Help Planning for the Future

Pregnancy
1

Hi. I'm new to the site. I'm Franny. I'm 20 years old and have been a diabetic for about 10 years. My dad and twin sister are T1 diabetics too and have been way longer than me.

I've slipped in and out of good control in my lifetime, and now that I'm older I really want to get a better grip on my care. I'm planning on starting a family in the next few years and I want to be prepared. I want my babies to be healthy and happy, and I've got a lot of things I'm really scared about.

  1. First, I'm really terrified that if I have kids, one or more of them will have T1 diabetes. This is what happened to my sister and I, and I know how much pain it causes my dad and us. Dad feels like it's all his fault. But I know I'm meant to be a mother, and I really want to have natural children (but I'm open to adoption) Does anyone have opinions? I try to be a good person, so please know this is meant in a spirit of learning and honesty! I don't want to offend anyone with touchy topics...
  2. How can I best prepare in these next few years? Does anyone have any tips or experience they could share with me?

And well, I guess that's it for now. Really, just ANY advice for the next few years would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much,

Franny

2

Hi Franny!

I've been T1 for 24 years, and for more of those years than I'd like to mention, I had poor control.  I have recently been able to improve my control and lower my A1C to an almost normal range, and my husband and I are planning to start a family as soon as my A1Cs are good enough to do so. 

I think being scared about the whole having-a-baby-when-you're-T1 thing is totally normal.  There's a lot to worry and fret over.  What I've done recently is find an OB-GYN who specializes in high-risk pregnancies (anyone who is T1 and pregnant, no matter how tight their control is, is considered "high risk"), and talked to her about what I need to do to prepare.  She talked with me for a long time, and she's comfortable with working with me, when that day comes.  She gave me a lot of information to take with me on what to do to prepare myself now, and answered every question I had.  That would probably be my first stop, for you.

The possibility of passing it on is scary - yes - but it is also remote.  There have been a couple of threads on Juvenation already about this topic, so I'll give you those links now:  http://juvenation.org/forums/p/1651/11432.aspx#11432    and    http://juvenation.org/forums/t/5895.aspx

The general consensus seems to be that an A1C of 6.0 is the ideal if you're wanting to get pregnant.  The longer you can maintain a low A1C like that prior to pregnancy, the better.  Taking multi-vitamins, and especially folic acid, is also recommended prior to pregnancy.  I was told that taking the folic acid for as long as you want before pregnancy is not harmful in any way, and the more that is built up in your system prior to pregnancy, the better.

Your bio doesn't mention use of an insulin pump or CGM, but you will probably want to at least consider one or both.  They can be very, very useful tools as you try to fine-tune your regimen.  I use an Animas Ping pump, and a Dexcom Seven Plus CGM.  The CGM, in particular, has been vital to me lowering my A1C.  I don't know how Canadian health care coverage is, or what your personal situation is, but if you can get one - or at least do a one-week trial - do it!  :)

Hopefully this helps.  Oh, and welcome to Juvenation!  :)

Kim

3

Thanks so much. This is so helpful. I really appreciate the time and thought you put into posting. It means a lot :D

I am on an insulin pump right now, an Animas IR 1200. We're nowhere near where the US is in our cool gadgets for diabetes :-( But CGM is just starting to be introduced here from what I hear, and it should be covered by my dad's insurance mostly! I'm really eager to start on it. It seems like a huge lifesaver. I've just gotta convince my endocrinologist that I "deserve" one :-( blah. We had a very very epically bad meeting last time. I was a wreck, but I went to therapy and I'm ready to try again :-P lol. 

Thank you SOO much again. And thanks for the welcome. I can already tell that Juvenation has been the missing link for me. You guys are awesome!

4

fplan026,

Everything that Kim said I was told as well.  I'm in the process of trying to get pregnant and I have been in contact with my endo's office alot.  I download my pump every Sunday evening, call their office to leave a message Monday mornings letting them know, they look it over and give me a call back by the end of the day.  We have done a ton of fine tunning with my pump settings.  I also check my sugar every 2 hours from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed.  Sounds crazy I know but it's key in finding out what your trends are especially if you don't wear a CGM.  Just try to eat right and excerise.  It's hard work but well worth it.

5

To add my 2 cents in, my control was adequate in the couple of years before pregnancy (a1c's 6.5 to 7.5 but with lots of ups and downs). Once I was ready to try to conceive, I got my a1c down to low 6's but still with some ups and downs. But, as soon as I was pregnant, I have never been so motivated in my life, it's the hardest I've ever worked. I suddenly found it easy to say no to high carb foods. I suddenly didn't complain about testing 2-3 times each night -- it was for my baby! I think you'd surprise yourself!

The one thing that I found helpful prior to pregnancy was getting in the habit of testing my BG 2 hours after every meal b/c you have to do that when pregnant. It gave me an idea of how foods were affecting me (CGM's weren't common then). It also became a habit. I still do it after every meals even though my son is 2 and I now have a CGM!

Good luck w/ those BG's. (: