Can I Become a Surrogate if I Had Gestational Diabetes?

Dear Savvy Surrogate:

I loved being pregnant (well, mostly). The only part I didn’t enjoy was the gestational diabetes. It was diet controlled in both of my pregnancies, and my kids were born at a healthy 7 pounds and 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Neither baby had any complications from the GD. I know surrogates are supposed to have complication-free pregnancies. Will my history of gestational diabetes keep me from pursuing surrogacy.

Signed,

Blood Sugar Under Control

Dear Blood Sugar:

I often get asked about whether a history of gestational diabetes will disqualify a surrogate candidate. Remember, it's all about a healthy pregnancy, a healthy surrogate, a healthy baby.  The good news is that you can become a surrogate with a history of easily managed gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes happens when your body is unable to properly manage sugar during a pregnancy.  Remember that yucky stuff you had to drink followed by blood work--that was the gestational diabetes test.  Women who fail the initial test will typically take a 3 hour test--again with a yucky drink and more blood work.

So what happens if you have a history of gestational diabetes?

New England surrogacy will accept candidates who have had gestational diabetes that was diet controlled.  We will consider, on a case-by-case basis, candidates who have a history of gestational diabetes that was controlled by oral medication.  Unfortunately, we cannot accept candidates with a history of requiring insulin to manage their gestational diabetes.

Hope this info is helpful to you,

The Savvy Surrogate

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