Now I need Vitamin D and Metformin to get pregnant?!

[BeccaJaneStClair]

I finally had my spotlight session with the other nurse and he was really nice and at the end asked me if I had children/wanted to have any (as I was the youngest in the group!) and I explained to him my plight of having my hormone levels tested but having to abandon it due to the diabetes diagnosis, told him about the GP telling me to drop 2 stone by August, and told him how close I was to the goal. He said "Hold on while I call a co-worker and ask them a question for you", tehn came back to tell me about a preconception diabetic team at the hospital I need to get a referral from my GP to go see.

I had a phone appointment with the GP who deals with girly bits (she's the one who did my implant insert and removal, but she's not my regular GP or the diabetic specialist GP at my practice) and she said she would put in the referral, but in the meantime, in addition to the 5mg of folic acid my regular GP gave me on prescription, I needed to start taking some OTC Vitamin D.

*sigh* I was soo soo happy to not need any medication for my diabetes, bp, cholesterol, etc. and now I have to take all these things in the hopes that I'll get pregnant? This better be worth it!! (okay, I know it will....)

Oh, and she told me there was a high likelihood that the hospital team will put me on Metformin right away even though I don't need it to control diabetes because it will help me get pregnant. What??

 

[BeccaJaneStClair]

Re: Now I need Vitamin D, too?!

....and then I re-read that and realized I never actually asked my questions, did I?

1 - What's up with now needing Vitamin D in addition to the Folic Acid? I know we lack sunshine and that's where we normally get Vitamin D, but do Diabetics have some kind of deficiency in it?

2 - Metformin to help get pregnant? What? How? Why would you put someone who doesn't need Metformin for their diabetes on it?

 

[viviennem]

It seems that many people in the British Isles, particularly indoor workers, come out of every winter with a Vitamin D deficiency. A "summer" like the one we're having at the moment won't be much help :wink: . Also as we get older we don't metabolise it properly, so extra is needed - though that shouldn't apply too much to you just yet! Vit D is involved in very many of our bodily processes, helps metabolises calcium, and is an anti-inflammatory as well.

Among natural sources are eggs and oily fish, but it's difficult to get enough through dietary sources. Mainly our body makes it through the action of sunlight on the cholesterol in the fat under the skin.

Did the GP say anything about which Vitamin D? You need Vitamin D3, not any other type. You can get it on Amazon or e-bay, or your pharmacist will be able to get it for you. I take 2500iu daily in summer, and 5000iu daily from the end of October to the end of March. My levels are very good for a 62-year-old!

Google Vit D and read up on it a bit. "They" have now realised that we can take much higher levels than was previously thought. I have no problems with the levels I take. Read round and go for abstracts of scientific papers rather than 'pop' sites. If I can find the link I found most interesting I'll post it later.

Metformin helps to lower insulin resistance in the cells so that your insulin can work better. It can help in weight loss, it has a protective effect agains stroke and cardiovascular, and new research is suggesting that it protects against some types of cancer. The only side-effects with it are gastric upset and diarrhoea, which wear off (usually) as you get accustomed to it. There is a Slow Release version if you can't tolerate the effects. Ease on to it gently - one daily for a week, then 2 daily for the next week, etc.

It's a safe drug, so don't worry too much. They may only put you on a low dose, or they may not give it to you at all. If they do, ask them to explain why. They should respect your reasons for not wanting to take medecine just for the sake of it, particularly as you're wanting to get pregnant.

Let us know how you get on!

Viv

 

[angieG]

Hi,
Metformin was up until recently presribed for PCOS as it regulated periods, aided ovulation and so helped sufferers get pregnant I believe. There are some forums dealing with all this, I found them when I googled the effect of metformin on periods.
Hope this helps.
Good luck
Angie

 

[SweetHeart]

Also, cholesterol is the body's subway train that carries Vit D3 around the body. If you're keeping your cholesterol levels down then you'll be short of Vit D3 and, possibly, other D vits. There is an article on one of the boards about it, but I can't remember who posted it.

Found the link to the article posted; http://www.spacedoc.com/why_statins_do_ ... _than_good

Ju

 

[BeccaJaneStClair]

Did the GP say anything about which Vitamin D? You need Vitamin D3, not any other type. You can get it on Amazon or e-bay, or your pharmacist will be able to get it for you. I take 2500iu daily in summer, and 5000iu daily from the end of October to the end of March. My levels are very good for a 62-year-old!

No, just "go ask the pharmacist at Boots for Vitamin D". *sigh*

It's a safe drug, so don't worry too much. They may only put you on a low dose, or they may not give it to you at all. If they do, ask them to explain why. They should respect your reasons for not wanting to take medecine just for the sake of it, particularly as you're wanting to get pregnant.

Let us know how you get on!

Viv

I will! I haven't yet found out when my appointment is. I'll have to ring the GP office to make sure the referral went.

Hi,
Metformin was up until recently presribed for PCOS as it regulated periods, aided ovulation and so helped sufferers get pregnant I believe. There are some forums dealing with all this, I found them when I googled the effect of metformin on periods.
Hope this helps.
Good luck
Angie

Hi Angie, I see you're in Lincolnshire, too

I don't have PCOS. Or if I do, I haven't yet been diagnosed with it.

Also, cholesterol is the body's subway train that carries Vit D3 around the body. If you're keeping your cholesterol levels down then you'll be short of Vit D3 and, possibly, other D vits. There is an article on one of the boards about it, but I can't remember who posted it.

