Type One Diabetic Mums To Be

[cupcakebakerer]

Hi,

I am nine weeks pregnant and have type one diabetes. I would love to find a network of women to discuss the trials and tribulations of coping with it all!

hello! I have been type 1 since my first pregnancy 12 years ago, now 6 weeks with my third child. I'm 41 now, so a bit older and wiser than before.

I'm keeping a blog of my pregnancy here babymunching.blogspot.com/

I have two very healthy children, I think teh main thing is to relax, do your bestwith your sugars and you'll be fine!

Just saw how to add a link babymunching.blogspot.com/

Hi bojangles - I was diagnosed at the same age! I am sorry that you had to go three pre eclampsia but very glad to hear you have three healthy children. I am such a glass half empty person and have been convinved since day one something's going to go wrong. I was so shocked at the 12 week scan that the baby was alive and kicking! I'm doing my best to relax now as I've been told that the majority of any 'damage' so to speak would have been caused in the first three months. I'm doing my absolute best with my blood sugars and I really pray that will be enough. The consultant has already said they will be inducing me two weeks early and also recommended baby asprin to avoid high blood pressure. Did you ever try it?

Discobeaver - definitely going to check your blog out now!

• go through pre eclampsia

• convinced

My God what's wrong with me today!

Hey cupcake, Well am still going good with my pump although due to insulin resistance my sugars have crept up a bit and I've had to make a few adjustments to my regime but all is good. Am now 25 weeks and at my last scan (23 wks) baby was looking good and no probs detected other than she had a big tummy!! [hgrin] She is a busy bee, on the go all the time (especially at 5 am) which is v reassuring. Will have regular 3 weeks scans from now on and then they will decide at around 32 weeks as to whether I need a c-section or not.

How are you getting on? Good news about your HbA1c and scan [hgrin]

Thanks missckitty! Ahh it's lovely to hear that - and how cute she has a fat tummy! I'm doing really well thank you. For some bizarre reason my levels were more temperamental in the first trimester and have levelled off now. I'm am smug about my hba1c but it really has been hard work - and I've been testing about 11 times a day! Hopefully it will all be worth it. Other than that all my symptoms have disappeared and no longer feel pregnant which is freaking me out - but thank God the scan suggests otherwise! How exciting that it's not long off for you now - are you all prepared?

Hi cupcake - funny that we were diagnosed at same age - quite unusual. My Dad is type 1 and diagnosed around same age. I was really fed up in my first pregancy and felt very similar to you - the hospital told me so many scare stories I remember crying thinking I would never be able to have a healthy baby. I did and so will you. First 3 months is about development of the baby and the remianing 6 months are about growth. I didn't have aspirin during my pregancy and haven't heard of it before. I was very closely monitored with all my pregancies and had fortnightly scans - it all went a bit wrong with my third and my body was really struggling and I kept getting ketones and lost a lot of weight but I had a 4 and 2 year old and was trying to work full time - the babies growth went a bit mad and I ended up having DD at 34 weeks and she weighed a rather shocking 9 lb 6! My Hba1c was 7 so not great but not that bad either. DD had some feeding issues and we were in hospital for 3 weeks but we were both fine and she is now a very entertaining and cheeky 2 year old.

Hi girlies! Just wondering how all the type one pregnant ladies are doing? 19 weeks now - can't believe it's been more than two months since I statred this post. Starting relax into it a lot more now and really just having the worries of any 'normal' pregnant woman - where are the kicks today etc. Have our 20 week scan in a week, followed by the heart scan. Not frantic about it which is a first for me! Let me know how you all are.

Hi everyone,

I am 6+1 so a bit behind you all. I have had Type 1 for 15 years (since I was 18). Last year I did the DAFNE course (Dosage Adjusted for Normal Eating) which is method based aroung carb counting which gives a lot more freedom. My last HBA1c (5 months ago) was 7.2 but I'm hoping it is a wee bit better now.

My diabetes nurse has been really great and I have my first clinic with her, the specialist obstetrician and the diabetes consultant on Wednesday. First scan then too! I also have epilepsy which adds to my worries, though for the first time since I got it 11 years ago my seizures have been under control for a few months and I am on what my neurologist feels is the best med for pregnancy.

