseling by a Registered Dietician and counseling by the Sweet Success Social Worker. The Sweet Success program offers a level of specialized diabetic care for pregnant women that is unmatched in a regular clinical setting.

“Many women are frightened to hear they have diabetes,” explains Barb Boehler, CommuniCare’s Director of Perinatal Services and a Certified Nurse Midwife. “Sweet Success helps them feel comfortable with their pregnancy and empowers them with the information and support network they want and need to transition successfully through pregnancy to motherhood.” And the Sweet Success program education often has positive impacts beyond the individual woman and her pregnancy. “The dietary choices the woman embraces often affect the entire family and when she makes healthy changes the family diet often changes,” adds Barb. Sweet Success is truly success for the community!

To learn more about CommuniCare’s Sweet Success program and our comprehensive Perinatal Program services, call (530) 204-5317 in Davis, (530) 405-2808 in Woodland, or (916) 403-2909 in West Sacramento.