Credentialled diabetes educator Bronte Holland advises that gestational diabetes affects one in five pregnant women, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Credentialled diabetes educator Bronte Holland has opened her own private practice in Echuca, offering specialised support for people living with all types of diabetes, including gestational diabetes, which she says is affecting a growing number of pregnant women.
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“One in five women in the past year were diagnosed with gestational diabetes,” Mrs Holland said.
“Gestational diabetes is diabetes that you are diagnosed with while you are pregnant, so gestational means pregnancy.”
Mrs Holland explained that while any pregnant woman could develop the condition, certain factors increased the risk.
“Things like the older you are when you fall pregnant can increase the risk, a higher body weight, or a higher BMI can increase the risk as well,” she said.
“Once you have had gestational diabetes, it increases your risk of getting type 2 later in life.”
Every pregnant woman is screened for the condition through a glucose tolerance test ordered by their doctor at 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy.
“Once they are diagnosed, they usually come and see me, and we try and keep their sugars as best under control as we can for the whole pregnancy, which is good for both the baby and mum,” Mrs Holland said.
“Treatment comes down to diet and exercise, and in conjunction with your doctor; you might be put on some medication as well, and sometimes you can end up on insulin, just for the pregnancy.”
Credentialled diabetes educator Bronte Holland can assist people with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Bronte Holland
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Women who have had gestational diabetes are advised to continue monitoring their health after giving birth.
“You do need to be screened at six weeks after having the baby, and then later in life, as you are then at a higher risk of getting type 2,” Mrs Holland said.
“Every year or two, you should be screened after giving birth if you have had gestational diabetes, when you go and see your GP for an annual check-up.”
Mrs Holland also highlighted other risk factors for diabetes more broadly.
“If you have a family history, you are at a much higher risk as well; genetics play a part,” she said.
“An important thing for women is that polycystic ovaries is another high-risk factor.
“Polycystic ovary syndrome causes insulin resistance, which increases the risk of type 2.”
She drew a clear distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
“In type 1, your body attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce the insulin, so it thinks it is like an intruder,” Mrs Holland said.
“It is just like a fault and there is nothing that you have done wrong to get type 1.
“It usually happens to kids and teenagers, younger people in life.”
Type 2, she explained, tended to develop gradually.
“What happens is your pancreas gets a little bit worn out, a bit lazy, and it is not producing enough insulin anymore,” she said.
“People often think that type 2 is just diet, but it's not, there is often medication and sometimes they do end up on insulin as well.”
Mrs Holland spent three years as a diabetes educator at a GP practice at Rich River before establishing her own clinic.
Her path into the field came after years of nursing and moving frequently due to her husband’s career.
“I ended up at a GP clinic when I was in Wagga, and I found that I was seeing a lot of diabetics while I was there,” she said.
“I thought to myself, I don’t have enough knowledge to help these people, and I really wanted to, so I went back to uni and studied to be a diabetic educator.”
Patients referred by their GP with a chronic health care plan may be eligible for a Medicare rebate.
“I am an allied health professional, the same as your podiatrist or your physio, I am part of that care plan,” Mrs Holland said.
“It’s very rewarding to see them achieve good outcomes as a result of my assistance.
“As their results get better and they feel better, you celebrate those little wins with people.”
Bronte Holland Diabetes Education is located at 2/88 Wilkinson Dve, Echuca.
Appointments can be made by calling 0483 747 494 or online at Bronte Holland Diabetes Education brontehollanddiabetes.com
Credentialled diabetes educator Bronte Holland provides assistance to patients with chronic health care plans, who may be eligible for Medicare rebates from her new private practice in Wilkinson Dve, Echuca.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
