Hypos in first trimester

[jsmith8196]

I am 11 weeks pregnant(yay!) And have had 2 weekly appointments at my antenatal clinic, each time have needed adjustments to basal and bolus rates. Last week sugars were finally in range nearly all of the time but these last couple of days I have been having so many hypos - very stubborn hypos! They seem to make me feel awful and needing double the treatment. Anyone else experienced the same? Also is this going to put baby in any harm at all? Next appointment is next thursday, and I know I can ring them with these questions, but would be nice to speak to someone who has been through/going through the same!

 

[JMK1954]

My experience was 26 plus years ago, but starting around the 12 week point I was regularly hypo. I ended up in hospital on a glucose drip more than once, but my son was fine. He was delivered by a emergency C section at 32 weeks, (pre-eclampsia) but the hypos did him no harm. He has a degree in Maths (he got the talent for Maths from my husband) - and an understanding of type 1 better than my husband's. Just have emergency glucose-type supplies in grabbing distance all the time. Further adjustments to your insulin may help avoid the frequency of the hypos at least. I would give your experts a ring. Have you been prescribed glucagon for use by another person in an emergency ? It sounds as if it might be worth asking about that too. Good luck and best wishes from me.

 

[stereotypeone86]

Hi there,congrats on your pregnancy.I’m T1 and 33weeks pregnant with my first baby.I had a similar experience as you in my first trimester.My hypo’s were severe (regularly in the 2’s to 1.0mmol range) and would be very stubborn to treat.

It was scary,exhausting and frustrating to deal with but this phase will usually pass after the first trimester.These hypos are actually more dangerous for Mothers than babies and is caused by our blood sugar levels adjusting to the massive influx of pregnancy hormones and chemicals that flood the body in the early months.

Our bodies have a lot to deal with growing a fetus then adding Diabetes into the mix...I worried too but my baby,fingers crossed is healthy and unscathed from all the hypos so try not to worry.

If you’re still struggling after the first trimester,changing insulin may help.I went from novorapid to fiasp at 12weeks and that helped to stabilise my blood sugar levels further.

Best of luck!

 

[jsmith8196]

Hi, thanks for your reply! That's very reassuring to hear. I have been prescribed glucogen. I spoke to one of my specialist midwives who said I should be getting increased insulin resistance as opposed to sensitivity but has lowered my carb ratios. Got my 12 week scan this thursday so will see what the consultant advises!

My experience was 26 plus years ago, but starting around the 12 week point I was regularly hypo. I ended up in hospital on a glucose drip more than once, but my son was fine. He was delivered by a emergency C section at 32 weeks, (pre-eclampsia) but the hypos did him no harm. He has a degree in Maths (he got the talent for Maths from my husband) - and an understanding of type 1 better than my husband's. Just have emergency glucose-type supplies in grabbing distance all the time. Further adjustments to your insulin may help avoid the frequency of the hypos at least. I would give your experts a ring. Have you been prescribed glucagon for use by another person in an emergency ? It sounds as if it might be worth asking about that too. Good luck and best wishes from me.

 

[jsmith8196]

Hi there,congrats on your pregnancy.I’m T1 and 33weeks pregnant with my first baby.I had a similar experience as you in my first trimester.My hypo’s were severe (regularly in the 2’s to 1.0mmol range) and would be very stubborn to treat.

It was scary,exhausting and frustrating to deal with but this phase will usually pass after the first trimester.These hypos are actually more dangerous for Mothers than babies and is caused by our blood sugar levels adjusting to the massive influx of pregnancy hormones and chemicals that flood the body in the early months.

Our bodies have a lot to deal with growing a fetus then adding Diabetes into the mix...I worried too but my baby,fingers crossed is healthy and unscathed from all the hypos so try not to worry.

If you’re still struggling after the first trimester,changing insulin may help.I went from novorapid to fiasp at 12weeks and that helped to stabilise my blood sugar levels further.

Best of luck!

