just found out i am pregnant terrified regarding diabetes as control is not perfect please help

manda pops

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Hi Guys

basically i have just found out i am pregnant, however i know there is so many risks in volved with diabetes i am so scared. i have been trying my hardest fro 2 years now and i am due to attend dafne next month, my sugars are ok but have the usual peak and i find it hard to keep them at a steady 5 or 6.
.
i have had laser treatment 2 yerars ago in both eyes and i have read that retinopathy can get much worse during pregnancy i dont want to loose my vision i want to see my baby grow up.

sorry but i just dont know what to do its going to be one hell of a ride all i will do is worry all day long, just wish diabetes did not exist i know thats childish but its horrible.

any advice would be great. do i contact my diabetes team or leave it up to my gp?

thanks
manda
 

hels

Well-Known Member
Messages
311
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Congratulations Manda!

I'd contact your diabetes team directly. They should give you regular appointments and scans to keep an eye on your baby. When I was pregnant all my care ended up through my diabetes team rather than my GP.

Do your best to controls your levels but try to relax.


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Moaney

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi there,

I'm the same, I fell pregnant when my HB1CA was 9%. I'm currently 11weeks pregnant and my bloods r some what erratic. But this is down to the changes my body is going through and the fact they change my insulin often to c what suits. My HB1CA is now 7.6% which went down over an 8 week period. So my Dr's r happy with my progress. I go to Diabetec anti natal every 2 weeks where they check my blood and urine and general well being. They look after u well and I'm sure if they had any concerns they will do their best for us. I'm still scared, as I said my BM's can sometimes be high, but I'm learning Dafne too so it takes a bit of getting used to. Try and stay positive. I found this particular forum very helpful as there r so many stories with good endings from woman with similar problems and worries!! Good luck!! :)


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manda pops

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Thanks guys i eill contact them on monday i will be doing everythin i can to keep this wee one safe. Bloodbsugars been ok recently fingers crossed it continues.
Even if we werent diabtetic it would still be scary and we would be worrying about the babys just the same hehe good luck x
 

LemonTree

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71
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High sugar levels :(
Hi

I've been type 1 for 15 years and am 9 weeks pregnant with my first child. Wow, seems weird to be saying that to be honest.

I did the dafne course completely coincidentally the week after I found out I was pregnant. I think it's really helping but pregnancy throws you some curve balls. My ratio for breakfast was 2:1 then at the weekend I started having hypos and now my ratio is down to 1:1 just like that! Literally changed over night.

The diabetes antenatal team are brilliant, so supportive.

You do get a lot more care as a diabetic and I think that's a good thing, you have enough to worry about with your sugar levels but don't stress about a few highs. Doing dafne will inform you how to correct it. No one is perfect.

Good luck to all pregnant type 1's. We have some journey ahead of us x

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Saralou

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
hi
i am currently 18 weeks pregnant and when i fell pregnant my hba1c was about 8.5% now it's down to under 7% so try not to worry too much. are you on a pump or injections. im on a pump and have found it easier to chance basal levels this way as having lots of hypos!
make sure that u keep up with retinopathy screening. i had no background retinopathy in one eye and moderate background in the other (never had laser) and mine have deteriorated alraeady. They said i now have maculopathy in the worse eye but are just observing it. The optician cannot see anything thou so am waiting to see hospital specialist (my request as worried sick) other than that they check u every two weeks or so at antenatal for blood pressure/urine etc so do keep a closer eye on u
any questions just ask
sara
 

Moaney

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi there

I'm 11 weeks and my result was 9% before after 8 weeks it was 7.6% which my Dr's r happy with. However, they decided to adjust my insulin from 30 Lantus morning and 24 in evening to just 30 in the evening as I was having lows thru the night. Since they've done this I am mostly high, I'm talking 14-20 every time I check. I am slowly learning Dafne but it's hard as I'm not used to taking so much fast acting after meals as I was taking more long acting. I have the clinic on Monday, but I'm so worried about all these highs and how they will b effecting baby. I emailed them and showed them results but they told me to stick with it and be patient!! I'm not a happy bunny, as my bloods were reasonably good apart from the lows thru the night...!! Also, still having lows at night!! I can't cope!! :(


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LemonTree

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High sugar levels :(
Hi Moaney

That doesn't sound right to me. I've done dafne and the first thing you change if you have hypos at night is to reduce your evening long acting. They suggest reducing by 10% until you stop having the hypos.

If you weren't having hypos through the day I would start taking your morning lantus again and reduce your evening one.

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Moaney

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I totally agree with u, I don't c y they decided to take almost half of what I'm used to taking away from me. I now don't take any in the morning. But it doesn't help at all in fact I run high all morning pretty much ,it's horrendous. They gave me all there email addresses and told me to keep in touch, I email them & get no response!! Rage!!!


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Louwalker71

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
If you haven't already done so contact your diabetes team ASAP. The earlier you get them on board the better. You will get more regular check up and scans. You may also be induced a couple of weeks earlier, especially if your sugar levels become erratic. I was, my consultant said it was a sign my baby was getting distressed and needed to come out. She was born at 37 weeks by C-section, weighed 13lb 1oz and was unable to regulate her glucose levels for the first 3 days so had to go into special care (hilarious sight next to all those tiny premature babies). She is now a beautiful healthy 11 year old.

It is stressful and important to keep your levels as low/steady as possible, I didn't, hence the size of my daughter!! Having done DAFNE 5 years ago I know I would cope much better now!!