Found the link to the article posted; http://www.spacedoc.com/why_statins_do_ ... _than_good

Ju

Thanks, I'll give that a read.

 

[Juliette40]

Hi Rebecca

I'm type 2 and on 750 metformin. My last 2 HbA1c levels have been in the non-diabetic range. After the last one, I explained to my GP that my husband and I were planning a pregnancy and therefore seeking her advice. She is a gynae expert. She said that whilst I didn't need metformin for my diabetes any more, it would help my PCOS. It regulates the cycle length by balancing your hormones. It generally boosts fertility and aids ovulation. Since being on Metformin (13 months now) my periods are pretty regular (within a couple of days) and last similar durations. This is a great help when trying to establish your fertile days for conception. I've read that this is 5 days before ovulation and on the day itself (though different souces vary).

I too have been prescribed folic acid to prevent birth defects in the foetus eg spina bifida and cleft palate. It's part of the vitamin B family and it critical to DNA and RNA formation, ensuring that cells duplicate normally. I take 400mcg a day though, a lot less than your 5g. As it is helpful in treating other conditions, such as osteoporasis, IBS, depression and plaque build up in blood vessels, your GP may have given you this higher dose. I think anyone considering pregnancy is advised to take this these days. My opinion is that I would rather take a natural substance, such as a vitamin pill, if it reduces the risk of birth defects, than not take it. To me, it's a 'no brainer.'

Vitamin D is concerned largely with bone strength. It aids the body's absorption of calcium which strengthens bones and teeth. It is also reported to boost the immune system, prevent some cancers and help reduce muscle twitches, nervousness and insomnia. Though these last few things are still under review. When pregnant, you body absorbs more calcium and therefore additional vitamin D will help with this, once pregnant.

Other vitamins/minerals helpful in pregnancy are iron (because of extra foetal blood needed), magnesium to prevent pre-eclampsia, zinc for healthy cell growth and development (and reduce risk of premature birth or low-weight babies), copper (for beast milk to help bone development). As long as you have a healthy, balanced diet you shouldn't really need these supplements. It's always worth talking it through with your GP as they know your health status, meds you're on and what could be useful for you. I wouldn't take anything without talking to the GP first though.

Hope this rambling makes sense. Good to link up with another diabetic who's also planning to conceive. Good luck my friend. xx

 

[volorg]

Hi there, I just wanted to add some info as a type 2 who got has had a baby following diagnosis.

I was on metformin already when I became pregnant (I do not have PCOS but was an older mother at 40). I was referred to the specialist clinic at the local women's hospital for diabetes care whilst pregnant. I was put on insulin to manage my diabetes during the pregnancy. This may not apply in your case as you are managing your diabetes through diet.

I had already researched metformin and pregnancy and the internet said that you should stop taking it in pregnancy. However, the doctors kept me on it for the first three months of the pregnancy as it is supposed to help with sugar control and does not have an adverse effect on the baby. (They discovered this from the poor medical support for diabetic Aboriginal women who became pregnant - they weren't taken off metformin and it actually helped them!)

The longest, therefore, that you should be on the meds is three months after conception.

Good luck with the diabetes and getting pregnant.

 

[Indy51]

I really hope I have read your post wrong - they haven't put you on a statin to reduce cholesterol have they? Statins cause birth defects and it would be absolutely irresponsible if they prescribed a statin while you are trying to get pregnant.

Really bothered me when I read: "I was soo soo happy to not need any medication for my diabetes, bp, cholesterol, etc. and now I have to take all these things in the hopes that I'll get pregnant?"

 

[bethan90]

Hi becca

It is not just diabetic women who they are recommending should take vit D (and folic acid) it is recommended for all pregnant women and is quite a recent recommendation.
Don't think of them as medications, they are just supplements

 

[bethan90]

Also the metformin... When you are pregnant your resistance to insulin goes sky high and it is v likely you will need metformin/maybe insulin once pregnant. As
Soon as you are no longer pregnant, you won't require it any more.

 

[BeccaJaneStClair]

I really hope I have read your post wrong - they haven't put you on a statin to reduce cholesterol have they? Statins cause birth defects and it would be absolutely irresponsible if they prescribed a statin while you are trying to get pregnant.

Really bothered me when I read: "I was soo soo happy to not need any medication for my diabetes, bp, cholesterol, etc. and now I have to take all these things in the hopes that I'll get pregnant?"

No, I'm not on anything. I was really, really lucky that my bp and cholesterol have been in the OK range.

 

[Catsymoo]

I heard that Metformin makes you ridiculously fertile so I'm too terrified to have sex while on it. I know ladies who take Met for an ovary condition I forget the name. They also give it to women who are trying to get preggers because it does a lot of things, not just diabetes benefits. I can say that I had irregular periods up until a year ago and Metformin has made it more like clockwork. I swear I get PMT and all the horrible period things I never used to until being on Met. :| Luckily I never had tummy upsets, just lots of farts. I nicknamed it Metfartmin.

I wish you all the luck in starting a family.

 

[MAMA2X]

hi there,
I thought I was menopausal, hot flushes etc the works. Then I found out I was diabetic type 2 by chance when they did a blood test due to high blood presure. Doctor put me on metformin for the diabetes and now I find out that I am not in the menapause at all the flushes have gone and the periods back.... I just hope I don't end up pregnant cos that would be a total shack at my age ha ha