In honor of National Women’s Health Week (May 14 – 21), Dexcom is shining a spotlight on one of the most important health topics for women: pregnancy. With careful planning and the right technology, women living with diabetes can have a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum experience.

Late last year, Dexcom announced their next generation continuous glucose monitor (CGM), Dexcom G7, could be worn during pregnancy for people with all types of diabetes. While many women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are aware of the benefits of CGM, this milestone marked a first for women with gestational diabetes to leverage the technology to better manage their glucose levels during pregnancy. This advancement further underscored CGM as the standard of care for all diabetes management.

Odds are you know someone who has been or will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The CDC estimates 10% of pregnancies each year are affected by gestational diabetes, which is tested for between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy. While the condition goes away after delivery for most women, nearly 50% of women who have gestational diabetes will go on to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Glucose monitoring, while always important when managing diabetes, is even more crucial during pregnancy. According to the ADA, regular glucose monitoring can help pregnant people with diabetes keep close management on their glucose levels. Studies show that use of real-time CGMs such as Dexcom G7 can lead to better health outcomes, including increased time in range and lower A1C for pregnant people with Type 1 diabetes. Real-time CGM use can also reduce the risk of complications associated with gestational diabetes, such as preeclampsia and c-section.

For the first time, women with gestational diabetes no longer need to rely on burdensome, painful fingersticks to monitor their glucose throughout the day. Dexcom G7 is the most accurate CGM cleared by the FDA and sends updates directly to a smartphone every 5 minutes. The newly redesigned app also offers customizable and predictive alerts that make it easier than ever to monitor glucose levels and understand the effects of lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise.

While it’s important to prioritize our health every day of the year, national moments like Women’s Health Week allow us to not only check in with both our physical and mental health but also highlight important advancements in treatment and care for women with diabetes. Visit Dexcom.com to learn more about how Dexcom G7 is helping women manage their diabetes during pregnancy.

Dexcom is a 2023 National Strategic Partner of DiabetesSisters. DiabetesSisters shares information they provide that is useful to our community; however, the relationship does not influence the decisions or opinions of DiabetesSisters, its governing board or staff.