diabetes and pregnancy

lennoxsmama · April 2015

I am 22 years old and due on July 2, 2015. I have type one diabetes and at my 28 weeks Mark of my pregnancy. This is my first baby and I have had a lot of health problems throughout. But my main concern right now is the size of my baby. She is measuring at about 31-32weeks instead of 27-28 weeks. I know diabetics normally have big babies but I feel maybe my due date is wrong as well.

SLGILL1978 · April 2015

How are your sugars? Are you reporting them on a weekly basis? How is your A1C? Generally during the second trimester it should be easier to control your sugars. I am not sure what the other health problems are to comment on those. Have you seen a nutritionist? If the problems are all diabetes related, I would recommend seeing one.

I am a type 2 diabetic and insulin dependent. I would definitely say that you really need to monitor your health and be in tune with your bodies. Not to sound mean or harsh, but generally if you are having a big baby it means you are not in control of your sugars (at least that's what my doctor told me). I had an average sized baby (7lbs, 3 oz).
When I had my first sonogram, the tech tried to tell my due date was off, but when I told my doctor, he said we were going with the original due date based on the last day of my period.

nerdymama15 · April 2015

Diabetes tends to mean larger babies. I found out I was type 2 when they drew blood during my first prenatal visit. They prescribed a diabetes nutrition class and required me to take my sugar counts 4 times a day as well as taking diabetes medication. The class had me learning how to count carbs etc. My pregnancy did not make it as far as yours has. I miscarried at 9wks6days. My doctor did not think my MC was a result of diabetes though. But I do know that on the pamphlets (who knew that word had the letter h in it - thanks spell check!) they gave us they did say that a common sign of babies whose mom had diabetes was the baby was larger and had a higher chance of having to have a c-section and if the baby was too large the baby's shoulder could have to be broken in order to deliver it.

Bottom line, if it were me, I'd speak to the doctor about it.

ttaruuht · April 2015

Thats not true. You can have a great A1C with great numbers and still have a big baby. Im type 1 as well and am 28 weeks. Its hard and some days i just wanna cry! Just do the best you can do!!

ttaruuht · April 2015

And they wont break the babys shoulder to deliver. Smh!

tig594 · April 2015

I've been type 1 for 4 years. Had DD 2 years ago and she was 6 pounds 7 ounces when she was born via c/s at 37 1/2 months. My c/s was pretty much planned from the first visit to the OB after I found I was pregnant. We planned it that way for several reasons, all of which involved our health.

Keep your sugar in check for sure. I know it's hard some days but it's really really important while you're pregnant. Mine wasn't perfect and never got to where my specialists wanted it but it also wasn't bad either. I think my last A1c before DD was born was around 6.

Don't let strangers freak you out about birthing huge babies with broken bones and remember those measurements are simply estimates.

gracie0218 · April 2015

I'd love to talk to you! In 7w4d my last a1c was 9 so I'm super nervous

kedbach · May 2015

Every, join the Diabetics group- it's under groups! I'm trying to add as many diabetics on here but it's taking awhile!

Juliebird8307 · May 2015

I had gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy (and this one) and my DD was only 6lb 5oz when born at 39w6d. Diabetes doesn't always mean a big baby.

kedbach · May 2015

Diabetes doesn't mean a big baby if your sugars are under control. Typically, the higher the sugar, the larger the baby.

ssinnwell · May 2015

I had GD with my first and they estimated she was going to be over 8 lbs.... She was 6 lb 4oz.... My sugars were in super control the whole time though with huge doses of insulin... I had a lot of lows in fact. I am now DM and 7wks, I Amon a super low dose of insulin and my sugars are all over...don't let anyone stress you out, trust your OB and diabetes dr!

Missykay28 · May 2015

Any of you Type 1's out there having any issues getting your blood sugars back within normal range, only an hour after you eat? I'm not understanding how when my Dr. tells me that my Humalog stays in your body and works for up to 4 hours, yet my blood sugar needs to be back to normal only an hour after I eat. Most times it is back to normal or close to it but some foods I eat, make it do crazy things!

jham201 · May 2015

Yes! I feel like it is starting to become an issue for me at the start of my second trimester. It seems like in the past week or so it is taking forever for my BGs to drop after I eat and it is stressing me out. I also have been having some crazy lows. I was warned by my doctor that the changing hormones might cause this to happen, but it still bothers me. I haven't really changed much in my diet, so I feel like it is more my body's reaction to it. I want to start trying to take my insulin earlier before the meals, but it is hard to always know what you are going to eat too far in advance.

Did your doctor tell you to try anything in particular?

tpete12 · May 2015

JessicaHam201 said:
Yes! I feel like it is starting to become an issue for me at the start of my second trimester. It seems like in the past week or so it is taking forever for my BGs to drop after I eat and it is stressing me out. I also have been having some crazy lows. I was warned by my doctor that the changing hormones might cause this to happen, but it still bothers me. I haven't really changed much in my diet, so I feel like it is more my body's reaction to it. I want to start trying to take my insulin earlier before the meals, but it is hard to always know what you are going to eat too far in advance.

