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Uncontrolled type 1 & pregnancy

Tubzi

Well-Known Member
Messages
55
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi, i struggle with controlling my diabetes and have done for a while now. I cannot remember the last time i saw an endo, must have been about 3/4 years ago. I now think i may be pregnant and im very worried. Id be very grateful for some advice as to where to go from here, any advice is welcome specifically from anyone who has been pregnant with type 1 diabetes
 
Hi,

I got pregnant with my now 2 and a half year old when I had absolutely horrific control (HbA1C of 14.7 in fact).

You need to see your diabetic consultant ASAP and they will be able to help. Have you done a pregnancy test?

You also need to make sure that you are referred to a specialist team who specifically deal with diabetes and pregnancy. I can't stress enough how important and invaluable they will be to you. I was actually given the specialist teams mobile contact number and could contact them at any time I needed them (there were some frantic texts to them at 3am on a few occasions, and even them texting to check up on me at ridiculous hours too!) I think that there is also a forum on here for diabetes and pregnancy (not pregnancy diabetes,,they are different) which will probably be a lot of help to you but please do get in touch with your diabetic healthcare team.

For me, it was a massive kick in the butt and I by some miracle got my HbA1C down to 5.9 in just six weeks so it is possible and it is possible to go against everything you are told about issues in pregnancy and how your baby will be. You will be told that you will have a really big baby because of your diabetes for example, but even though my little boy was weighed wrong, we know that he was only around 5lb5oz but he was born at 35 weeks due to pre eclampsia.

When you say you're struggling to control your diabetes, can you give us an idea of your levels? Pre breakfast, pre lunch and pre dinner is a good place to start. In pregnancy, being high is much more dangerous than being hypo. Your levels need to be below 5 before breakfast (I know right? Anyone else say this is impossible without hypo-ing through the night?) and below 6 before all other meals. You also have to be below 7.8 ONE HOUR AFTER your meals - it's not easy, but it is achievable!

From what I can remember, I was on levemir at the time and to begin with was only taking 12 units. Towards week 30 I was taking 34 units. Your need for insulin will change as you get further along in pregnancy, so don't be afraid to change your dosages as needed. Also, and I know that this is much easier said than done, but don't be as cautious about not going low as you usually would be - this is one time when it's better to be low and need a glucose tablet than to be high.

Everything I've said so far seems to be really negative, I don't mean it to be at all but I think that this is why they tell us that we have to work with them for around 6 months before we want to get pregnant - unfortunately life doesn't work like that and the unexpected happens! As long as you're prepared to do a lot of testing then your pregnancy should be no different to anyone else's except from these little pleasures;

You'll get more scans than other people therefore more photo opportunities and the chance to be extra sure of the baby's sex should you want to know (how exciting!!!' )

And your lovely baby will make an appearance absolutely no later than 37 weeks so you get a whole 3 weeks off being pregnant/a whole 3 weeks more worth of cuddles than someone who is due on the same date as you.

I hope I haven't scared you too much with information overload and feel free to ask questions or message me if you need someone who knows what you're going through to talk to.

Good luck!
 
Also, do you follow DAFNE at the moment? If not it will help you to go on a DAFNE course as I did and found out I was pregnant te middle of the week following the course. I'm pretty sure that this had a huge effect on my improved control.
 

1. Get an appointment to see your GP asap - and confess your history;
2. Ask them to refer you to your local Diabetes Specialist clinic;
3. Also request neo-natal support - your local main hospital should have a team that specialise in diabetes and pregnancy;
4. Start logging EVERYTHING you're doing regarding BG tests, injections, food, exercise, health, etc... get a log book (you can probably just call your surgery/hopsital diabetes centre and ask for a couple - they'll e happy to hear that someone actually wants to use one!
5. When you get to see someone, be open and honest and tell them you want help to get back on track - they're far more likely to want to do all they can, rather than what they have to just to meet guidelines/targets.
6. Keep posting here - and search the home site and forum posts for issues, problems, etc: you aren't the first to have had poor control (look at me!) and you'll not be the last... the important thing is, you've recognised you've been having problems and that diabetes that needs help and support from others.

See this for advice on how to approach your appointments (there'll be more links to follow, but it is worth it): http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_invo...ning-supporting-the-15-healthcare-essentials/

Anyway, best wishes with the pregnancy, your diabetes and life in general!
 
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