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Newly diagnosed and pregnancy

J

jennie275

Member
Messages
6
Hi,
I was recently diagnosed last month after feeling dreadful for the last 6 months I would frequently wake up feeling like I had a hangover even though I don't drink and would fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I knew it wasn't right, I'm only 35, but put off going to the doctors - think I was scared at what it might of been.
On diagnosis my Hb1A1c was 9.5 and blood sugar fasting was 11.
After reading some of the discussions on people who are recently diagnosed I can say the medical team in my practise have been fantastic since I was diagnosed. Already I have had an ecg, retinpathy test, feet checked and this is done on a yearly basis. I am waiting for the next DESMOND group and was immediately offered blood testing kit. I refused but after reading the post I think I should probably accept as it will help me to keep a check on my sugar levels.
I think it gave me a wake up call and so far have cut back on carbs stopped eating anything sweet (which was pretty tough at the beginning) and am excersicing every day so far I've managed to loose nearly 2 stone I'm sure the weight loss will slow down :-(
I'm really worried because I have been trying for a baby for a couple of years now (I also have polycystic ovary syndrome which in itself is a form of insulin resistance so was already on 2000mg metformin) I'm just wondering any advice on being in the best shape for pregnany and how I can protect my baby if I ever fall pregnant as I am terrified of all the complications which could harm the baby.
Thanks
 
Hi there, i just wanted to say hello. Im in a very similar position to you. I got diagnosed in Feb, im 33, I also put off going to the docs as i was frightened of the diagnosis. I'd say im quite glad now that i did go as i feel so much better, energetic, get a good nights sleep now, gotten much fitter and lost 1.5 stone. My husband and I have also been trying for a baby for 19 months with no luck- again i'd have to say its probably good that i didnt get pregnant when my sugar levels were so high.
I do wonder if i might have PCOS as well, as i have many of the symptoms including a regular need to wax the old moustache and im now getting more and more chin hair which is a shocker - but my GP wont discuss fertility with me for at least another 6 months so he told me.

Were still trying, i have to say the metformin/weight loss has helped with regulating cycle already. I asked my GP about seeing a pre-conception diabetes clinic - as i was informed that these are available by someone on another diabetes site and that you should ask to be referred so that you know as much as possible beforehand etc. My doc isnt so great unfortunately and tells me i dont need to do that, (he also reckons i wont need insulin during pregnancy - which i think is pretty much a requirement). SO maybe you could ask your GP about the pre conception clinic. From what i've read, you should really aim to get your hbA1c to under 6 before trying to conceive. I think a lot of ladies experience lows in the first few weeks, but then the sugars tend to go higher and probably need insulin until after birth and during breast feeding if you do that (rather than metformin). Also, i just wondered, my GP wanted to put me on statins (even though my cholesterol is lower than average, but i refused and then read up on them and they are BAD for pregnancy, as you need cholesterol for proper placenta development and they can also cause foetal defects - so if you have been prescribed them go and chat to the doc.

I also read that if your sugar does go low not to panic, as the baby gets the sugar first, then you so the baby wont get those lows. Its the highs that you need to try to control as much as you can. You will also be put under consultant care straight away and be offered extra tests and scans so GP says, he told me i wouldnt have the option to give birth in a midwife led centre, onlyu in hospital with consultants - which personally i think id rather have loads of docs and equipment around me anyway.

OK, well ive just sort of spat out what ive learnt so far. I think most important is to get a stable low hba1c and to get to docs asap when you do get pregnant!
 
Hi,

Thanks for that guess I need to do much more reading!! The only thing my doctor mentioned was to take 5mg of folic acid which is only available on prescription as theres a higher chance of feotal abnormalities... justs gets better doesn't it?!

Think I'm on information overload, lots of conflicting advice from 'no worries just go for it' to the other extreme!

You just push to get checked for PCOS because the metformin will help. I conceived on metformin only with my son but it didn't work this time so was on chlomid and I fell pregnant last year but miscarried at 8 weeks - I think now I was probably diabetic and because I stopped taking my metformin (under direction of doctor) my sugar levels were too high so lost the baby.

Good luck on getting pregnant sounds like we are both working hard to get our bodies tip top :D

Thanks again for the advice
Jennie xx
 
I had read about needing a higher dose of folic acid, and asked my doctor at the first appointment, but he didn't know anything about it. (overall i dont think he's that great as he responds with 'i dont know what that is' too often to me, but i think he is amenable to me going in and telling him what i think is wrong, or what i want!). I think i'll go in and ask for this higher folic acid prescription on friday, when ive got my hbA1c test with the nurse.

Fingers crossed for us both - i started taking chromium supplements, and pregnacare trying to conceive tablets, and royal jelly tablets too last week.
 
Hi,

Just a quick update my latest HBA1c result is 6.8!!! YEAH doctors given me the go ahead and try for a baby. Guess the diet is working for me so going to stick at it :-)

Jennie x
 
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