Any pregnant Type 1 diabetics?

[dieciocho]

Hi,
I'm looking for other pregnant Type 1 diabetics in London, just to have someone to keep in contact with and share advice/horror stories/support each other etc.
I don't actually know anyone at all with Type 1, despite having had it myself since 1989

I'm in a support group for mums of t1 children - a few of the mums have t1 too and we're on it in a massive way complaining to media who don't make the distinction.

I was told 'oh, is he diabetic because you didn't give him enough protein, you're veggie aren't you?' Grrrrrr. I also get the cross feelings about 'the bad sort' too.

The carbs and cals book is available on amazon - bought a copy for my parents as dad is type 2, but beer and cheese induced (and so much calmer since he's been injecting).

I agree, wish media would differentiate and actually EDUCATE people on the difference between the 2 types as they might find that may help reduce numbers with type 2 as opposed to labelling diabetics as one category.

My mum has type one too. It really confuses people because they're always told type one isn't hereditary I just tell them it's complicated!

My levels haven't been above 7.0 all day, can I have a ?!

Here you go spotty (my first one!)

So turns out I am having hypos at 1/2am and sleeping through. Shall I reduce 1 unit at a time or two? I am currently having 16 of levemir at night

When my son had this issue the clinic said to split his levemir, but we got assertive so they put him on a pump instead :) problem solved. Would a chat with your specialist nurse help?

I already split Brambles and don't meet the criteria for a pump unfortunately. It's not something that usually happens just pregnancy related!

:( sad face for you. Is there a case for the pump whilst you're pregnant?

I used to take the cautious route - I suppose it depends how wonky you feel if you go high by reducing two units. W got to the point where we were feeding slow gi suppers a although I'm sure you're already the. Bloody disease!

Ds' is hereditary through the coeliac and hyperthyroid route.

Doubt it, only got a max of eight weeks left eek!! It doesn't help that I'm so hungry all the time just about to tuck into my third second breakfast

:) keep carbing!

spotty - what time do you have dinner? If you are more than 4 hours from dinner at the point you are dropping low, then you know it is not your evening fast-acting to blame. So, yes, you need to drop your Levemir. I would try for two units at first, but you'll need to set your alarm for your usual 'hypo time' to check whether that is stabilising you, or whether perhaps you're rising instead. If rising, add back another unit.

Such a shame for the wait for DAFNE - this really angers me because once again people are being given the tools for good control - test strips and insulin - without being given any proper guidance on how to use them. However, I know I have said this before but check out Think Like a Pancreas for tips on how to properly carb count. Also buy the Collins Little Gem calorie counter book which is handbag size. And finally, the BDEC course mentioned above is actually pretty good IF you click through all the various links and exercises. You can do it in about 10 mins if you don't explore all the parts of the site, but if you do it gives you a good headsup.

Brambles - splitting Levemir is actually very effective for most people and in my experience is not just a fob off from medical teams (although of course we get plenty of those too!!) Glad your son got a pump - I think if anyone deserves it, kids do.

For your son's breakfast, I would try giving him something which is not carb-based. Breakfast is the hardest meal for many of us because of Dawn Phenomenon and so at that time he might be better with something like a boiled egg or an omelette with cheese and bacon (or no bacon if you are veggie). Cereal is a double whammy because the cereal itself is very carby, but so is milk because of the lactose and for me liquid based carbs (in this case the lactose in the milk) goes into my system much faster than solids and leaves me high...

Oh, and another tip for bread lovers. The best bread I have found readily available in the supermarkets is the Burgen Soya and Linseed bread at just 11.2g carbs per slice for a full size slice. Compare that to 17g for many other thick cut breads. It is also full of seeds and releases much more slowly - and so avoiding spikes - than other breads...

Thanks Bona we eat quite early for dd so definitely levemir. Ill drop back two tonight and test at 1 ish. Got nurse Wednesday anyway and she's really good.

I like the Vogel soya and linseed bread yum! I will check out all those links/books etc thank you!

