Functional Nutrition and BioIndividuality in the Prevention and Management of Gestational Diabetes

Are you looking to increase your toolkit for supporting your clients diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes? Do you often wonder if there is something you may be missing with your client who has a hard time controlling their blood sugar levels? Are you curious about innovative food and lifestyle changes specific to GDM that are supported by research?

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) affects upwards of 15% of pregnant clients. Additionally, 50-70% of GDM diagnosed clients will go on to have Type 2 diabetes later in life, and their babies are at a significantly higher risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The midwife has a prime opportunity to educate and counsel clients to decrease risks of these debilitating chronic illnesses, but how does one go about supporting clients who bring to the table individual risk factors, food preferences, and lifestyle habits? 

Midwife and Nutritionist, Sarah Lax, provides you with a unique framework to support each individual client and their specific challenges. This course explores the evidence and efficacy of practices used to support GDM, from diet assessments and sleep strategies, to inflammation and nutrient therapy, and much more. You will learn to implement this framework to become the effective wellness detective your clients need to catapult their GDM prevention or management plan towards greater success and healthy habit change for life. 

Learning Objectives

1. Review the risk factors and impact of GDM on the pregnant client and developing fetus

2. Define the primary goals of functional nutrition counseling 

3. Summarize current research on the dietary interventions in blood sugar management and critically evaluate nutrition research relating to GDM treatment

4. Utilize a comprehensive tracking model for assessment of blood sugar balance

5. Explain the physiology of the stress response in relation to blood sugar balance

6. Using the functional nutrition model, explain the lifestyle factors that contribute cortisol dysfunction, inflammation, and blood sugar imbalance

7. List key nutrients and food sources to utilize when creating an individualized client care plan for the prevention and treatment of GDM

8. Utilize key counseling principles designed for client success, including Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the Empathy Matrix

HiveCE is an approved provider of continuing education by the California Board of Nursing, and this course is provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 17686, for 6 contact hours, through November 30th, 2025. (This is widely accepted nationwide as continuing education for nurses and midwives. This course is accepted by NARM as Category 1 CE for CPM renewal.)

DO YOU NEED TO USE THIS COURSE FOR THE NARM BRIDGE PROGRAM? If so, please register instead in the Bridge approved version of this course. (If you have already registered in this one, please email [email protected] so we may transfer your enrollment.)

This course was previously approved by MEAC for 6 hours of continuing education through February 29th, 2024, under approval numbers M2122-65-0301DE, M1718-48-1229DE, and M1920-71-0206DE.

This course was previously approved by ACNM for 6 hours of continuing education through March 20th, 2024, under approval numbers 2021/153, 2018/042, and 2020/02.

Note: Course completion does not authorize the learner to use skills outside their scope. Please refer to your state guidelines for determining scope of care.

For information regarding our refund policy and other Frequently Asked Questions, please refer to our FAQ. If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].