Most importantly keep calm and being good for 9 months will give you the best present EVER. Good luck x


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LemonTree

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High sugar levels :(
Hi Moaney, just wondering how you're getting on now. Have you made any more changes? Have you managed to work out your meal ratios? You should be taking your fast acting insulin before meals where you can to limit the spikes.

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Moaney

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I was at the Clinic yesterday, they have put me on Levemir so I'm now taking 18 in the morning and 12 before bed. It's only my first day on it so I have had highs again today. They don't seem all that bothered about my high bloods but I'm stressing about it. I had my 12 week scan yesterday too tho and everything looks fab...great photos to admire. Hope so badly that my bloods get better, it's such a worry. Tho I have been eating a lot of carbs and rubbish as it's the only thing that curbs the sickness. It's starting to go now so my appetite will hopefully get better and I can eat a bit better which will defo help!! x x


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SMarks1984

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi Moaney, not sure I can be of much reassurance, but in my experience, you can pretty much expect your sugar levels to be quite erratic throughout your pregnancy. For me, my sugars were pretty high at the beginning of pregnancy, stabilised during the middle and then I seemed to need less insulin in the last few weeks so you'll find your diabetes team advising you to adjust your insulin throughout. It's probably not the case that they're not bothered but see this all the time with type 1 pregnancies. Bare with what they are saying but if you feel you need more insulin then maybe adjust by 1 or 2 units? I used to have to test 1 hour after my meals and I was always in double figures, yet I managed to get my Hba1c down to 5.8 during my pregnancy at one stage so their advice must have been right. Easier said then done but try not to worry too much - I'm sure you and your baby will be fine :) xxx


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Debbie Riggs

Member
Messages
9
Finding all these posts really informative. I am 15 yrs diagnosed this year and after getting married in nov we are thinking about starting a family this year. Really made me aware if my poor control, over the last few years I've been complacent. I have the clinic in a few weeks so really trying hard to monitor just now. I'm on 33 units of lantus at night and various nova rapid during the day depending on my carbs. My readings are still very up and down though. Finding it hard!



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LemonTree

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High sugar levels :(
Hi Debbie, I was like you. I spent almost 12 months trying to get my levels under control and went from hba1c of 8.1 down to 5.5 within that time then got told off for it being too low. I was having a lot of hypos though. I started the dafne course the week after I found out I was pregnant and I have to say it has really helped. I highly recommend it.

I still worry about high sugar levels but these only happen after eating and are short lived so I hope it's not too detrimental to the baby. My hba1c is now about 5.9 with a lot less hypos and I found out today that my background retinopsthy has gone!

The better prepared you can be all helps but I know people get impatient.

Good luck

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Debbie Riggs

Member
Messages
9
Thanks. Yes I am not the most patient person! Just ask my husband, lol.

I am hoping that by recording my readings and being a bit prepared when I go to he clinic in February will help!!

I really want to make sure I do everything I can to be as healthy as I can before getting pregnant.


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louluton

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I too am trying to get my sugar levels right before conceiving. I've been on insulin since early November and am finding it really difficult. In fact this whole learning curve has scared me. But reading all of this has helped a lot . Bit I'm sure all will work out in the end for us all with a lot of hard work and determination :)

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Debbie Riggs

Member
Messages
9
I think it's scary no matter how long you have been diabetic! I really got a shock when I started monitoring my sugar levels. Hopefully this has given me the kick up the bum I needed to take back control. I'm also glad I have been able to plan a bit and think it would have been worse if I just got pregnant!

I really just want things to start happening now! As I don't know how long it will all take.

Seeing the diabetic team on the 12 feb so hopefully I will come away with a plan then!

It's good to hear I'm not the only one going through this!!


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Picci

Well-Known Member
Messages
300
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I fell pregnant unexpectedly age 35, I very quickly became scrupulous with my control. I was living abroad at the time, and southern Italy's health care system is rubbish. I had regular tests and read as much as possible about what to expect ( increase of insulin etc ). I returned to England in the final stages to have my baby and felt relief knowing I could trust the diabetic team in the UK. I have never been able to be as controlled as I was during my pregnancy again!! I had monthly hba1cs and they never went above 4.6 ( old school). I was obsessed with my control and it payed off. My baby was born at 38 weeks 7lb 7 oz, perfect! I'd been so tightly controlled she was born mildly hypo and needed a tiny amount of sweetened milk to put her right then I breast fed. Test test test, if your blood glucose goes up get it down as quickly as possible. I probably tested every two hours during the day and often got up 3am. I ate healthily, not much starchy carb, I didn't gain too much weight and baby wasn't swimming in sugar due to tight control so she was born a healthy weight. Good luck, work on those ratios and try eat same more or less the same time each day and eat the same amounts if carbs if you can. It helps to see patterns etc. christine


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Debbie Riggs

Member
Messages
9
Thanks for the advice Christine. I have been trying to eat roughly the same meals and cut back on my carbs, particularly bread as it seems to really effect me. I'm still a bit higher than I would like to be but taking it slowly. The thing that concerns me is I'm always high 2 hours after eating but drop to around 5/6 before my next meal. If I correct then I end up having a hypo?! I'm hoping my team can help me with this. Been reading a lot on the forum about pumps too, while I don't think I would want this long term if it gave me better control during my pregnancy then I would consider it. Already doing the 3am checks!


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