Thanks - we have decided to do some basal testing to make sure that the underlying basal is ok before we start tinkering with bolus ratio etc - that's the plan this week! Carb free brekkies.

Interesting what you say about the milk too. I had wondered about adding in a fruit yoghurt as protein tends to stabilise levels - he'll get enough of that from a quorn and scrambled egg brekkies though.

Think the split levemir would have been ok, just that at this point he was already on 8 injections a day and w getting more and more distressed. The pump is a godsend, particularly now it is linked to the sensor and we get an all in one download.

Isn't it brilliant that we are understanding so much more about how it works? Knowledge is the key to a healthier life.

No worries, good luck with dropping it back, but that should sort you out. You might find if you get that sorted it also helps you to be more stable the following day. I think after hypos when I've dropped way down then shoot up again afterwards I tend to get on that zigzag pattern for at least 12 hours afterwards!

On our colustrum collection discussion earlier, I found this thread on the other forum I post on where lots of T1 mums have been thinking about the same issue. Worth a look: diabetes-support.org.uk/diabetesforum/index.php/topic,2371.new.html#new

Yep plenty of zig zagging going on today. 6-8-3. At least I don't have work today it's always more difficult to pay attention when at work!

Obviously, after hypos and also hypers diabetics feel really tired, but do you feel that since being diagnosed you've become/felt even more tired in normal life?
I'm not talking about pregnancy now, but I rarely have the same energy levels as the "normal" people in my life (even if my blood's 5-8)
As a diabetic teenager I used to have a nap when I got home from school at 15:30; my DP thinks that's crazy!

Maybe it's because I'm lacto-ovo vegetarian, albeit with a very healthy diet...

dieciocho - I have to say I think I've generally gotten off very lightly on the diabetes front and would broadly say that I feel the same now as I always did. I was diagnosed much later in life - relatively 'old' aged 28 (am now 33).

I do think one of the things you need to bare in mind is just the drudgery of a chronic condition - thinking about everything you stick in your gob, constant calculations, feeling guilty when you fall off the wagon in terms of what you eat / your levels... That tires me out mentally, although so far I don't really feel any physical effects.

Perhaps it could be something else? Thyroid or aneamia? Have you ever discussed it with your doctor? I feel like with levels as good as you describe you shouldn't feel unduly tired... (mind you, you probably risk getting lectured about your diet - I bet that happens a LOT).

*bear in mind (my spelling has gone out of the window - baby brain?!)

My thyroid was monitored regular at university, but nothing especially worrying ever showed up. My anaemia test at my first ante-natal appointment was normal too.
I'm not prepared to "blame" my vegetarianism; that's what meat-eaters do!

Blimey BonaDea, 28 is old! I was 9, so remembering life/diet/energy levels before diabetes is kind of hard.

Doubt your diet has anything to do with it - think meat eaters are more likely to be sluggish (I am an ardent carnivore). I'd mention again the next time you see them, why not?

I am constantly tired but have something similar to muscular dystrophy to blame for that! Hypos whack me out though!

Bona I was 28 too!! Strange. I blamed myself for so long until I got the GAD cell test which confirmed it was T1. I've always been slim but as I had such a 'fun' lifestyle, going out with friends, drinking etc I somehow thought I'd brought it on myself. At least we didn't have to go through childhood/teen years/early 20s with it. I can't imagine how hard it must be for people.

Spotty I can't cope reading your levels! You would think mine were a horror story...eg - wake up at about 5.5 up to 10/11 before back to about 8ish within an hour and a half (and that's a good day). Sometimes I mess up like this afternoon and spend a few hours hovering around 10 before a correction dose kicks in (which thoroughly upsets and frustrates me). Is this typical T1ers or am I just crap?!

puds I was 12 when I was diagnosed and it was New Year's Eve! Well tbh I think my control could be really could if I concentrated more. This thread is really spitting me on though! I just love chocolate and hate testing! I don't seem to get those post meal spikes

Spotty I was diagnosed on new Year's Eve too! It totally ruined the party that my parents had planned as I was rushed into A&E by ambulance. Oops.