Hello! I have been diabetic Type 1 for almost 27 years.I don’t have any diabetic complications (thank God) yet. I am 34 years old. I wear an omnipod. My A1C are not perfect, in the 7 range. The lowest I have ever been in my life is 7.2. I take regular control, but I know there is room for improvement. I could afford to loose about 20 lbs…
I got married 2 years ago and we are starting to consider getting pregnant. I am a little scare (more a lot!) and I dont even know where to start. I go to my endo every 4 mos and the gyno every year, like any other girl. I have never discussed getting pregnant with either, and I know I have to do it in my next visit. Who do I tells first? Do they have to work together? how does that even work? I live in the Rio Grande valley in South Texas, moved here 5 years ago. If anybody is from this area and is trying to get pregnant or has been pregnant, please reach out to me. I would love to talk to somebody about this and for somebody to recommend doctors. Any replies will be greatly appreciated.
I went through one pregnancy 2 years before my diagnoses and the second 2 years after being diagnosed T1. Both went fine with no pump or CGM just MDI and I think I had a glucometer. The only difference is they induced labor a couple weeks early (as soon as her lungs were developed enough.) She was a bit bigger -8# but other than that it went great. I would tell both Doctors whenever you see them. But I would imagine the most important would be your Endo since they’ll be managing your Diabetes. You may get referred to a specialist (high risk) gyno if they’re not comfortable and you might want to consider a CGM. Other than that, tell your Doctors when you see them and see what they say. I went through it over 30 years ago with no complications so I’m sure you can do it! Good luck.
thanks for your reply!! it feel so good for other people, who have also gone thru this, that things will be okay. It is hard to find people who understand! I dont even think that my husband understand what I am feeling right now. I have an appointment with my gyno next week, but with my endo on September. I am so anxious to talk to my endo!!
I have talked with my endo about this. First, yes, they absolutely have to work together to make sure that you are under control and that things are adjusted accordingly so that you can have a safe pregnancy. From what I understand, coordination is CRITICAL during pregnancy.
I would HIGHLY recommend reading Kerri’s blog over at Sixuntilme.com. She had a baby last year and documented much of the process. She’s a great resource if you’re considering pregnancy with T1D.
Personally, I have sort of made the decision not to have children. I already have some complications and really don’t want to worsen anything. You have to know that while plenty of T1D women have perfectly healthy babies, it’s a lot of work and it may bring out complications or exacerbate existing ones. I know several T1D women who have only had 1 child because they didn’t want to make their complications worse. It’s a very personal decision I think. I’m just trying to make the one that is best for me in my situation.
Also, one thing I have realized is that health care in this country is very fragmented. I would be prepared to take the lead as the “go between” when dealing with your endo and OBGYN. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is.
You are right! That is why I am so scared to get pregnant! I have seen so much problems between my doctors and so much ignorance, even with paramedics, nurses, and other hospital’s employees!!! I know I dont know everything, but sometimes I feel like I know more than most of these people!!! I trust my endo, which is the good thing. I will have “the talk” on my next visit to see what she thinks. I know, I KNOW i have to lower my A1C before even starting to try. My last one was 7.5 :s I just want to get as much info as I can.
Thanks for your reply!! I really appreciate it!!! I just dont want to feel alone in this
Our daughter is 17, took us almost 10 years of treatment - NOT related to being diabetic. Live near San Antonio, had super infertility specialist and endo, no pump/CGM, just MDI’s and hundreds of finger sticks. Diet so controlled that a crumb would make a difference (lol). She was born between 6 and 8 weeks early, probably secondary to me being diabetic. Intensive care/ventilator 3 days, hospitalized about a month. Today - just perfect! Currently she is doing a 7 week high school internship at Rockefeller University in New York city, is just as normal as any other 17 y/o.
A side note - I grew up in McAllen, I would suggest really discussing with your endo what is available regarding specialized care of both you and your child should the need arise. Hospitals in SanAntonio have super track records regarding care of both mom and baby - I was hospitalized twice before delivery secondary to unexpected changes in diabetic control, and then prior to her birth secondary to her umbilical cord being around her neck. While many of the things I went through with my pregenancy any pregenant mom can experience as they were not related to diabetes, it would be good to be prepared.
