If you are type 1 diabetic and have used an insulin pump through pregnancy- what do you think of this?

[LovelyBertha]

I'd really appreciate the perspective of others who have been pg with an insulin pump, as I am trying to work out if my consultant has another agenda. (Bit long, sorry)

This is my 2nd pg. The first was 2 yrs ago, and I was taking Novorapid with meals and Lantus at night. I suffered from really horrible hypos, and quite often had no symptoms until I passed out. This time, I had been using a pump for 6 mths before I conceived. I haven't had any nasty hypos, and have a good hba1c.

I'm really pleased with how things are going, but I'm becoming really discouraged by my consultant. I am the first patient to have a pump and get pregnant that the hospital has had, so I always knew that I'd be watched quite closely, but it is actually beginning to get me down. They want me to do a huge number of blood tests, which I don't mind too much, but they also want me to record the exact amount of carbs I'm eating and the insulin I'm taking in a ridiculously complicated way.

I had to wear a continuous glucose monitor for 3 days last week- and I was really chuffed with the results it gave. However, the consultant said he was concerned that the reading was 'less than 5.5 for 50% of the day'. He said it should be higher. When I asked him why, as I'm not having scary hypos, he avoided answering the question properly and just mumbled something about 'neurological implications' (for me, not the baby). During the same consultation, he also told me that my hba1c of 6.1 was too high- which left me thinking wtf! how am I supposed to do this?

Do you think he has an 'outcome' from his first pregnant pump user he is trying to achieve? I feel like a lab rat, and fitting in work and looking after a toddler around pretty much full time diabetes care is beginning to rattle me. I've never heard of lower glucose levels causing neurological probs. Am I just being over-sensitive? Is this type of care 'the norm'? How should I handle this?

[Oblomov]

Bertha, just seen post.
Ds2 is 4 months old and I have been on a pump for 5 years now.
The testing and carb noting sounds normal. when you say complicated, tell me more, what is it that they are asking you to do ?
Odd about 5.5 being too low, yest 6.1 being too high. very odd. both seem ideal to me.

Anyway get back to me, if I can be of any help.