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Insulin Question
I can't get my GD under control at night while I am asleep (go figure). My fasting blood sugar reading is always right around 105, and they want it under 95. I am almost 8wks and the dietician is now talking about bedtime insulin. I am nervous about doing this, but am afraid there is not another alternative.
So couple of questions for those of you on insulin.
1) What form does it come in? A shot or a pill?
2) Did you notice any side effects after starting it?
3) Do you think they are premature at wanting to put me on it so early in my pregnancy when my reading is only 105?
Any advice is welcome. I am new to pretty much everything.
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Re: Insulin Question
My fasting number in the morning hangs around 89-105. I take glyburide at night and it has helped with the numbers in the morning (they used to be a lot higher than they are now). I then take 1/2 a pill in the morning about 30 minutes before breakfast.
If you are concerned about taking the insulin shot, I would ask about the pill. The GD educator that I see gave me the option.
GL!
1) What form does it come in? A shot
2) Did you notice any side effects after starting it? not really
3) Do you think they are premature at wanting to put me on it so early in my pregnancy when my reading is only 105? That really depends on the doctors.
Is this your first pregnancy? I have type 2 diabetes and went to the GD class. They talked about the more babies you have the more likely you are to get GD. Have you tried eatting a snack before bed? I was told the reason why mine is high at night is because I am not eatting a night time snack.
I take it 3x a day, 2 different kinds and all shots. Since they want you to take it at night, you won't really have to worry about side effects. I take humalin as well, and that one has to be taken right before you eat b/c it can make your blood sugar drop significantly if you don't. But with the night time one (I can't remember what it's called...NPH, I think?) there is no worry about that. So really no side effects to worry about.
I don't think they're premature for wanting you on insulin at 8 weeks. It's important to keep your sugars as stable as possible--especially early on. The insulin isn't bad and honestly it is what's best for your baby! I've been on insulin since 16 weeks. Not fun, but not terrible, either!
I do not have GD but have been diabetic for 19 years so hopefully this helps...
1. Insulin is shots but there are pill options. With the pill you have less control and since your not that high in the morning I think the pill may drop you too much. If they are saying you need insulin now you will definetly need it later. The bigger the baby get the more insulin you need; at least that has been the case with me and others like me (type 1 diabetic that are pregnant).
2. Since your body naturally makes insulin there should be no reactions to insulin. There are some cases where people are allergic to certain brands but that is extreamly rare, but other than not calculating correctly there should be no side effects.
3. The sooner you get under control the better.
Go with the insulin. It's better to get the numbers down. My Endo is even stricter and wants them all below 85 (I average about 78 now). My insulin is a shot of humilin NPH which is long acting insulin at bedtime. No side effects at all. I don't think they're premature. You can't control the fasting number and need to make sure the baby is protected from your sugar fluctuations.
1) What form does it come in? A shot or a pill?
a shot.They are likely going to give you Lantus. There are generally 2 types of insulin. Short acting and long acting. Short acting is generally novalog, or humalog and you take that in small increments, called units when you eat. But long acting, like Lantus, is used to control glucose levels over a long period of time.
2) Did you notice any side effects after starting it?
there are no side effects to insulin. It is a naturally occuring hormone in your body. The only side effect is better control!
3) Do you think they are premature at wanting to put me on it so early in my pregnancy when my reading is only 105?
NO! I think your doctor is being very proactive. Pregnancy is actually a naturally occurring insulin resistance. As your pregnancy progresses, you only find it harder and harder to control. IF you get control now, you are ahead of it and will be able to catch it quicker, before it gets out of hand.
I started with 15 units of lantus when I was pregnant (I am ttc#2 and I have diabetes type 2) and by the end, I was taking 75 units, just to stay the same.
first of all, good luck and don't be nervous- you're being proactive and trying to do what's best for your baby. the 105 seems high (from what my doc and counselor advise me) for a fasting read-- mine don't even like seeing my #'s above 100 post-meals (but they're pretty strict compared to most).
my doc put me on a low dose insulin before dinner but i don't always take it- sometimes i have low blood sugar and my OB would rather me have a slightly high reading over one too low. you just have to watch the #'s and communicate with the doc's. the insulin shot really isn't bad once you get over the idea of giving yourself an injection. the repeated 7x/day finger pricks hurt more in my opinion. ask them about the pill form- it seems a lot of ladies here are on that with good results.
also see if eating protein before bed helps w/the morning reads. good luck!!