Type 1 diabetic and pregnant/TTC

[Happypumper]

Hi, I have been a Type 1 diabetic for almost 25 years and use an insulin pump. I have two wonderful children and found being pregnant incredibly stressful due to my diabetes. My diabetes consultant tells me that I am not the only one who felt that way so I have been thinking about different support mechanisms for pregnant Type 1s. I would love to hear from anyone who has thoughts on this and get other's views on what would have helped them when they were pregnant.

Hello happy, I take it from your username you're on a pump? (I am)

I've been type 1 for 24 years, I was ttc for 3 years with 2 mcs (not diabetes related) and I'm now 18 weeks with my first. Yes, it's really bloody stressful being pregnant and Type 1, it's lovely to hear that you have had two successful pregnancies though so maybe you could give me some tips!

Hi Otters, congrats on your pregnancy! Sounds like it hasn't been an easy road to get to this point. Both of my children were conceived via IVF and I had a miscarriage so I have some understanding of what you have been through.

Yes, I am on a pump (Medtronic)... Which one are you on?

Being a pregnant type 1 is definitely bloody stressful!!

Which hospital are you at? I was at St Thomas' in London.

Some things that worked for me during my pregnancies were the following:

• testing A LOT, especially after eating ... I would regularly test around 20 times per day ... As I tested so frequently, I was able to correct any blood sugars that weren't ideal very quickly
• going lowish carb when possible... Not easy though when you are having pregnancy cravings
• leaving about 20 minutes between bolusing and eating, sometimes even a bit longer for high carb meals
• changing my set every 2/2.5 days (such a pain!)
• using a pen to bolus at times (random but I sometimes found that the insulin would act more quickly when coming from a pen)

I have some questions for you:

• is there any emotional support offered at your hospital (eg support groups, sessions with a counsellor/ psychotherapist) ... If not, do you think these would be helpful? Would you attend a support group for pregnant type 1s if there was one?
• Have you found any good online resources?
• do you feel the health professionals you see fully understand how stressful managing type 1 diabetes while being pregnant can be?

I really hope everything continues to go well for you. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

I've been a type 1 for 17 years. I have a a 5 yo DS who was conceived naturally and I'm now 23+3 weeks pg.
We ttc for 3 years for this one and I was diagnosed with pcos and conceived on gonal-f injections.
I see my diabetes consultant either every week or every 2 weeks.
I am not on a pump. I'm testing so much that I've developped hard skin on the tip of my fingers!
It is stressful to try to keep the blood sugar as low as possible.

Hi StoneBaby, congrats on your pregnancy. It sounds like it hasn't been an easy road for you either. How are you finding managing your diabetes with a presumably lively 5 year old to look after as well?

What hospital are you at? Is there any kind of emotional support offered? If not, what do you think would be helpful for you (eg support groups, seeing a counsellor)?

hiya, been type 1 for 24 years and finally pregnant following IVF. Not on pump but checking sugars constantly and doing 6+ injections a day to keep on top of them. Constantly starving and eating far too many carbs resulting in daily highs but last 3 hba1cs have been 6% or less so consultants happy enough.

Bit scary how much insulin i'm taking already - only 24w and taking about 3 times more than pre-pregnancy and worry about how this will affect baby, but feel sick if I don't eat as much as I do.

Main source of support and reassurance, particularly in early weeks, was from DSN who happily replies to my random emails between appointments.

The pregnancy thread in diabetes.co.uk forum has been useful too.

Hi Tulip, congrats on your pregnancy! And thank you for providing some info on the support you have had - that's great that your DSN has been so helpful. My insulin doses also went through the roof, especially from 20 weeks ... To my knowledge, however, most insulins don't harm the baby at all.