TTC with Type 1 Diabetes

[AbFab86]

Just wondering if there are any mums/mums-to-be/mums-to-be-to-be who have type 1? I have had it for 22yrs but I also have PCOS so it has been an absolute battle to get my HbA1c down to something suitable. In Feb it was 7.3 so I was really chuffed, as was my doctor (GP) but now I'm TTC my gynae has said it has to be below 6.4. I don't think it's ever been below 6.4 in my life! At 7.3 I was having fairly regular hypos. I am aware though that I have a lot of peaks and troughs, so I need a tighter handle on it.

I do at least 7 BMs a day and inject small doses regularly, along with levemir morning and evening. I'm on metformin for the PCOS. I'm interested in switching to the pump as I've heard this helps with control. Any advice or recommendations? I've just downloaded the diabetes UK app to keep track of everything and have committed to doing hourly BMs, including a couple overnight. I've also started taking cinnamon and inositol to help with insulin resistance. Any more advice? Or are you someone who had a healthy baby with a HbA1c over 6.4? I'd be interested to hear from anyone with type 1

I'm a type 1. Fortunately, I've always managed to keep control quite tight - mostly because the first thing I did after (relatively late) diagnosis was to read a load of journal articles that terrified me about how much more likely I was to die early if eg I was over 8!

What's your diet like? Do you carb count? Have you tried the Carbs and Cals app?

I had another T1 friend who fell pregnant accidentally, and she's had the most beautiful and healthy baby boy. He was pretty big, and a c-section delivery, but no lasting problems for him. Only thing is that he remains quite chubby as breastfeeding with higher BG = he's getting a load more sugar! But he's shifting onto solids now and his weight is coming down too.

Hi AbFab - I'm Type 1 and currently TTC for the first time. I was diagnosed when I was 19, 10 years ago. My HBA1c is usually 7.5ish, spoke about TTC with my consultant at the hospital in October and he said he was happy for me to start (my latest HBA1c had been 7.2 I think) but that any improvement I could make would be good. Started trying really really hard to get it down by writing everything I ate and every BM test and every insulin dose in a diary and at the start of Feb it came back as 6.7 - the lowest it has ever been! I was so happy.

I have no idea how I'd get any lower than that, so just going to try to keep up with what I'm doing now and not let it creep back up.

Type 1 for 40 years, since aged1. On a pump since pregnancy. But my boys are fine. Please take comfort, with a bit of care, your children will be fine.

Hi! Type 1 for nearly 17 years, aged 27, ttc #1. I'm petrified diabetes will mean a higher chance of miscarrying / struggling to conceive in the first place. HbA1c of approx 6; I have hypos at least twice a day. Scared scared scared! X

Thank you for all the responses! It has put my mind at ease that not everyone TTC has textbook control.

It's so difficult isn't it? It doesn't help that the guidelines vary from doctor to doctor as to what a 'healthy' hba1c is.

Sorry sent that before I meant to!

I carb count, tend to eat fairly low GI foods, use DAFNE, exercise frequently, basically all the stuff that is supposed to be good. The PCOS causes insulin resistance which is infuriating. Sometimes it's fine, other times I may as well be injecting water. I'm very much looking forward to seeing a new endocrinologist to see if I can go on the pump. That's the one thing I haven't tried yet.

op, don't let the worry of your diabetes spoil the joy of your pregnancy. you sound caring and committed. that's enough. there's only so much you can do, you know!!!
they closely monitor everything these days!

with hindsight I regret I didn't relax more and enjoy. I was always too worried. I tried, but I still had tonnes of hypos and hypers. and still both my boys were perfect weights and are now thriving at primary school.

cut yourself a bit of slack here, or else you don't actually enjoy the experience.

Thank you chaise, that's absolutely lovely of you I guess it's a bit more important that I get my hba1c below 7 so I can be prescribed clomid, but I've seen I do have one big enough follicle so if it is released by some fluke then I could technically get pregnant naturally. I guess who's to say though that another doctor might not say it's ok for me to have clomid with my current levels? Fingers crossed