In this episode of Radical Childbirth Education, Joni Edelman takes on the diabetes debate with zero sugar-coating (pun intended). She breaks down how your pancreas actually works, why gestational diabetes diagnoses skyrocketed after the 2020 guideline shift, and how the fear of ‘big babies’ fuels unnecessary inductions and interventions. Expect a mix of physiology, politics, and birth sovereignty that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about glucose tests. Whether you’re pregnant, a doula, or just birth-curious, Joni dishes the real talk: controlled blood sugar means healthy outcomes, and women still deserve full autonomy over their care.

00:00 – 02:15 — Welcome & why diabetes in pregnancy matters

02:16 – 07:20 — Anatomy & physiology refresher: pancreas, insulin, glyco ...