Concieving with Diabetes

[Karaway]

:wave:Hi, I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 14 years old. I am wanting to have my first child at 30 and I was hoping that there may be some Mothers with diabetes type 1 who would be willing to share the story of their pregnancies with me.

[Pinkdivas]

Hi Karaway.

I too have type 1 diabetes. I have one child, my DD who is 2. You need to make sure your diabetes is in good control for atleast 3 months before conceiving and make sure you take a higher dose of folic acid for atleast 3 months too. With my pregnancy i kept my sugar levels in really good control (my dr's were very impressed) and i was very aware of what i was eating and ate very healthy. Once pregnant i saw my diabetes dr once a month and when i got closer to the end it was every 2 weeks.
My pregnacy went really well until i hit the 32 week mark and i started to swell really bad (my feet were so bad i could were shoes or socks lol) and i had really high blood pressure. I was hospitalised at 36 weeks as i had pre-eclampsia and then i was induced at 38 weeks. My DD was quite small for someone with diabetes (she was 3.5kgs) and my OB/GYN couldnt believe how small she was.
So my advise is to make sure you have really good control of your levels before and during pregnancy and eat healthy.....i believe that really helped me.

Good luck........feel free to PM if you have any other questions.:)

[Pinkdivas]

sorry but I forgot to add that you need to contact your diabetes dr as soon as you're pregnant and once pregnant you need to test your sugar levels 2 hours after you eat, instead of before you eat. Good luck.

[SammieSnail]

I just wanted to wish you all the best. :hugs:

My SIL is 28yo and 23 weeks pregnant with her first. She has had type 1 diabetes since she was 15.

Her pregnancy has been really up and down with low iron, blood transfusions, pre-eclamsia and related high blood pressure since 6 weeks pregnant. She is so swollen her skin is splitting and a past scar on her leg is opening up pretty badly.

She has been in and out of her local hospital from the get go and has just been flown to one of the big hospitals with a NICU etc. as her blood sugar is 20 and her blood pressure is through the roof.

It will be a blessing if she gets past Tuesday, which will make her 24 weeks.

I had no idea she would have so many complications ahead of her, especially as she is generally healthy.

[Karaway]

Thanks so much for stories, it is such a nervous time for me as I have always thought that I didn't want children but now I realise I don't think I can imagine not wanting one. Thanks again it's such a comfort to know that it can be done.
SammieSnail, I wish your SIL the very best in her health and the health of her baby I hope everything goes exceptionally well

[melbryan]

Interesting to read my son has diabetes he was 16mths I feel for the women I don't think he'll have the same trouble as ladies with diabetes. He is on a pump are any of you ladies on a pump, does that make the pregnancy a bit easier???