Levemir during pregnancy help!!

ruthie35 · Jan 3, 2008

Hi

Just wondering if anyone here has used levemir during pregnancy?

I am currently using Levemir and Novorapid and after much hard work have finally reached a HBA1C of 6.4 which am very pleased with and after many years of it only being a dream I am hoping to be able to try to become pregnant. Now my nurse has told me I must change to Humulin whilst trying and if I become pregnant. I am so worried and upset now and don't want to upset my good control by changing.

Can anyone relate to this? If so please let me know.

Thank You

sugar · Jan 4, 2008

Hi Ruthie,

Ciongratulations on the HBA1c. I am currently 22 weeks pregnant with my second child, and during this pregnancy, and my last, was on, guess what...novorapid and levimir.

Here is what I was told. There has been no research on levimir in pregnancy...I think the same applies to many of the newer type insulins. However, my consulant felt, and I agree, which is why I am doing what I am doing, that my diabetes control was more important to the baby and my health, than upsetting the insulin regime I had worked so hard to get right and is working for me.

The only thing I can tell you for sure is that you should smile at your nurse, and ask if she can help you get reffered to the maternity unit at your local hospital. There, I am almost sure, you will be able to talk to experts in diabtic pregnancy. At my local hospital, they have a diabetic midwife, who will be able to give you excellent advice. I would seriously change nothing until you do this! Phone up/look on the website at the hospital you want to give birth at (scary thought I know!!!) and usually there will be the details of who to contact. Most offer a pre pregnancy service...which is sounds like you don't need having such a fantastic HBa1C...but will be able to give advice. Just give them a ring. If you happen to be in teh Reading area..let me know and I can give you the ladies name.
General diabtic nurses are usually great, as I am sure yours is, so I don't meant o make it sound like she is not doing a good job, but this is one of those occasions where you will need to see the experts. Ther are a few ladies I have met..many online, both here and teh diabetic insight site that has a pregnancy section, and I don't know of any any who have had to change insulins. Having said that though, obviously, I am no expert!!
For my first pregnancy, I got told them we were going to try for a baby soon...and the next time we spoke I was pregnant and they reffered me immediately...but if you take this naughty route, make sure you do get reffered quickly, as teh start of pregnancy can make some peoples blood sugars go al little crazy, and I found teh guidance of my diabetic midwife fantastic.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Did you nurse say why you needed to change?

ruthie35 · Jan 6, 2008

Hi

Thank you so much for your reply. My Doctor said everything was great, I could start trying etc etc, never mentioned having to change insulin! The Dr asked the diabetes nurse to get in touch with me about pre-pregnancy clinic but the nurse was only bothered about my insulin!! She said it was because no clinical trials have ever been done on Levemir in pregnancy, just like you said on your email. I told her that surely it was my choice if I was happy to continue with Levemir but she would not have any of it!! I think they are just trying to cover their own backs, but like your consultant said, our and the baby's health is more important and I feel so down about it having worked so hard to get good control. I wish I did live near reading as your dr/nurse sounds great. I am in Scotland. I have an appointment with my Dr and the nurse on 9th Jan so will be sticking to my guns. Thanks again for your kind reply.
Ruthie
x

sugar · Jan 7, 2008

Good luck Ruthie. Please feel free to quote my example. My diabetic consulatants name is Hugh Simpson...in case you need to name drop! I would phone the pregnancy clinic, and speak to them...before speaking to your nurse. If they agree with you, hopefully she will agree!
You have done so well, it seems such a shame that this happening. It is easy to say "try not to worry", but the nurses goal is to help you and your baby be as well as possible, and if changing insulins doesn't work..they will soon switch you back! My insulin doses changes on an almost weekly basis, and thsi si usual I am told. During my last pregnancy, they switched me from lantus to levimir...so they do switch you if they need to. Good luck for Wednesday, Jill

ruthie35 · Jan 7, 2008

Hi Jill

Thank you again for your reply. I contacted my hospital today and was told there are no diabetes midwifes......... I would have to speak to my diabetes doctor. So, will just have to see what happens on Wednesday. I will listen to the nurse and then decide but I think I am quite happy to stay on Levemir as my control is good and I can adjust as and when required etc.I read somewhere that insulin does not cross the placenta to the baby so this is confusing me a bit, but will ask the nurse, along with lots of questions I have prepared!
Thank you again and congratulations on your second pregnancy. Best wishes for you and your families future.
Ruth
x

