Gestational Diabetes
Trusted & Highly Rated
Talk to Our Team Before You Commit
A no-obligation 30-minute call to answer your questions and map out your options.
Tuesdays | 7:00–8:30 PM EST | 30 minutes
Gestational Diabetes – Virtual Membership Support for a Healthy Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s your first time managing blood sugar during pregnancy. At SustainMD, our membership-based virtual care supports women navigating gestational diabetes by focusing on overall health, nutrition, and metabolic balance — always in coordination with your obstetrician or specialist.
Led by board-certified physician Allison Pope Barbee, MD, our approach emphasizes whole-person care, helping you manage weight, hormones, and lifestyle factors that influence blood sugar during pregnancy.
At-a-Glance
Type of Care: Telehealth-based, membership model
Serving Patients In: California, Florida, Maine, North Carolina
Ideal For: Pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or at risk for high blood sugar
First Step: Initial virtual consultation with Dr. Allison Barbee
Understanding Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy when your body cannot make enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. It can affect your health and your baby’s development, but with the right support, most women go on to have healthy pregnancies and deliveries.
At SustainMD, we provide primary care support alongside your OB by guiding nutrition, monitoring overall metabolic health, and offering strategies to help you feel more confident in your pregnancy journey.
Common Symptoms and Challenges
Gestational diabetes doesn’t always cause obvious symptoms, which is why testing is important. When present, challenges may include:
Unusual thirst
Frequent urination
Fatigue or low energy
Blurred vision
Nausea
Even if you don’t notice symptoms, high blood sugar during pregnancy can affect both you and your baby — making consistent monitoring and healthy lifestyle adjustments key.
Causes and Risk Factors
Gestational diabetes develops when pregnancy hormones interfere with insulin’s ability to keep blood sugar stable. Risk factors include:
Being overweight before pregnancy
Family history of type 2 diabetes
Previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Being over age 25
Our care model emphasizes obesity and metabolic medicine, helping women address weight, hormones, and nutrition in ways that support a healthy pregnancy.
Our Membership-Based Approach to Gestational Diabetes Support
Through SustainMD’s virtual membership program, you’ll receive ongoing guidance and care coordination tailored to your pregnancy needs.
Your Care Plan May Include:
Nutrition and meal planning to stabilize blood sugar
Guidance on safe physical activity during pregnancy
Education on reducing risks for you and your baby
Support with blood sugar monitoring and logging
Counseling to reduce stress and improve rest
Coordination with your obstetrician for specialist care
Why Our Care Model Works for Expecting Mothers
Gestational diabetes often requires frequent adjustments — something that’s easier to manage when your doctor is just a secure video call away. Our virtual membership care provides continuous support, education, and encouragement while you focus on your pregnancy.
How to Start With SustainMD
01.
Review our Membership Plans & Pricing
02.
Choose your plan
03.
Complete your secure online intake form
04.
Schedule your initial virtual consultation with Dr. Allison Barbee
05.
Begin your personalized support plan for pregnancy health
Meet Allison Pope Barbee, MD – Your Partner in Pregnancy Health
Dr. Allison Barbee is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with over 20 years of experience caring for patients through life’s most important stages. She understands the unique challenges of managing health during pregnancy and offers evidence-based, compassionate virtual care to protect your well-being and your baby’s development.
She is also a proud member of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), advocating for patient access to affordable, effective care.
Serving Patients Across Four States
We provide virtual care for patients in:
- California
- Florida
- Maine
- North Carolina
What Our Patients Say
Patient12
Dr. Barbee listens to your concerns, is empathetic and knowledgable. Not once has she made me feel ashamed or less than. She gives practical, reasonable and most importantly, doable recommendations. She uses lifestyle interventions instead of immediately jumping to medications, but will also use medications if you and she believe
Patient11
Dr. Barbee has been a remarkable weight loss physician for me. She distinguished herself by customizing her approach to suit my individual needs. Throughout our sessions, she was incredibly attentive, understanding my specific health concerns and weight loss goals. Dr. Barbee excelled in explaining the details of the medications she
Patient10
Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about
Patient9
Dr Barbee actually listened to me and was able to diagnose my symptoms and actually treat and control the issue. I can not thank her enough! She was super patient and kind. Something you don’t really see now a days.
A.M.
Dr. Barbee understands that health is not one-size-fits-all. She takes the time to listen, remembers details, and works collaboratively with me as things evolve. The most meaningful part of working with her is feeling truly heard and supported, not just during appointments but overall in my care.
Andrea
The best! I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee’s for years! She has guided and treated me in my worst and best days. Her professionalism is top notch, along with her knowledge of health. You cannot ask for any better care than Dr. Barbee!
Suzanne Layser
Truly a compassionate Doctor- I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Barbee. I felt truly cared for. Dr. Barbee was incredibly compassionate, took the time to really listen, and never made me feel rushed. She asked thoughtful questions and genuinely wanted to understand what I was experiencing. What impressed
Patient8
Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about
Patient7
Great doctor- Dr. Barbee is a kind and caring doctor. She is the type of person you can talk to and really will listen. She understands your problems and will work with you to solve them. She is very thorough and make sure everything is looked at does not miss
Patient6
Thoughtful, caring and truly helpful-I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee for many years. I have always found her honest and helpful. She works hard to look at root causes, which can take a while to figure out. She is persistent, yet kind. As we age, our bodies change.
Start Your Journey Toward a Healthy Pregnancy
With SustainMD’s virtual membership, you can feel confident and supported while managing gestational diabetes. Serving patients in CA, FL, ME, and NC.
