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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Any pregnant Type 1 diabetics?

999 replies

dieciocho · 06/09/2012 07:44

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

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dieciocho · 01/11/2012 16:18

Like Spotty says, my levels can also drop quite quickly in the morning, but not in the afternoon. So, I can crash from say 8 an hour after breakfast (8am) to 2 by mid-morning (10am).

One thing to scare you about low-carb diets: I've read recently that ketones can become likely on a low-carb diet...

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SpottyTeacakes · 01/11/2012 16:20

I have read that too die

Mylittlepuds · 01/11/2012 16:28

Thanks so much for your replies. I feel like it's a constant battle at the moment, not helped by my massive anxiety issues! I was at a little Halloween get together last might with a few girl friends and there was a lovely buffet, with sweets, crisps etc. I'd been at work all day, got there and just felt so deflated at everyone tucking in, gobbling the lovely sweets. I was ravenous, had a few bits but just wanted to tuck in without guilt.

Two of my friends there were pregnant too and I just felt so sorry for myself! I really did. Don't get me wrong, I love my life so much and certainly wouldn't swap with anyone. And they have their own issues. But this is so hard. Day in day out.

Yesterday I had a low carb day really and felt so much less anxious for it. Do any of you follow this kind of lifestyle and know how safe it is in pregnancy as this rollercoaster isn't sustainable for me.

Again, thanks so much for listening. It really has given me a boost this afternoon knowing I'm 'normal' diabetes wise!

BonaDea · 01/11/2012 16:31

I'm not talking low-carb like Atkins where you are basically just surviving on protein so that your body 'eats' its own fat. I'm talking about avoiding the stuff you know raises blood sugar like potatoes, pasta, rice. You can still eat a very balanced diet with out these things with lots of fruit and veg.

There is a difference between damaging ketoacidosis (the enemy of diabetics) and ketosis which simply indicates your body is using fat for energy instead of glucose.

Anyway, it is just a thought and certainly would help puds avoid the swings she suffers. If you are not going up much, there is not very far to fall...

Mylittlepuds · 01/11/2012 16:34

Thanks Bona Smile

Is there some kind of plan or recommendation for t1s wanting to follow this kind of lifestyle? If not there should be - it'd make a fortune!

Eg. What would I eat for brekkie? And lunch? Erm...and dinner?

RueDeWakening · 01/11/2012 17:17

You could have scrambled egg on seed-heavy toast for breakfast, with tinned toms and sausage and bacon...

Lunch: ham salad, omelette

Dinner: grilled chicken with plenty of non-root veg. The odd bit of sweet potato if you fancy it.

I know Antony worrall thonpsons book about low GI is meant to be good, but I've never actually looked at it Grin

BonaDea · 01/11/2012 17:34

I personally don't buy into the AWT book - he is looking to cash in on diabetes but lots of his recipes are simply 'low fat, low GI' which are good, but nothing remarkable. Actually, my problem might jsut be that he irritates me Wink

If you wanted to give lower carb a whirl, here's the types of things I would eat:

Brekkie - eggs in any form, bacon, ham, I often have raspberries (one of the lower carb fruits) and cream. You can also have things that are not traditionally breakfast items but there is no reason why you can't have for breakfast - I sometimes make a breakfast frittata with ham, cheese, peas, cream. This keeps well and can be eaten cold (or heated through the next day).

Lunch - soup (as long as not bulked out with potatoes or rice - lots of them are), salad with any protein like egg, cheese, fish, chicken, lots of leaves, tomatoes, cucumber etc.

Dinner - any meat or fish with lots of veggies or salad (and any creamy or tomato-ey sauce you fancy, lots of cheese). Sweet potatoes are good,but even lower carb is butternut squash which is great. I would have, for example, a nice steak with buttered green veg. Basically zero carbs and very tasty.

Today for a low carb snack I had a packet of bacon strips from M& S (the type you would throw in a salad) or you can have a hard boiled egg, cheese, some nuts (but watch out things like cashews are quite high carb - macadaemias are excellent).

I have done this for phases since being diabetic and have to say it has made the whole control issue a breeze. BUT, it is hard because many yummy things are obviously off the menu. I think a balance of doing this with teh occasional carby splurge is the best bet and easiest to maintain. I will also admit that now that I am pregnant I am craving carbs and just can't do the low -carb thing right now, so instead I am on the up and down rollercoaster!

There are LOTS of low carb cookery books on the market but a lot of it is common sense and just working around what you don't want to eat!