Hi, congrats to you too! Not too long now! How are feeling? Luckily I haven't gone below 2, I have the libre so that has been a lifesaver as awareness seems to be variable. I'm so glad to hear baby should be fine. I did speak to my specialist midwife and she said it's more normal to have increased resistance instead of sensitivity which worried me a little but your comment has definitely settled me! I seem to suffering which a lot of anxiety throughout this pregnancy! I'm hoping it will get better as I get further along. I didnt think of changing my insulin. I have my 12 week scan this week so may mention it. Thank you for your reply and and good luck to you!

 

[JMK1954]

It strikes me that if your insulin was increased because your levels were too high, perhaps it has simply been increased a bit too much. We are not all the same and this applies when you are pregnant as well.

 

[jsmith8196]

I think that's what happened.. I have been being seen every 1-2 weeks and every appointment my bolus and basal rates were being increased. I think it had just all caught up and was slightly too much. After speaking to my specialist midwife the other day, she lowered my ratio back down but yesterday and today have been experiencing yet more hypos so may be time to lower basal rates. Will leave it until thursday and see what they suggest!

 

[stereotypeone86]

Hi, congrats to you too! Not too long now! How are feeling? Luckily I haven't gone below 2, I have the libre so that has been a lifesaver as awareness seems to be variable. I'm so glad to hear baby should be fine. I did speak to my specialist midwife and she said it's more normal to have increased resistance instead of sensitivity which worried me a little but your comment has definitely settled me! I seem to suffering which a lot of anxiety throughout this pregnancy! I'm hoping it will get better as I get further along. I didnt think of changing my insulin. I have my 12 week scan this week so may mention it. Thank you for your reply and and good luck to you!

Thanks very much!I’m feeling alright at the moment.More fatigued but generally things have remained consistent.Apparently in the 3rd trimester your insulin requirements increase dramatically but I haven’t found that as of yet.But I may be in the minority because I’ve always been extremely sensitive to insulin and my daily requirements are pretty minimal because I’ve followed a low carb diet since I’ve been pregnant.

I’m glad you have the libre-Me too and like you said, it’s literally been a lifesaver.I don’t know how I would have made it safely through my pregnancy without it as my hypo awareness had totally disappeared!I’m glad you were able to speak to your midwife-the thing I find being pregnant and type one diabetic is that everyone’s body responds differently.

I seldom get sky high blood sugar levels-my issue from day one of pregnancy was frequent and stubborn hypos and it seems you have a similar experience.There’s no concrete solutions but as long as you treat hypos and hypers right away there shouldn’t be any lasting issues.I had to realise that in my first trimester as I was anxious and upset every time I had hypos but foetuses are incredibly resilient and ironically,stress and anxiety are probably more damaging.

Try not to worry too much.Your body is in a state of flux in the first trimester but you’ll settle into pregnancy as time goes on and your body adapts.I have a very strict day to day routine that helps me to keep tight control of my blood sugar levels as well as helps keep my anxiety at bay but find what works best for you.Don’t be hard on yourself as women like us have such a huge responsibility on our shoulders and I don’t think we appreciate the mammoth task of pregnancy with this unpredictable condition as much as we should.

Wishing you all the best, you’ve got this

 

[kelp84]

I am 23w and have suffered a similar thing, before falling pregnant I would run high more than low, but since being pregnant I go low all the time especially at night, my Levemir has fallen at night from 15U to 2U. The team said to me lows are common during the 1st trimester, and to watch out for increased insulin resistance in the third.
My hba1c is at 43 which is the best it has been my whole life, however this last week I have been running high a fair bit and even the corrections are not helping - so thinking I may need to start adjusting the doses.
Its a constant managing act isn't it
I have always thought that going low is better for the baby than going high, but recently someone said to me that the baby also doesn't like lows, does anyone have any info on this?
I hope you are ok and manage to sort your doses out so you aren't going low too often, as it can be such a drain on your energy! You can do it