Type one diabetic mums please help - urgent advice needed

[Ilovestripes]

Hi, I've been admitted to hospital for the next couple of days for steroids to develop our baby's lungs. Apparently the steroids make your blood sugars go through the roof and so they recommend a hell of a lot more insulin to keep things under control. I am so scared to inject the amounts that they have recommended (seem a bit plucked out of the air if you ask me). Throughout my pregnancy I have only ever adjusted by one or two units at a time until I have the correct level and jumping up by this much feels to me like I'm asking for disaster. Any advice at all would be very much appreciated - I'm sat in hospital petrified I will have to have so much insulin it's going to kill me.

you should be on a 'sliding scale'. They will check your blood sugar every hour and adjust the insulin accordingly. You may find that you don't need any/or very little insulin, and that it will only be adjusted by the smallest amounts. It will be calibrated against the daily amount of insulin you usually take.
Ime, you will not be injecting yourself, you will be attached to an intravenous line, adjusted by the midwife.
Please, please speak to the midwife or doctor caring for you. It seems as if you have agreed to something you don't understand and that is a recipe for future problems.They should have a sheet with all the calculations on which you can look at for yourself.

Can you ask to see a diabetic specialist consultant or nurse specialist?

btw, I am a bit concerned that you think your care providers are trying to kill you. Do you have any previous problems apart from the diabetes?

I only have gestational diabetes but I'm injecting insulin for it andhad tohave the steroids at 28 weeks, they discussed admitting me as it's meant to affect sugars but it had no effecton mine at all so please don't panic at the moment!!! Luckily they let me monitor my own at home as I have 3 other young kids but had to promise if things started going off the rail or I felt poorly to go straight in. You might be lucky yet too so just hang on in there and ask them as many questions as you need to.

Get your diabetes nurse/consultant involved asap.

Agree with Reikizen that you should probably be on a sliding scale.

I have heard that steriods can have a huge effect on blood sugar so try not to worry too much. You can test as regularly as you like to feel secure - even if it is every 10 mins at first.

I have to say, my mum is a brittle diabetic and steroids always affect her - to they point that they now adjust her insulin in anticipation.

As others have said you are likely to be on a sliding scale, but please talk to someone that is caring for you - and I'm sure they will be able to put you at ease.

Best wishes