Hi all,
I’m new to the community, and very thankful to have found it. I am 30 years old and was just diagnosed with T1 diabetes a few months ago. I am currently in my honeymoon phase.
Started talking with my endo about TTC baby #2 soon. I know I need to get my A1C down to 6 or below, so I’m working on that (11.8 at diagnosis, 7.1 now, and my most recent A1c includes a month of out of control BS before I knew I had diabetes).
Has anyone been pregnant during their honeymoon phase? I’m trying to get an idea of what to expect.
My first pregnancy, I did not have diabetes (or gestational diabetes!) and I had a lot of trouble gaining weight and my daughter was always measuring too small. My OB actually told me to eat a bowl of ice cream every day, lol. This next pregnancy is going to be a whole 'nother ball game now that I am a diabetic!
Thanks for your insights, looking forward to contributing more in the future.
Cheers,
KMS
Ha… Also 30 and just diagnosed, in early May!
My endo didn’t even talk about a specific A1c when I asked about pregnancy, but said the most important thing is to have stable blood sugar. She said she wants to see “2 weeks of stable blood sugars in range” before a woman starts trying to conceive.
That said, she last told me that she expects I can start trying by the end of the year, maybe as soon as fall. She also recommended I get on the pump first, because she thinks it’s the best option during pregnancy and it’s better to be stable on it first than to try it brand new once already pregnant. I start it on Wednesday, actually! I’m thrilled my insurance apparently agreed with her and approved the pump for me before the full 6 months of multiple injections they normally require.
Hi LizziStardust!
What a coincidence…sounds like we have a lot in common. I am also going to get on a pump in the next few months, but I have to take about 4-5 hours of different educational and training courses offered by the Joslin Diabetes Center (where I see my endo) before I’m allowed to start. I’m hoping to start on the pump in Sept or October, and start TTC shortly thereafter (as long as I can get my A1C down, which I think I can).
Are you in your honeymoon phase currently? I know not everyone has one, so I thought I’d ask. Maybe we’ll be going through TTC and Pregnancy and T1 Diabetes at the same time…would be so nice to have someone with such a similar situation to chat with.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy TTC-time and pregnancy.
KMS
My endo hasn’t called it a honeymoon, but one of the tests my GP ran to diagnose me showed that I was still producing a small amount of insulin. And I take 10 units of Lantus a day, which a couple of T1 diabetics have told me is a fairly small basal rate. I was hoping for that kind of honeymoon where you’d barely have to take any insulin at all for a little while, but it looks like this is as much of a honeymoon as I’m going to get… but I’ll take it! I don’t know how long this kind of thing lasts, but my theory is: the more our bodies can contribute naturally, the easier insulin management will be during pregnancy. I really hope I can go through pregnancy while I still have a few beta cells still kicking!
Have you taken a look at pump brands yet? I picked Animas. It was pretty much either Animas or Medtronic, and I just really liked that Animas was waterproof. It’d be nice if a CGMS were integrated like Medtronic (Animas is working on that), but at least I also got approved for the Dexcom CGMS. I’ll just have an extra receiver to carry.
It’ll be great to have someone else to talk to who is going through such a similar experience! Even better if we happen if our timing ends up being pretty close. 
ha! I take 10 units of Lantus right now too.
I am going to an info session tomorrow at my endo’s where they show you all the different pumps and talk about the pros and cons of each one. From my own research, I really like the OmniPod, but I will definitely learn a lot tomorrow and probably will come home with a different opinion.
So glad to connect with you. Take care.
It sounds like you two are way ahead of me. I’m 38 and was trying to conceive when I was diagnosed 4 months ago. I started out on metformin since they decided I was type 2 because of my age. Two months of that and no significant changes and the doctors tested my antibody levels and changed me to Type 1.5. Right now I’m still trying to figure out what dose of insulin will bring me down to normal levels. My endo has made note that I want to get pregnant, but hasn’t gone into much detail, except mentioning seeing the high risk ob when I’m ready to start back to trying.
I’m not really familiar with pumping. What is the benefit to that during pregnancy?
I hope I can get to the point you’re at soon.
Hi Ladies -
I am also in my thirties and just diagnosed in February. My husband and I had hoped to be pregnant by now, but the diabetes diagnosis set us back a bit. Its nice to see other people going through the same thing. My first A1C after being diagnosed came back at 5.9.
I was also on 10 units of Lantus but started using the pump the first part of July. My endo was good about encouraging me to get on it as soon as possible. Still getting it all figured out, but know its much better than multiple injections a day. My endo and pump trainer know that pregnancy is one of our goals, so that is helpful.
Best wishes!
Kelley, I’ve occasionally wondered if I’m actually in the later stages of 1.5, because I think I was having related symptoms at least two years ago. That’s not typical for T1. But I’m responding well to insulin and that’s how they treat people with type 1.5 once they’re to that point, so I’m not too worried about diagnosis.
The pump is great for pregnancy partly because you can give really precise doses. That helps you stay in the tight BG range that’s necessary (under 120) without going too low. If I were 140, for example, and took one unit of insulin (the smallest amount my pens allow for), I would end up going low. With the pump, I can give myself teeny tiny doses if I’m just a little higher than I should be. Also, I’ve heard that the constant infusion of rapid acting insulin does a better job of keeping your BG steady than long-acting insulin does.
It’s so disappointing to have this setback, isn’t it? After the initial “oh my god I have a chronic disease” tears, it was the delay of conception that upset me most about developing diabetes. 
I just started the pump Wednesday! I dig it so far, but I’m waiting for my CDE to email or call me back about the numbers I sent her. My PM basal rate needs to be lower (which I told her from the beginning), so I keep going low. Maybe you’re “supposed” to start with only one basal rate when they first put you on the pump, but I’m so frustrated that I have to start from scratch when I’d almost gotten my basal rates right on the pens… I wish my usual CDE had been in town to set me up on the pump, because she knows my patterns and probably would have tried to get it closer to what I actually need, if that’s allowed at all.
hi ladies!
lizzistardust - glad to hear the pump is getting off to an ok start. I bet there’s a ton of tweaking to do regarding dosage in the beginning.
I took a class called “is pumping for me?” at my endos and did a “pump assessment” with a nurse - who taught me how to do the correction doses, bolus, find my insulin to carb ratio, etc.
The next step is I go for a 2 hour training and then actually start on the pump using only saline for one week (still using my pen for my “real” insulin - the saline is just for practice purposes)
Then 1 week later, I have another appointment/class where they actually start me on insulin in the pump and monitor me for a few hours before sending me home.
And none of that can get done until I get a dialated eye exam (tuesday) and take 3 other classes about nutrition (took them today)!!! It’s all a little overwhelming, but worth it.
So I have a ways to go before I’ll be starting on the pump - hoping for late September/October because it’s hard for me to get childcare for my daughter for the classes (I bring her with me for the 1:1 appointments.
Curious to keep hearing how everything is going for all of you!
KMS
I’ve been dealing with the tweaking. They started me off on one basal rate that was fairly conservative - not nearly the same amount of Lantus I was taking. I was constantly high and it was frustrating because I had been so good before with my shots. Once we upped the basal to close to what I was taking on the Lantus it completely changed things. I was still running high in the middle of the night and we changed my basal for that yesterday and I already saw a difference in my numbers last night.
hi Ladies,
Seems like we are all in the same boat! I am 29 yrs old and was diagnosised with T1 in March. I talked to my endo about TTC. She told me that she would like my A1c to be below 7. So i have an appt set for this Friday to see where I stand. So i’m hoping to get great news on Friday!!! I’m glad that i’m in good company with you guys. We can all be here for moral support and encouragement!!!