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PLEASE PLEASE HELP!

H

Heather1985

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Hi, Ive just registered on this forum, so Ill start with sharing a bit about myself! I'm 26, and Ive been diabetic for almost 20 years. I'm married to a soldier in the British Army, and we have two beautiful little girls aged 4 and 18 months and I'm currently pregnant 30 weeks with another!

Now for my problem - I'm desperate for ANY help. I've been on an Accu-Chek Spirit pump since falling pregnant with my eldest child, so almost 5 years. My pregnancy with her was a bit fraught as we were living in Germany but the bulk of my maternity care was at the James Cook University Hospital. My control wasnt great as I got used to the pump, and I had her at 37 weeks, she was 8lb2oz. My diabetes conrtol was a bit hit and miss for the next couple of years as we moved several times and I got used to being a mum but was more hit when I fell pregnant with our second child, I sailed through that preganacy and was induced at 38 weeks with a HB of 7.5ish, and she weighed in at 8lb12oz, in Surrey. Both were born vaginally, with no major problems.
But heres the scary part, I fell pregnant again, HUGE surprise! I was NOT in good shape when I got pregnant, but I was getting there, untill at 20 weeks we moved again to Edinburgh, so new hospital. Since then its gone from bad to nightmare. I cant seem to get my bloods below 12 as an average, and over the last ten weeks this has afected the baby. Her tummy is now measuring 6 weeks more than it should, which is causing great panic, and c-sections at 36 weeks are to be discussed in the next month or so. I'm currently taking a HUGE amount of insulin - almost 70 units per day through my pump, and my corrections and meal time boluses are now through an insulin pen as Im taking 4units per 5 grams of carbs. This is still having hardly any affect on my blood sugars!! ~I'm so stressed, worried and scared, I honestly dont know what my next move should be! the hospital just put my basal rate up by point 1 everytime I see or speak to them and its not having an effect, so I could really really use some advice please?! Anyone?! :?
 
Hi Heather

Welcome to the forum..

How many weeks pregnat are you?

I really can't suggest anything due to it's too long ago since I had my youngest, she was 20 yesterday mind you she was a whooper at 11lb 13oz :shock: and a normal delivery

I know it's hard but you need to try and not stress/worry yourself as this is will put up your BG's I do realise it's not easy to do... But if you can it will help out a lot..

The only other suggestion I can give is go to www.insulin-pumpers.org and join the e-mailing list as there is bound to be somebody there who's had their baby while using a pump so can give better more up-dated information than I can..

Take care
 
Not able to help myself as I adopted my son but one of my close friends just had her first baby. At the end of her pregnancy she was on 150 units a day to keep stable. She just upped and upped to keep the control. Also are you changing your set more frequently? Do you think you could be getting site fatigue?

Would going low carb help keep the levels down? (have no idea if you can do this while pregnant though)

There is a new book on amazon about pumping and pregnancy but not sure that would be of use to you at this late satge.
 
Hi, I wouldnt worry about how much insulin you are taking at this stage, even though I only went onto the pump a few months ago, when I was pregnant with my son my insulin requirements completely shot up, going from about 40units a day (combined amount including my lantus/levimir (can never remember which 1 i was on ;) ) and my humalog) to about 150, for breakfast, lunch and evening meal I was on 1unit for 1 carb, so a 100carb+ meal was interesting... ;)
 
Hi,

Good advice so far form everyone as usual :)

It's completely normal for insulin requirements to rise during pregnancy, so don't worry yourself. As you will know not all pregnancies are the same, even with women without diabetes, babies are born bigger then other previous children, every baby is different.

My auntie is Type 1 and recently had a baby by planned c-section at 36 weeks, she was born upward or 8lb5oz, my auntie also uses a pump has good control but baby was still a few weeks ahead size wise. (she was born perfectly healthy and beautiful too!)

Your body will need what insulin it needs, if your BG's are high then more insulin is needed. Take it slowly and try not to put too much pressure on yourself. If not already start to weigh all the carbs you eat so you can get your bolus doses spot on! Also keep a diary if your not already, to keep track of any times of day that seem particularly difficult.

I know your 30 weeks pregnant and if your baby is bigger than expected i assume you may have quite a bump, but try keep active, not only will it help your Bg levels but exercise is great for keeping you quite relaxed and burn off some stress!

If it makes you feel better I use about 28 units a day in basal insulin and have a 2.5u/13g ratio so I can get through a few units myself!

Best of luck to you and your baby :)
 
Thank you for all your responses. My normal DSN is on holiday at the moment so I saw a different one today, and since leaving her office my blood sugar has literally been perfect! think I'll ask if I can see her in the future, I can believe the difference in them this afternoon/evening - long may it last!!
 
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