I have been beating myself up terribly over every high blood sugar and for the first two weeks of pregnancy my insulin demands seemed huge, which I understand is unusual. Seem to be getting more prone to mild hypos now, but I prefer that to being too high.

I am quite nervous about the first scan. Haven't had strong pregnancy symptoms yet, apart from being ravenous at first (also tailed off). So I am looking forward to seeing that there really is a baby there!

Hi everyone! Just wondering how you are all getting on. I'm coming up 23 weeks and despite having excellent control it's all starting to go to pot! I was warned my insulin demands would go up but it is depressing trying to adjust things when everything has been going so well. Anyone else coming across this yet?

Hey cupcake How are you doing? Am 34 weeks now and my sugars have been all over the place even with the pump but have still managed to maintain an hba1c 1t less than 7 (think it was 6.4)Howver my insulin needs have more than tripled so expect a few more adjustments before the end lol Are you getting good support from your diabetes team? I see mine every week now and it's great for the reassurance that despite the 'wonky' sugars I am doing ok. Did you ever find out about the pump?

Have my last growth scan on 4th Jan and then they will decide whether to induce early or let me go naturally or whether it'll be a section. Nerve racking as it means I could have baby in 3 weeks Argh!!

Well done on your HBA1c MissC!

I had a low of 1.9 yesterday afternoon. Anyone else been this low in pregnancy? I was able to treat it myself but felt terrible, rebounded really high. Just a mess of an afternoon evening and couldn't help but fret that I have done some damage.

falling Had lows of around 1.9 a few times in the early stages. If you are still able to treat it yourself and not losing your hypo symptoms as horrid as it'll make you feel you won't be doing any damage.

My specialist nurse told me the best way to prevent going too high the other way after a hypo was not to 'panic' treat. She said to take 3 glucose/dextrose tablets, wait a few minutes for those to kick in, if they don't after about 15 mins take three more and then have a slice of bread or similar. Wait about an hour and test your sugars, if still low but improving have another slice of bread and then just check sugars frequently during the rest of the day. This had been invaluable advice throughout my pregnancy.

Oh and thanx for my well done

Thanks, that's very reassuring.

I was kicking myself as I just went and stuffed my face with Haribo. I do DAFNE but threw all the guidance out the window... must try harder next time!

Hi falling - I've done that and it's soo frustrating. It really does make you feel like you've had write off of an afternoon but remember it's not an exact science and it's not your fault. Honestly you won't have done any damage - in my first trimester I thought I'd taken my inulin twice by mistake and glugged about a litre of Lucozade in panic! So annoying. How far are you now? My best advice is to test like a maniac to really get to know what your body is doing. Do not feel guilty about using too many strips either!

Eee Miss C!! Not long now then! How exciting. Yeah the last week has been awful blood sugar wise for me - it's so annoying when you crank up the insulin and it STILL doesn't cover you. I have to admit though I've been craving ice cream which is soo naughty! I can't help but feel guilty. The thing that's making me relax a bit now though is that it's all about growth now, not development (which all looked good at 20 weeks).

Have you found out what you're having? I bet your bub is doing all sorts now. I love the little kicks! So lovely. So will you definitely be induced? I've been told they won't let me go past 38 weeks.

It's a barrel of laughs being diabetic AND pregnant at Christmas...

Hi cupcake Been feeling bloody awful with flu for a few days so my sugars have been all over the place but think I'm on the other side of it now. Buts its a piggin' nightmare especially when you can't take anything. I've got through two loo rolls blowing my nose, a whole bottle of olbas and several paracetamol. Bloody typical with it being xmas tomorrow. We are supposed to travelling to see DPs family but we aren't going til lunchtime so I said I'd see how I felt. Anway on to the important stuff lol..

Yeah am so excited but really nervous. They said from the beginning that I was unlikely to be allowed to go past 38 weeks but it really all depends on this scan. More than likely I'll be induced with a week of the scan according to MW but won't know for definite til I see my obstetrician after the scan!! Argh!! Keep your fingers crossed and i'll keep you posted

Happy xmas for tomorrow x

Hi cupcake and kitty,

all well here at the moment. I am 10 weeks now - seems to haver crept up quickly! I have my next scan on 12th January and can't wait. After being so healthy in the early days I now have cravings for all sorts of rubbish and am giving in often. Luckily I am usually able to cover it with the carb counting method I use. Don't know how that will hold up later on, so making the best of it for now.

