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

• if we're nil by mouth

Hi all,

I had my 33 wk appt and scan today, baby is still just above 95th percentile but they are pleased with my BS, blood pressure etc. They don't seem overly concerned re size and have told me they will assess me on 3rd Jan to decide whether I get a c section or induction. Was told I would go on a sliding scale, when I questioned why I couldn't test for myself and take my own insulin etc I was told in no uncertain terms that it just wasn't an option which is annoying me given I have such good control and know myself better than they do. Tried to tell doctor that obviously if I couldn't test myself etc for any reason I'd happily let them take charge but was still told no. Grrrrr.....

X

That is grrrrrr!!!!! I've got my 20 week appointment today and I just knowmy wishes are going to go down like a lead balloon. They know I suffer from anxiety and so I bet I'm made to feel that it's me being irrational at the expense of the baby. We'll see...

Yep, same experience here newbie. They barely listen to us.

I was told yesterday that the MWs test your blood when you're on the sliding scale.

Re: Puds' comment, my DP will be doing the testing etc for me, which is why I don't need the blasted sliding scale. It's hard enough allowing him to take control, let alone a total stranger.

Heart check okay! Yay! Apparently they're phasing them out now though as the risk is low in the context of things (I wouldn't call 5% low mind...) and the people who do the 20 week scans are going to just take a closer look at the heart. Interesting to find out however that once our babies have had a specialist heart scan - and everything seems okay - the risk of there then being a problem with the heart is in fact lower than the babies of other pregnant women.

We did tell the heart consultant we didn't want to know the sex and we both heard him refer to the baby as 'he'. Does that mean anything?

So I got confused and our 20 week scan is Monday followed by pregnancy clinic so will be asking about sliding scale etc then. However I had a normal diabetes clinic and the dr told me that I should have been having my readings at 7.8 within AN HOUR!!!!!!! I argued that my insulin doesn't even properly start working before an hour but he was quite adamant. I'm not doing it though - our DS was fine and I worked to two hours with him. Any shorter than 90 mins and I'd be in a constant state of stress sorting out hypos and I reckon that would be worse for the baby. What are people's thoughts on this? I still don't quite know what the point of the appointment was other than letting two trainee doctors ask me a load of questions like a guinea pig. I was quite annoyed really as with the amount of appointments we have unnecessary ones just take the piss. Anyone else had this?

Diec I reckon my husband could take my levels at a push but but no way would I trust him to give me insulin! You're v lucky. I still don't think he knows how to use the Glucagon....

Well, obviously his injecting me a little more worrying Puds, but we'll do a practice session beforehand!

I work to one hour post-food and have been told to keep levels under 7.5 at that point. This has been my hospital's system since my first ante-natal appointment.

My goodness. That's just something I could not achieve. Do you stick to quite a strict diet or just carb counting? Would love some tips.

Also do you start the clock ticking after you've eaten or from your insulin injection? I do mine from last injection so maybe that's where I'm going wrong considering the rate at which I can stuff food into my face though maybe not

That's where I got a bit muddled when I tried following the inject-before-you-eat system!

So, now I'm back on my normal system, which is that I naturally eat quite fast, then do my injection immediately afterwards.
I then test 1 hour-ish after my injection. So, say sit down and start eating at 19:00, inject at 19:10/19:15, test at 20:10/20:15 - I'm not that strict with the 60 minute thing; it could be 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 minutes...

I carb. count using "Carbs and Cals", the backs of packets or the knowledge I've built up over the years!

Carbs and Cals is bloody fantastic!

My levels have once again gone mental. Fed up today. I have been having these 'episodes' where I absolutely NEED sugar/food but I'm not hypo. It happened with my son but it really screws things up as I'm that hungry I don't have time to sit and logically think about what I'm going to eat and the consequences. Has anyone else had ths hunger in pregnancy toward the middle/end? It's as if the baby sucking a load of energy all of a sudden. I'm just confused as to whether it's a diabetic thing or a general pregnant lady thing?!

Nervous for 20 scan tomorrow. So worried my sometimes wayward levels have done something.

Relax Puds, worrying is bad for both of you. Not one of us is perfect and we've all had healthy 20-week scans.

I don't get crazed hunger moments, only when I'm hypo and eat everything in sight!!!

Been at a wedding this weekend; managed to keep my levels more or less under 10 despite eating lots/crazy meal timetable/one glass of wine (ONLY one)/tonnes of cheese!
However, when driving back to London this afternoon I had to have something cakey - I just couldn't resist - and had an iced fruit bun. Ooops. I was 8.5 an hour afterwards, so I shouldn't beat myself up, right?

Thanks Diec :-)

Jesus no! I was 12.something last night for a good hour after I sent husband for Ben and Jerrys! That really isn't bad at all - in fact I'm over 8 an hour after everything I eat!

When did people first notice ratio changes? Had a couple of days of higher than normal readings, and am wondering if its time to adjust, but equally I'm fighting off a cold at the mo so it might be linked to that. What to do???

Rue, mine started changing around the end of 1st trimester - I think drs. mentioned the 11-week mark...

Yes, wait until your cold has passed, I'd say.

Rue I'm week 20 and I think they're just changing but like you I'm unwell so will have to wait and see.

Baby fine at 20 week scan!! And what's more my HBA1C is 5.8!!!!!' I can't actually believe it - I want to scream it from the rooftops. So chuffed as to me my levels always seem shite. Eeeeeeek!

In other news I will be going on sliding scale...the stress of labour can send your levels up and the baby then produces more insulin and has a much higher risk of being too low when born. The injections don't start to act for an hour and the IV insulin works immediately, with a life of just 5 mins in the body. Although not for everyone I'm not going to oppose it.

That's not to say I'm not very anxious about it...

That didn't make sense - I am very anxious about it is what I meant!

Well done Puds, good news all round.

Thanks Diec!!! So chuffed.

Sorry I've been AWOL everyone we are finally home after two long weeks. I'm sorry I can't catch up with everything but hope you're all doing well. Well done on your hba1c puds

Can someone explain exactly what a sliding scale means as I've been told I will be put on that too straightaway?

Thanks!

Nice to hear from you Spotty! Hope you and little Felix are well how are your levels post birth?

Hi newbie - it's intravenous insulin as I understand it that you're hooked up to. I had it last time.

I can't say I have tested for ever a while

They would only let us leave the hospital if I agreed to have him weighed Thursday because since we've gone from tube feeds (a ridiculous amount nearly 90ml/3hours because they do it on their weight) he's lost 50g but obviously he's not going to carry on his line he wasn't meant to be so big! I hope the HV gets this. He only feeds for ten minutes at a time and I usually have to wake him after three hours!