Hello and some pregnancy/HBA1C advice please!!

[katiesay]

Hi everybody
I've just signed up to this and want to quickly introduce myself and ask for some opinions/advice please.
My name is Katie i'm 30 and was diagnosed when I was 10 with Type 1. I have been on the pump for approx 18months and think it's great. During my teens I didn't really take much care of myself and ended up a couple of years ago having major surgery on both eyes due to the high bloods I had been running for quite some time - hence now i'm on the pump!!!!
I've worked really hard to bring my HBA1C down from 14.9 to 8.3 and am happy with that and now considering having my first baby with my husband. Here's my question - the consultants at the hospital are putting the fear of god in me saying that they would not be happy with me getting pregnant until my HBA1C is at least 5!!! - Is this true? Is this possible?!?!?! I feel so under pressure now and in an effort to keep my bloods low i'm having hypo's all the time ... putting on weight ... feeling rubbish etc etc etc - I'm sure you all understand!
Sorry to witter on, on my first time here but need some advice deperately. :?
Many many thanks, Katie

 

[Dragonflye]

Hi,

Wow 5? I have 6 months ago had my 2nd baby with type 1 diabetes since i was 4 and was never told i had to get it that low... my first pregnancy i was around 7 but got it down to 6.5 throughout my pregnancy and was told that was god... my 2nd pregnancy again i was around 7 and again got it to low 6 and had no issues...

i think the problem is, the higher it is the more risks you run such as not been able to concieve, miscarriage or birth defect which is why they say to get it down...

I rebelled (im coming to the conclussion it seems most early diagnosed t1s do ) 6 months before i got pregnat i was 8.3 but i managed.

Do you have supportive care from your diabetes team? Iwas seeing my gp and was supposed to have been refered to a specialist team before i got pregnant (unfortunately 1st time id asked to be referred hwoever things happened quicker than expected lol) but if your under specialist care then you should be able to see the team more regular to try and help bring it down.

whilst pregnant i was seen by midwifes and the diabetic team almost every 2 weeks and i found this constant "supervision" actually helped me figure out what was going on (that may just be me) which resulted in my hba1c dropping further!!!

Unfortunately i dont know how it works on the pump as i was MDI during both pregnancies.

I'm new to the forum too, mainly to bug people about the pump as i will be going on it very shortly however Im sure there will be others who can help out

 

[katiesay]

Hi
Thank you very much for that - from your reply and other things i've read on this site it seems that the consulltants are aiming for the best of the best (and are putting the fear of god in me!) I think i'll obviously work hard to keep bloods as low as possible but also take the pressure off and relax a little. I am being closely monitored at the moment due to past eye issues and am trying to make the best of it but do very often feel deflated and that i'll never meet thier expectations!! :shock:

It does help to know that many many diabetic women have had perfectly healthy babies and without having a HBA1C of 5!!!!

Katie

p.s if you want pump advise - ask away - happy to help whenever!!!

 

[Molewitters]

Hi

I have almost the same story as you, except that my baby is being induced on 7th July 2011
It took me nearly ten years to control mine four on a pump before I finally got the green light, I believe that the NICE guideline is 7 and I hit 7.4.

Having always struggled to control it due to it being Brittle I have found that pregnancy was the best thing for my control. In January I hit an all time low (in my life) of 6.0 and have moved only up to 6.3 since then, this is the smoothest my Diabetes has ever been.

I would suggest that you listen to your care team but I would also recommend reading "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh. It's an American book that has been mostly translated for the UK but it has helped and has a section on pregnancy. It will give you an easy understanding of what to aim for and how to achieve it.

Good luck.

 

[Gappy]

Hi

I have almost the same story as you, except that my baby is being induced on 7th July 2011

The day before my sisters birthday oh well!
Welcome here, and seems you have found some people with experience already