Did your doctor tell you to try anything in particular?

This is me right now! I panic, over correct and then drop.

jham201 · May 2015

I am doing that too. Yesterday my blood sugar dropped so low that I sweat through all my clothes in the afternoon and felt like crap the rest of the night. I was high all morning, so I must have over-corrected too. Breakfast seems to be my big problem right now, but it messes up most of the rest of my day. It is just so hard to know what to do.

missnacholover · May 2015

kedbach said:
Diabetes doesn't mean a big baby if your sugars are under control. Typically, the higher the sugar, the larger the baby.

this is false and you are giving incorrect information.

I had a 10lb 10 oz baby born at 37 weeks. My A1c was between 5.7 and 6.2 my entire pregnancy. My blood sugar NEVER got above 225 for the entire pregnancy.

Baby size does not always have a correlation with blood sugar control. I did a stellar job controlling my diabetes while pregnant and just had a big baby. I felt, for a long time, that I didn't do a good enough job and felt a tremendous amount of guilt. Posts such as your's perpetuate the misnomer that all big babies are due to poor blood sugar control.

Missykay28 · May 2015

The Dr did tell me to take my bolus 15 minutes before I eat. I try to do that, but like you said, it's not always an easy thing to predict! A lot of the time, I live life by the seat of my pants and so I've really had to slow it down and make sure I'm being as cautious as I can. I've also found that fried foods just don't agree with me...especially tortilla chips from restaurants. Also my insulin needs are way more earlier in the day than they are say, after 6pm.

Missykay28 · May 2015

My dietician also said it's of course a lot harder to deal with type 1 and pregnancy than GD. My dr had told me that the 60's was now acceptable for a blood sugar but my dietician said she'd not go that low...to not go any lower than 70. Which made me happy...just don't feel good at all in the 60's and don't feel safe driving a car, at all! It's a whole lot harder for a type 1 to stay in the 60's, without falling completely off the cliff, than somebody with GD.

jham201 · May 2015

Please just be careful!!!!

I had a recent medical emergency from trying to keep my BGs low where I lost consciousness and needed to be hospitalized. I thank the alarm on my CGM for waking my husband in the middle of the night.

There seems to be disagreement on this issue for me depending on who I talk to....the baby geared doctors want my BGs very low like you said but my endo (who has treated me for at least 10 years) is very concerned because I have always been prone to sudden swings, saying that if I hurt myself because I pass out, that is not good for anyone, me or baby. I have really taken this to heart, especially when driving, which is also a safety concern I have.

Each person's body is different (such a fickle disease!) and we all want to do what is best for our baby....we just can't forget that taking care of ourselves is equally important for the safety of the baby too. What works for one person with our condition may not work for another. Getting several medical opinions is good because I find myself looking for a good compromise that works for me someplace in between.

leylacorbett1 · May 2015

I've been a T1D for 16 years, 21 weeks pregnant with first baby, on the insulin pump for 10 years. My a1c is 5.9 but this past week I am experiencing major insulin resistance. My numbers linger at 200. Very frustrating. Need to make more pump adjustments. Anyone else in same boat?

jham201 · May 2015

Yes!!! I slightly increased some of my basal rates and that helped. My doctor told me not to make any more adjustments until talking to him first so he can review my CGM data because he thinks my next move might be to increase my carb to insulin ratio for breakfast because it seems to rise in the morning and stay hi much of the day until the afternoon. It is all very frustrating! I am currently 18 weeks.

What are you trying?

leylacorbett1 · May 2015

I made my own changes. Carb ratio at 7, sensitivity at 28. Increased all my basal rates. I have occasional lows but any things better than lingering at 200.

leylacorbett1 · May 2015

Being pregnant and diabetic, how often are you seeing your endocrinologist? And how often is your a1c checked? Just curious

jham201 · May 2015

I am almost 19 weeks now and I have seen him 3 times since becoming pregnant, but one of those was a result of a really bad low resulting in an unfortunate trip to the ER. My next appointment is scheduled for August but he told me to contact him if I need to. I have a CGM, so I can send him my data and he will give me suggestions over the phone. I have been making a lot of the smaller changes on my own though as soon as I notice a change.

I see my OB a lot more frequently (every 2-4 weeks depending on how I am doing) but the doctors send information back and forth between the offices, including A1c, which I have had done about every 6 weeks or so, but I do have all the CGM data that they use to track me. I have been constantly between 6.4 and 6.7, which is actually very good for me. The endo worries if I go lower I will end up in some more dangerous low situations, which I have an unfortunate history of due to the insensitivity and very sudden drops.

