Hello! I have had type 1 diabetes for 15 years now and my husband and I were lucky enough to become pregnant 1 month after TTC! I am an insulin pump user and I also have a CGM. My latest a1c was tested at 6.2 before pregnancy and my blood sugars run fairly consistent around 80-110. However, I am finding myself panicing and stressed out whenever my glucose drops low (below 60) or high (above 180). I test frequently and act quickly to correct the highs and lows, but am very nervous about what these numbers could be doing to my baby. How long do you have to stay high before it becomes a factor? Will one high number every couple of days affect the baby?
I am trying my best to eliminate the highs, and lows by eating at home (rather than out) so i know exactly what is in my food and how to account for it⌠but it makes me nervous every time I am out of rangeâŚ
Has anyone else experience this? What did your doctors say/what is their advice? Unfortunately I started freaking out on a weekend and have to wait till the week starts to call my doctor!
I am 19 weeks along and have been diabetic for 15 years also.they consider high over 130 and the lows will more than likely continue. I have had continuous lows since 8 weeks and my ob has not been too concerned.
Thanks Emily! I am working with my endo right now to restructure my basal rates and I have been very nervous because I have been getting uncharacteristic highsâŚevery time I test and I am high I freak out! My highs only seem to come from over treating lowsâŚbut are frustrating and scary. I plan on calling my doctor tomorrow with my concerns, but really appreciate hearing from people who are also diabetic and pregnant! I am trying so hard to get as good control as possible, but it can be overwhelming!!
Hi Reecie! And congrats! Iâm still just in the preparing to TTC phase, but I can imagine the freaking out part (Iâm sure that I will do the same).
Check out this comment: your babyâs blood sugar is always about 80% of yoursâŚ
Here is a chat transcript from a chat with Nicole Johnson Baker (Miss America 1999) who is type 1 and had a child.
One tip that I remember was that she said that her doctor advised to to bolus when treating lows. This meant that she aggresively treated the low (ate enough carbs to bring it up quickly), but bolused immediately for the âextraâ carbs. She said that it was hard to get used to giving insulin while she was low, but that it was important to prevent the highs later. Keep in mind that it take 10-25 minutes for our âfast-actingâ insulin to start acting.
Thanks Kristin! I really appreciate the links and feedback. It seems like everyone has such tight control and confidence in their pregnancies,it is both encouraging yet isolating! Sometimes I feel like the only one who doesnt have it down pat but Iâm dedicated to get my sugars as good as possible!! Good luck with TTC! It is really exciting, and hopefully will get less stressful with time
ReeciePiecie, my advice is to be realistic about highs. Correct them aggressively, yes, but do NOT beat yourself up if you have a high. Throughout most of my pregnancy (which just ended two weeks ago with the birth of my baby girl!), I had a high above 150 probably daily and a high over 200 maybe twice a week. Itâs the sustained highs that can hurt the baby. Itâs people who arenât checking/correcting aggressively who allow their BGs to be all over the place who put their babies at risk.
My perinatalogist requested that I never be over 120 mg/dL post meal, but my obstetrician and my endocrinologist both scoffed at the idea - explaining that itâs completely unrealistic for a type 1 and that heâs used to dealing with gestationals. My endo said that, with a gestational diabetic, the doctors can keep increasing insulin to reduce highs with NO risk of lows. But she told me that if I shot for 120 and lower even after a meal, that Iâd âspend all my time on the floorâ with lows. My CDE said that, even in a non-diabetic, a post-meal rise of 50 mg/dL is normal. If you were 110 pre-lunch, a 180 post-lunch doesnât mean you failed or that youâre hurting the baby. I PROMISE.
Youâre doing everything youâre supposed to be doing from what youâve said here. If you have any other questions and Iâm not trying to catch 15 minutes of sleep while the baby is sleeping, Iâd be happy to answer any other questions you have.
Thank you so much Melissa for your encouraging and informative post! And congratulations on your new baby!!! I had talked to my doctor this week and she told me the same thing! It is so encouraging to know that I am not going crazy by worrying, but also that I am not doing anything wrong with the occasional high. She said the same thing about the post meal numbers and the fact that a normal persons Blood sugar would rise, let alone a diabetics. Thank you so much for sharing and putting my mind at ease! Best of luck with the new babe!!!
Hi Melissa,
Your post is so encouraging. I know itâs dated, but it speaks to all diabetic moms to be all over.
Howâs your daughter now?
Iâm trusting and believing all is wellâŚ
I hope to hear from youâŚ
Hi ReeciePiecie,
I know itâs dated, but your post spoke to me. Iâm T2 and 12 weeks, and I have the same worries. Itâs been quite a panic fest for me, but I just decided to keep at my best to stay positive.
I would really love to know how everything turned out, if you donât mind?
Iâm trusting and believing all is wellâŚ
I hope to hear from youâŚ
but Iâm dedicated to get my sugars as good as possible!! Good luck with TTC! It is really exciting, and hopefully will get less stressful with time