Sorry to hear you have had flu kitty.. hope you are feeling a bit better now. I am washing my hands constantly and won't be seeing some of my family tomorrow due to a flu outbreak.

I've also been told I'll be delivered at 38 weeks. Same policy for diabetes and epilepsy - I have both. Seems I'll get induced then take it from there. My Mum had quick labours so I am hoping I will be the same.

Ah bless you missC! I've not yet had experience of being poorly with diabetes so I have that to look forward to! Hope you are feeling better for tomorrow.

Falling it sounds like you are ticking along nicely! Not long till your scan now. Try not to feel too bad about the junk food thing - I had an actual aversion to veg in the first trimester (and still have now come to think of it!). KFC is surprisingly excellent for blood sugar levels I've found - and you can carb count as all the nutritional values are on line!

Right hope you both have a wonderful Christmas - here's to 5.5 all day (my God that sounds sad)...

Hello ladies,

how are things? Happy New Year to all Diabetic Mums to Be.

I am 11+1 now.. Feeling nervous about my next scan (12th January). My blood sugar has been quite up and down. Although I got a good HBA1c at 6 weeks, things have been erratic, in fact I have had some of my highest ever sugars (22 once!). Some mild and moderate hypos too, just not enough on target! I just keep worrying about how this might have affected the baby. Also my epilepsy but that's another issue..

Anyone have up and down sugars early on and found things turned out OK?

Happy New Year falling! I'm now six months with our bub and I can really relate with what you're saying. In fact I've just had a 'high' and it has put me in a right grump - I did have Magnum and chocolate Santa though so it was to be expected really! I try and remember that although blood sugars can obviously affect the baby, there are hundreds of other things that can affect the baby too - it's just we need to be fixated with that one thing and it can be blown out if proportion. I'm sure everything will be fine - in fact during my first three months I was working to getting my sugars to 7.8 within two hours (not within the one hour/hour and a half that's recommended) as I was just finding it absolutely impossible. If I happened to test an hour afterwards I would be around 12 or 13 - and that's every meal, three times a day. Everything perfect at 12 week scan and 20 week so I'm sure it will be for you too. Just try and take it on the chin and do your best. It's really is shit being diabetic and pregnant but I promise you will relax into it soon.

Happy New Year Misskitty - hope you're well? I just wanted to ask you a question if poss? I've hit the third trimester now and insulin requirements are starting to rocket. My problem is that I have to drive a long way to work and I'm really concerned about taking more insulin to match the demands, taking too much, and having a hypo at the wheel. Did you still drive at this stage? It's just so hard to be confident when your insulin is continually changing. Does anyone else have experience of this?

Thanks cupcake - you know just what to say! Sounds like our first trimesters have been quite similar. I do envy you all being further ahead, though time is passing quickly and I am enjoying being pregnant. Only 10 days til my next scan so not too long to wait. I just need to remind myself that I was feeling like this before the 6 week scan and everything was fine then.

I have increased my insulin:carb ratio slightly today which has made things a bit better and I managed to eat 3 after eights last night without going too high!

On your question for others about driving - obviously I am not this far ahead yet, but could you sip a little juice or eat chocolate dried fruit while driving? The peak acting times for most short acting insulin is the first 2 hours so that is a bit more of a hypo danger zone - any way you can organise your day around that (might be hard with breakfast though)?

Hi cupcake and falling Happy new year! apologies for the delay in posting but have been in hospital with pre eclampsia. However the silver lining is that I have had my baby girl!!!! Emergency section due to complications and foetal distress but she is here and happy and healthy. I can't believe it
One thing I will say though, is the speed with which my insulin needs dropped back to normal is quite shocking. Straight away after the section I was pretty much back to my pre pregnancy levels and now am breastfeeding the have dropped even further. I now only need about 80% or previous insulin and have had to keep a snack with me at all times while breastfeeding to stay level.
However being a mum is so fab. I love it. How are you ladies?