I would def recommend CGM if you are considering getting pregnant. Also a doctor that specializes in high risk pregnancy. I had my child 16 years ago as a T 1 and I really wish pumps and CGM had been more stressed then. I suffered from horrible hypoglycemia while pregnant, almost up until 36-37 weeks, and even then highest I would go would be 140 -150. I delivered at 40 weeks a perfectly healthy child. 7 lbs 13 oz. Good luck!
yes, I actually just ordered my CGM… i think that would make things easier! Thanks for sharing your experience with me. It feels good to hear from people who had good pregnancy experiences. Thanks!!!
Hi We are in a similar boat to yourself. Im 36 and on Minimed.
When we started TTC I went to my GP first. She then recommended chatting to endo first and go from there. Im not with a Fertility Specialist as its been 9 months and not much happening.
My GP firstly did lots of general blood tests just to make sure I was immune to chicken poxs, rubella, find out blood type. I had to have a chicken pox vacc before we started and then after that I got a clean bill of health. My endo also made me go to the eye specialist as a benchmark to monitor.
I feel like everyone is working as a team, we just need to get the magic ingredient.. a successful pregnancy
Good luck
Although I have never been pregnant, this is a topic close to my heart. I have been Type 1 for 26 years, and got diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago. The doctor said I had the cancer for a few years, before I was diagnosed. When I had radiation, my sugar spiralled out of control. This caused my left eye to hemorrage and my retina detached. I have had 4 operations in my eye over 7 months. I am now completely blind in my left eye due to the Retinopathy. Now they are not sure if I can ever have children, because of the pressure a pregnancy can place on your eyes. I have read a little bit of pregnancy and the eyes, and they say that it can make Retinopathy get worse. They recommend frequent eye exams with an opthomologist before and during a pregnancy.
I hope my input might help you. All the best in your journey!
Hello! Well, it has been about 8 months for us so far. My endo cleared me to get pregnant about that time and we have been trying since. Nothing has happened. I am kind of worry, but I am going to see my gyno this month to see what she wants to do now. Maybe she will refer me to a fertility specialist, but I am not excited about that. My sister had a very hard time getting pregnant, she is not diabetic, and I am really nervous about all of the treatments. I guess I will see what my gyno recommends...:-/ Thanks for sharing your story! I guess we are in the same boat and we have to keep on paddling :-D Best of luck to you!! Keep me posted! I love to hear sucessfull diabetic stories!!
First of all thanks for sharing your story with me! It is always so nice to hear stories of people, like me, who keep on fighting despite what life throws at us. I really wish you the best in your journey and I will keep you in my prayers. Keep me posted!
We have infertility struggles and are seeing a specialist who won't even go near me until my A1C is below 6.5. Just as I got there, I was diagnosed with MS, and put my diabetic control on the backburner while I tried to handle the newest challenge. I thought that MS would put the biggest kink in our TTC plans, but it's the diabetes. So a year and a half later, I am on pins and needles to see if my next A1C is good enough so I can know whether to go off of the MS meds. Ahh, timing!
I was refered to a high risk OBGYN and she actually made me feel a lot better by telling me that I already have the biggest thing that they watch for with pregnancies of people of "advanced maternal age" (Ok, that part didn't make me feel better, lol). But I was freaked out about being 35 and still having to wait. But she said that already being diabetic is easier for us than people who develop gestational diabetes, becasue we already know what to do and what to watch for. It's slightly less life altering for us.
I also wear an Omni Pod and recently got a DexCom and I do encourage you to look into that, if nothing else, for some piece of mind as you proceed.
it feel so good for other people, who have also gone thru this, that things will be okay. It is hard to find people who understand! I dont even think that my husband understand what I am feeling right now. I have an appointment with my gyno next week, but with my endo on September. I am so anxious to talk to my endo!!