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sugar
 Good luck Ruthie. Please feel free to quote my example. My diabetic consulatants name is Hugh Simpson...in case you need to name drop! I would phone the pregnancy clinic, and speak to them...before speaking to your nurse. If they agree with you, hopefully she will agree!
You have done so well, it seems such a shame that this happening. It is easy to say "try not to worry", but the nurses goal is to help you and your baby be as well as possible, and if changing insulins doesn't work..they will soon switch you back! My insulin doses changes on an almost weekly basis, and thsi si usual I am told. During my last pregnancy, they switched me from lantus to levimir...so they do switch you if they need to. Good luck for Wednesday, Jill
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Pattidevans · Jan 8, 2008

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruthie35
 
Hi Jill

Thank you again for your reply. I contacted my hospital today and was told there are no diabetes midwifes......... I would have to speak to my diabetes doctor. So, will just have to see what happens on Wednesday. I will listen to the nurse and then decide but I think I am quite happy to stay on Levemir as my control is good and I can adjust as and when required etc.I read somewhere that insulin does not cross the placenta to the baby so this is confusing me a bit, but will ask the nurse, along with lots of questions I have prepared!
Thank you again and congratulations on your second pregnancy. Best wishes for you and your families future.
Ruth
x

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sugar
 Good luck Ruthie. Please feel free to quote my example. My diabetic consulatants name is Hugh Simpson...in case you need to name drop! I would phone the pregnancy clinic, and speak to them...before speaking to your nurse. If they agree with you, hopefully she will agree!
You have done so well, it seems such a shame that this happening. It is easy to say "try not to worry", but the nurses goal is to help you and your baby be as well as possible, and if changing insulins doesn't work..they will soon switch you back! My insulin doses changes on an almost weekly basis, and thsi si usual I am told. During my last pregnancy, they switched me from lantus to levimir...so they do switch you if they need to. Good luck for Wednesday, Jill
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ruthie

Try visiting http://www.diabetes-insight.info/ and looking in the pregnancy section. Lots of lovely births there, lots of lovely ladies who now have gorgeous children! All of whom managed their pregnancies with each other's help. Ask Claire or Clare

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3

sugar · Jan 10, 2008

Thanks Patti...my link to the site had stopped working!

Pattidevans · Jan 10, 2008

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sugar
 Thanks Patti...my link to the site had stopped working!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's because Steven closed the website down and moved the forum over to the space the website was occupying.... hope you can find it again now!

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3

ruthie35 · Jan 13, 2008

Hi

Thank you for your reply, I will have a look.

Ruth
x

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Pattidevans
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruthie35
 
Hi Jill

Thank you again for your reply. I contacted my hospital today and was told there are no diabetes midwifes......... I would have to speak to my diabetes doctor. So, will just have to see what happens on Wednesday. I will listen to the nurse and then decide but I think I am quite happy to stay on Levemir as my control is good and I can adjust as and when required etc.I read somewhere that insulin does not cross the placenta to the baby so this is confusing me a bit, but will ask the nurse, along with lots of questions I have prepared!
Thank you again and congratulations on your second pregnancy. Best wishes for you and your families future.
Ruth
x

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sugar
 Good luck Ruthie. Please feel free to quote my example. My diabetic consulatants name is Hugh Simpson...in case you need to name drop! I would phone the pregnancy clinic, and speak to them...before speaking to your nurse. If they agree with you, hopefully she will agree!
You have done so well, it seems such a shame that this happening. It is easy to say "try not to worry", but the nurses goal is to help you and your baby be as well as possible, and if changing insulins doesn't work..they will soon switch you back! My insulin doses changes on an almost weekly basis, and thsi si usual I am told. During my last pregnancy, they switched me from lantus to levimir...so they do switch you if they need to. Good luck for Wednesday, Jill
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ruthie

Try visiting http://www.diabetes-insight.info/ and looking in the pregnancy section. Lots of lovely births there, lots of lovely ladies who now have gorgeous children! All of whom managed their pregnancies with each other's help. Ask Claire or Clare

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Levemir during pregnancy help!!

ruthie35

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sugar

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ruthie35

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sugar

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ruthie35

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Pattidevans

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sugar

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ruthie35

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