What if a gestational diabetes diagnosis wasn’t something to fear — but the most important health information your body has ever given you?

Dr. Amy Valent, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist and co-director of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Program at Oregon Health & Science University, joins Dr. Remi Olukoya for a conversation that reframes everything most pregnant women are told about high-risk pregnancy.

In this episode:
→ What gestational diabetes actually is — and why the glucose drink exists
→ Why Dr. Valent calls pregnancy “a crystal ball into your future health”
→ The medication questions every pregnant patient should be asking (but most aren’t)
→ Symptoms that feel like normal pregnancy discomfort — but aren’t
→ The one difference between a regular headache and a preeclampsia headache
→ Why multicultural food safety in pregnancy care is still being overlooked

Whether you’re navigating a high-risk pregnancy, supporting someone who is, or a clinician looking for better ways to have these conversations — this episode is for you.

CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 — Introduction: Who is Dr. Amy Valent?
03:00 — What is gestational diabetes — really?
08:00 — The glucose test explained: what your body is actually doing
13:00 — Pregnancy as a crystal ball: GD and future Type 2 diabetes risk
19:00 — Medication safety during pregnancy: the conversation most patients aren’t having
25:00 — Symptoms you should never normalize
30:00 — Preeclampsia: how to tell the difference
36:00 — Multicultural food safety and closing the gap in pregnancy care
42:00 — Final thoughts from Dr. Valent