RueDeWakening · 01/11/2012 18:39

Ha, Bona I don't like AWT either, this would be why I've never looked at his book Grin

BonaDea · 02/11/2012 10:06

Rue because you mentioned them yesterday, I went home and made a massive bowl of sweet potato wedges as I had several SPs lying about. Just ate them dunked in mayo with nothing else for dinner. Was yummmy and had very respectable readings afterwards. Following by fruit salad which I'd made the day before (mango, pineapple, raspberries, kiwi) - I ate it just in time to catch my post-dinner hypo before it hit. Grin

BonaDea · 02/11/2012 10:09

*Followed by fruit salad....

Mylittlepuds · 02/11/2012 13:17

Day 1 of reduced carbs going very well indeed!

dieciocho · 02/11/2012 14:22

Ok, ok, I'll try it too!
We're going out with friends for Thai food tonight, so I'll be ordering some kind of mixed vegetable thing and spicy soup, but no yummy pad thai : (

Let's see what happens...

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SpottyTeacakes · 02/11/2012 14:25

I'm not even going to tell you what I've eaten today Blush

Mylittlepuds · 02/11/2012 14:55

Tell us Spotty...I'm really fancying a Pot Noodle...

SpottyTeacakes · 02/11/2012 14:59

Ummm two slices of toast, a doughnut, a packet of monster munch and some chips from the chip shop! It's my last day at work today though!

Mylittlepuds · 02/11/2012 15:02

Mmmm Monster Munch

dieciocho · 02/11/2012 16:03

Blimey Spotty!!! Was that wholemeal Monster Munch and a wholemeal doughnut?!!! ; )

I don't really fancy eating anything these days and I haven't felt inspired by food for a good month now. Cooking just doesn't happen - it's more of a meal-construction (salad or roasted vegetables or sandwiches or beans on toast), needless to say, DP is not too happy that he's now doing both the cooking and the washing-up!

I'm not nauseous; just...bored.

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SpottyTeacakes · 02/11/2012 19:37

Oh of course it was all wholemeal Wink

I feel your pain on the 'bored of food' front also just can't be bothered to think about it!

dieciocho · 03/11/2012 08:05

Well, that didn't work - who knew there was so much carbohydrate in hot and sour mushroom soup, 0% beer and tempura vegetables?!
I had a reading of 14 an hour after, WTF, and felt horrible.

Feeling better this morning (4.0 at 4am and 6.6 pre-breakfast) and bump has kicked a little bit, so I have to assume everything's ok.

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Mylittlepuds · 03/11/2012 08:16

Diec that's odd! What did you give yourself?

I fell off the low carb wagon last night quite spectacularly but I think as my body wasn't so busy with carbs from earlier in the day all was fine.

Back on it again today as I find not worrying about my levels whilst looking after my toddler so much better. I don't mind them going a bit wonky when hubby is in as there's Glucagon on hand not that he'd have a clue what to do with it. Have any lay people had to administer a Glucagon shot to any of you ladies?

I'm in a weird 12-20 week wait with the baby. I don't feel pregnant at all and would love a bit of reassurance so I'm thinking of splashing out on a Doppler. Anyone got one?

Mylittlepuds · 03/11/2012 08:17

(I'm 15+2 now so not sure if I'd hear the heartbeat myself if I got one)

SpottyTeacakes · 03/11/2012 08:19

They say sixteen weeks puds I have one but anterior placenta always made it hard to find

dieciocho · 03/11/2012 18:20

Puds I had 7u, so should more than have covered my meal. I suspect that there may be some carbohydrate in 0% beer...

No, in over 20 yrs of T1 no-one's ever used Glucagon on me (that's not to say there haven't been a couple of times when it would've proved helpful!)

We thought about hiring a Doppler, but now at 27 weeks I understand that the heart-beat is so strong that we could hear it with a stethoscope...which would be cheaper.

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SpottyTeacakes · 03/11/2012 18:22

My parents used the Glucagon on me when I was younger but that's it

Mylittlepuds · 04/11/2012 20:02

So I've had an up and down day (aren't they all?!) but I have a new weapon against a high reading - get out on a walk! Levels have been fab ever since i spat my dummy out about a random high and walked to the shops and back.

What are you guys doing for exercise? The NHS guideline now for pregnant women is 30 mins a day! I was quite surprised about that.

I was really getting into my running and was hitting it quite hard before I found out about our little surprise. Then I quite ashamed to say I have done nothing since! It had been really helping too. My excuse initially was that I was too sick and tired, but now I don't have an excuse so I really need to up my game. I want to be fit for labour! I have also bought a pregnancy yoga DVD...but I think you actually need to use it...