• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

T1 scared of pregnancy

K

kpa

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello there...

I've had T1 for over 16 years now...never really had the best of grips on it, though lately I have been better at remembering and shrugging off the weight gain that comes with taking insulin on a daily basis. Throughout my teens and early 20s, weight was always important to me, as I was always told I was too chubby or fat as a kid... and I therefore neglected my diabetes to keep skinny. I was convinced I didn't want kids, and was prepared to go through life not having them...by choice, that is. But then I met my husband and perspective has changed. Now I have come to an age where I have married and begun to think more of having children, without being fully convinced. I am so fearful of all of it. Just one slip up and it could damage the child completely. I have fears of it being a totally tough pregnancy too, as I have never really gotten a hold of myself until now. Does anyone out there have a similar story that can give some perspective? My husband is away 6 months of the year, so I am also fearful of what could happen when alone, if I hypo'ed with a small child to witness. Any help/advice would be appreciated. Thank you ♡
 
I will start my answer by telling you that I am a man. I will also add that the thought of going through what ladies go through in pregnancy would frighten me half to death. That is ok though as everybody knows ladies are far braver than men. I don't know you other than what you have put in your question. The mere fact however that you are asking it of yourself and of other people before you go ahead ahd get pregnant really does suggest to me that you will make a really wonderful parent. Diabetes does not need to hold any of us back. I think you would give your child a wonderful start in life. Don't let your condition hold your potential beautiful child from being born to a mother who really really cares. Sorry if you were looking from an answer from a diabetic mother which of course I am not. I am sure however that most if not all diabetic mothers will completely agree with me :)
 
I have no wisdom to offer here, but I believe @azure may be in a better position to advise you.

For my part, though, I think that this disease is greedy anyway, and we should not indulge it by allowing it to take things we want in our lives from us.
 
Hi @kpa Welcome to the forum :)

Before I got my type 1 diagnosis, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 23 weeks, I don't know how long i'd been running high BG levels before this time, I was induced early at 37 weeks due to having a large baby but other than that everything was ok and I am blessed with a healthy girl. It's easy to scaremonger yourself out of doing something, however you need to speak to your GP or Consultant first about getting pregnant, as long as you keep things under control then there's no reason why you shouldn't have a good pregnancy or birth, one slip is not going to damage the child, so try and put your fears to one side. I don't know if you're on injections or pump, but if trying for a child you can speak to your consultant about getting access to a pump which will help your control. Lots of T1 mums on here, so hopefully more will be along soon to help :)
 
As @Diabeticliberty says, you're already showing you take parenthood seriously by considering all this in advance :)

My advice is to speak to your DSN and ask about a pre-conception clinic. Even if you decide you actually don't want children, it will help you get control and understand how a diabetic pregnancy might go.

It sounds like your main fears are about keeping good control. Can I ask what your HbA1C is? Pregnancy requires very tight control, but the incentive to get that control is huge. My best HbA1Cs were during pregnancy, even though the pregnancy hormones cause increased insulin resistance in the second half of pregnancy. It's so much easier to do your absolute best for a little person that's depending on you. I'd also add you get fantastic support during a diabetic pregnancy, and that's a massive help, psychologically as well as practically.

You also mention looking after a baby and worrying about hypos. That's a very reasonable worry. All I do is test lots and lots. Basically you test often enough to spot any lows before they happen. You get into a routine of testing lots. Obviously, if you could afford a CGM that would help too.

Remember pregnancy can be tough for anyone, whether they have a medical condition or not. Equally, having a medical condition doesn't doom you to a tough pregnancy. Having Type 1 shouldn't put you off if you really want a baby :)
 
Thank you all for replying to my question. @azure, my last HbA1C was 9.5 so still too high. I live in Denmark so we dont have the same system of care. Although I have a nurse she rarely sees me and seldom has much different to say other than 'you should really try more'. For years I have been through different doctors each of whom give the same song and dance. And during my student years the cost of insulin here caused me also to neglect it. But as said, perspective has changed, and I want to consider it...but things just scare me to bits. The worst thing that can happen is my child suffers the consequences of years of me neglecting myself.
 
@kpa Just picking up on something you said in your opening post - it's extremely unlikely one slip will damage any child. All pregnant ladies occasionally get blood test results that are out of target. It's prolonged, frequent highs that cause damage not a few highs that you correct.

If you don't have much support, I recommend reading the book Think Like A Pancreas. I also recommend starting from your basal dose. Get that right first. It's the foundation of good control. Then look at your meal time ratios.

Tightening up your control will be beneficial anyway, and will give you an ides of what's involved.

There are lots of helpful people here who can offer suggestions and experience :)
 
kpa said:
Thank you all for replying to my question. @azure, my last HbA1C was 9.5 so still too high. I live in Denmark so we dont have the same system of care. Although I have a nurse she rarely sees me and seldom has much different to say other than 'you should really try more'. For years I have been through different doctors each of whom give the same song and dance. And during my student years the cost of insulin here caused me also to neglect it. But as said, perspective has changed, and I want to consider it...but things just scare me to bits. The worst thing that can happen is my child suffers the consequences of years of me neglecting myself.
Click to expand...

in Denmark you have a right to be closely monitored when being pregnant, you could ask your GP or the diabetic nurse there to have more support during your pregnancy, tell them you need it... I myself had a very close support every 14 day -3 weeks initially( for half a year ) when becoming diabetic, I actually demanded it myself...
when not being pregnant you also have a right to see you diabetic nurse/or GP every 3 month... they don't always tell people that , but you do have that right.. that is the guidelines the GP´s in Denmark all have for diabetic patients... so if they don´t offer you those appointments then phone yourself and ask for an appointment when you think you are in need of it.... (ps. I am from Denmark myself though being type 2)

you could even ask the midwives if they could make a group of diabetic women being pregnant so you could share your situation with them when being pregnant.... emotional support is really important when being pregnant especially when being type 1 diabetic... you couldn´t live with your parents when your husbond is away if you become pregnant ?... and when your child is a baby... don´t give up dear...

not all has that helpfull parents of cause ... ( I was living at my parent much of the time when my child was a baby and I ended up as a single mother... (even being 37 years old ) it gave my parents really a good chance to bond to my little daugther and it was such a joy to follow their love-journey with her then)
 
Last edited:
I have had two children, and my control, was rubbish when I was younger, wrong food, drinking a lot, but say that, when I became pregnant, all change, what I am saying test BG, as often as possible, I had one baby at 7 pounds. And one at 6.13 pounds, eat as well as you can cut out all sugars, and again test BG. My boys are fine bit of a pain now but that's ok hypos with baby just keep something with you at all times, best of luck and be happy
 
Back
Top