Impact Story
Management of Maternal Diabetes (MOMs)
Mitigating Diabetes During Pregnancy
More than 50% of adult South Carolinians have diabetes or prediabetes. When diabetes occurs in pregnancy, it can have serious complications for both the mother and the unborn child. These complications can be prevented or mitigated through specialized prenatal care.
About the Organization
Diabetes Free SC was established by the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation with input from the South Carolina Department of Public Health and the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina to address the critical health issue of diabetes. It launched the Management of Maternal Diabetes (MOMs) program in 2020 to begin offering a new model of care for pregnant women who have diabetes and prediabetes. DFSC supports MOMs clinics at Prisma Health Upstate in Greenville and Prisma Health Midlands in Columbia and Sumter. A telehealth program based at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston is also part of the clinical program.
Program Goals
MOMs aims to improve maternal and fetal care by integrating specialists who focus on diabetes and high-risk pregnancy, into one team. Prioritizing patient needs, streamlining communication and empowering patients to self-manage their chronic disease, the model can improve outcomes for mothers and newborns alike. MOMs also helps women access resources — such as healthy food, insulin and continuous glucose monitors — so they can better manage their diabetes.
MOMs patients lowered and controlled blood sugar levels during pregnancy — resulting in fewer C-sections and healthier newborns.
Results
More than 30 obstetric practices and 150 providers are referring patients to MOMs partners. The program has provided care and early intervention to more than 2,000 women across South Carolina, many of whom didn't have access to this vital care before the program.
The MOMs program educates pregnant women in diabetes self-management and helps them gain access to the medicine and care they need. Grouping specialists together enables patients to have a single visit with a full team, saving time traveling to and from appointments and making them more likely to receive care.
By helping patients manage their diabetes, MOMs is helping expecting moms to decrease the health risks for their newborns. When compared with pregnant women with diabetes who weren't involved in MOMs, the MOMs group had:
- 50% lower risk of neonatal hypoglycemia,
- 47% lower risk of a low APGAR score,
- 28% lower chance of a NICU stay,
- 14% lower risk of pre-term birth,
- 8% lower risk of C-section.
Success Story
At 27 weeks pregnant, Kianna Moss experienced the life-threatening complication of diabetes. Fortunately, she was connected with the MOMs program, providing her with a team of specialists to support her throughout her pregnancy. The team from the MOMs program at Prisma Health's Greenville location closely monitored Kianna's blood sugar, identified potential issues before they escalated and adjusted her medications. They helped Kianna navigate the health care system and taught her how to manage her own diabetes. Kianna credits the MOMs team with saving both her and her baby girl’s life.
Without the MOMs program, my child wouldn't be here, and I might not be either.
Kianna Moss, MOMs Patient