How about you? I feel like all I do is go to doctor visits, but I won't complain because I am grateful for the help.

chrystalgriffith · May 2015

Just wanted to introduce myself my name is chrystal just found out yesterday that I'm pregnant. I'm a type 2 diabetic and struggling with my sugar's. I'm going to my primary next month to confirm my pregnancy and get help with getting my sugars a lot better.

tpete12 · May 2015

leylacorbett1 said:
Being pregnant and diabetic, how often are you seeing your endocrinologist? And how often is your a1c checked? Just curious

I am going every 3-4 weeks and getting A1C checked every 4-6 weeks.

ssinnwell · May 2015

I am so jealous! I only 11 weeks and have already been to the dr 3 times! She has me coming in every 2 weeks and sending her sugars twice a week!

leylacorbett1 · June 2015

That's good, the more you see your dr the better. I upload my pump once a week, get labs done every 4 weeks. I've seen her 3 times in 22 weeks. Not as often as I'd like but I guess it's not a big deal since I upload my pump frequently and all labs have been great.

heethers · June 2015

Hi ladies! I'm 36 and am pregnant for the first time! I have had type 1 DM for 29 years and have a pump and CGM. As of today I am only 5weeks, but am FREAKING out about my blood sugars! I'm in good control already, but anytime my blood sugar goes above 150 it makes me nervous. I find myself trying to correct really early, but then end up low a lot of the time. I see my Endo in a few days, so hopefully that will help, but any advise for blood sugar control in the first trimester?

jham201 · June 2015

I had a lot of lows in the first trimester too , some of which were from over correcting and some of which seemed out of nowhere (hormones).

Check often but also don't beat yourself up over it. Stress isn't going to help with the blood sugars either. Plus, there is a lot going on in our bodies that make it difficult to account for. Our bodies are reacting differently to everything and changing constantly.

What about the timing of the insulin? It was taking forever for the insulin to get into my system, so I started taking mine 30-45 minutes before eating. This helped with some of the post meal spikes then drops. Def talk to your doctor before you change anything though.

PedsIsHardcore · June 2015

I have had lows of 40's and highs up to 250. With my first, I had blood sugars in the 300's and 400's. You have tight control! I know I can tell you that but you will still worry. Your baby has better chance at being happy and healthy because you have such tight control. Lows will happen. Be modest when it comes to correcting. Lows are common in pregnant T1DM's.
If you have a higher than desired blood sugar remember to drink some water and also move around too. Those are things that can help even though its not as fast as insulin, it can help. I was told that by my Endo from my first pregnancy.

ssinnwell · June 2015

Holy crap! Highs to 400! My Dr freaks when I get a 160, which is rare.

PedsIsHardcore · June 2015

It was with my daughter and I had just been released from the hospital for having lows that were in the 20's so they were being conservative with my insulin. My daughter was 7lbs, 7oz and was the first baby born to a diabetic (type 1 diabetic no less) at that hospital that didn't go to the NICU for monitoring because she was so healthy and her blood sugar was stable. That's huge!
No one is going to give me a hard time right now. I know my A1c is lower than the 7.7 it was, but the reality of giving me a hard time over something that is already done and that I'm trying to correct is I will be mean...I am very mean already. I know the risks, I know what I'm doing. I got this...I'm the a-hole diabetic.

ssinnwell · June 2015

I was not trying to be mean at all, sorry if you took it that way. I am totally with you on not allowing peeps to give me a hard time. Everyone I work with knows I am pregnant and diabetic and I get, "are you suppose to eat that?" all the freaking time and it drives me mad...

My DD didn't have to go to the NICU either, yeah us

Hoping we both are as lucky this time.

PedsIsHardcore · June 2015

Oh no, I knew you weren't. Sorry if my post came off that way! I'm such a hard butt!
My friends know not to question my choices and even my Endo today didnt give me a hard time over my A1c, which is now 7.0 vs 7.7. She didn't even want to check it because she didn't think my insurance would cover it but all preventative labs are covered. She drives me crazy! Lol
Hopefully we will rock these pregnancies and be awesome super diabetics that set the standard so the docs are like, "Well this awesome other patient I had..." Lol

readyfor4 · August 2015

Hello. New to this app/board. I have type 2 diabetes and 8 weeks and 3-4 days pregnant with rainbow baby. Looking for ladies I can relate to and get information on high risk pregnancy with diabetes. Due date is March 29-30 or somewhere in there. We should have been 25 weeks by now with third baby but we lost him/her and found out at 12 weeks. My a1c beginning of that pregnancy was 7.4 and my ob thought it was maybe related to that but I've switched obs because of my treatment before and during miscarriage. New a1c was 5.9 which shows I was doing well during my last pregnancy with my sugar levels ect. I have endo that I see and talk to on the phone as needed and I'm taking metformin 500mg twice daily along with glybruide 5mg twice a day and recently started taking long lasting insulin 10cc at bedtime for fastings. Just trying to do my best and make it through like the rest of you all. Good luck to us and healthy pregnancy ending with healthy babies.

readyfor4 · August 2015

Oh and my new ob said he didn't agree with previous ob that 8.4 or above pre pregnancy is when you start seeing miscarriages? He doesn't think I need a referral to Maternal fetal specialist. One of the dr I seen during miscarriage at ER said you don't usually see miscarriages from diabetes for way higher and that she has seen 11.4 have healthy babies. So I'm not sure who to believe. Do you think I should push more to see fetal maternal specialist or I'm ok? He said he would refer me if we started having issues with my numbers ect. Also he would send me for level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks if I wanted to.

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