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10 wks pregnant and only just started taking higher dose of folic acid

E

ElizabethLamacraft

Newbie
Messages
2
Location
Sydney
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I am a T1 diabetic and was seeing my GP for care. She did not inform me I needed to take 5mg of folic acid in addition to the Elevit I have been taking (800milligrams).
I only found this out when I saw my endocrinologist last week at 10 weeks, 4 days and started taking immediately. I am now 11 weeks, 2 days and have the 13 week scan in two weeks.
I am really, really worried about neural tube defects. Can anyone tell me if by not taking this higher dose, I have put my baby at great risk? My endocrinologist was unforthcoming. I have not yet seen my GP.
I have had T1 diabetes for 17 years, since I was 19 and am now 36. I am fit, healthy, weigh 55kg, 157cm tall so normal BMI. I had a small eye issue (fatty deposit in right retina) in 2014 but all stable now. My hbaic has always been well controlled, (6.5 in June '16, 6.8 in Sep '15, 5.5 in May '15, 6.2 in Jan '15, 6.0 in July '14) and I am on small doses of 2 units of Humalog before breakfast, 2 before lunch, 3-5 before dinner and sometimes 1 before bed if still a little high. I take 15 units of Lantus at night.
If anyone can let me know thoughts that would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hi @ElizabethLamacraft :)

Congratulations on your pregnancy :) Obviously no one can assess your personal risk, but the fact your HbA1C is in range can only be good :) Keep up the strict control and you're then giving your baby the best conditions. I think tight control is most important.

If you think about it, years ago they didn't give out the high dose of folic acid and ladies still had healthy babies. It's pointless worrying yourself now - you're got the high dose and you're doing ok :)

You may have an ever so very slightly increased risk, but all the good things you're doing could easily outweigh that. We have ladies here with very high HbA1Cs. Yours isn't and that will count for a lot.
 
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