T1s who are pregnant or trying in the Washington, DC area?

Hi all.  I have had T1 for 23 years, and I am newly pregnant (probably too new to talk about it even - 2.5 weeks) for the first time.   Are there any other pregnant T1s in the Washington, DC area (I am in Arlington) who would be interested in meeting up for conversation?  I have a feeling the next 9 months will be complicated and challenging (and hopefully wonderful as well!), and I'd love to get to know others in the area who are in the same boat!  Thanks! 

Congratulations! I'm in MD and have a hectic schedule, but I'd be happy to talk to you.  I have had T1 for 26 years and I'm 12 weeks along with my first child. It's been a lot of work these last few weeks and the biggest challenges I've found are that I go very low often (30s and even below) and I also check my sugar about every hour even though I'm wearing a continuous glucose monitor.   

I am also in MD and I am 14 weeks along. I also check every hour even with the sensor. I have also gotten some really low low's =( but that has been improving. I am 26 and have had type 1 for 18 years. 

Hi Ramona. Congrats! I am very close to DC....living in Winchester, VA. My husband and I are on our 3rd month TTC, hoping this will be the month! :o) Are you on a CGM yet? I just got one last month and so far I love it. It's definitely helped in getting my A1C down. I'd love to talk and meet up sometime, assuming I'll be preg soon. :o)

Hi!  Yes I am on  a CGM.  I have had one for several years, but just started wearing it steadily last year in preparation to try to get pregnant.  I'm glad you like yours!  Good luck this month!!!  If we can work it out, it would be fun to get the folks in this area together sometime. 

Congratulations Liz and Kelly (and good luck Porter!!!)!  Maybe we can meet in MD one weekend for coffee or lunch with any others who are around.  I'll send a message to see if we can get something planned. 

Hi Kelly, I read on your profile that you've had trouble with retinopathy.  I have also had some troubles and last summer my eyes hemorrhaged.  I ended up getting a vitrectomy on both eyes and so far so good.  I went to my ophthalmologist when I was about 5 weeks along and he said everything was crystal clear and the surgery took away all damage.  I'm kinda nervous because I keep hearing how pregnancy can worsen retinopathy so I think I'm going to go back and check when I'm in my late second/early third trimester.  How have your eyes been now that you're pregnant?  

LizF, oh my gosh, I am really sorry to hear all that happened to you. A few years ago I went through a lot of laser surgery but the last few years they have stabilized and have been fine. Since being pregnant, there has been no major damage except my left retina is a tiny bit swollen, but I just went to Johns Hopkins 2 weeks ago and they are keeping an eye on it. I have noticed my vision is a tiny bit blurrier. I hope your eyes are okay now and that everything will go smoothly for you! Good luck!

Hi Ramona. I live in Alexandria. I'm not pregnant, but a have a healthy 2 1/2 year old. Who are you seeing for your pregancy and endo?

I'll send you a Juvenation friend request, so we can exchange email / phone numbers privately. I'd be happy to chat if you have any questions or are just feeling stressed! I'd love to meet someone else with T1 around here...

Hi Ramona!

I live in Rockville MD and work in DC.  I am newly pregnant...just 5 1/2 weeks.  I just found out 4 days ago!  I would love to meet up and/or exchange information.  That goes for anyone else who is newly pregnant and wants to meet up.  I go to the OB tomorrow and am excited about it!  I wonder what happens this early in the game at the OB doc...does anyone know?

Excitement and Congrats!

Hi Rose!  Congratulations!  I had my first OB appointment yesterday, and I also had no idea what to expect!  Here's how mine went:  standard check in (vitals, questions about my history), then the OB met me in the exam room.  She calculated how far along I am using the "pregnancy wheel."  Even though I only conceived 3 weeks ago, I am considered to be 5 weeks pregnant (mysterious 2 weeks are thrown in before conception...).  She answered all my newbie questions about artificial sweetener, exercise, hot tubs, etc., asked me a few questions about my blood sugar, did a quick exam (took a swab and felt my uterus), and then ordered blood work - a confirmation blood test to check that the hormone levels are where they should be at 5 weeks, and an A1C.  (I will get the results tomorrow.)  She told me to come back for an ultrasound in about 3 weeks.  I was surprised that she didn't ask more about my blood sugar, but I guess that's what the A1C (and my endo!) are for. 

I hope your appointment goes well!  Good luck!  I'd definitely love to get together with you and all the others who are in the area.  I'm going to send everyone a message soon to try to schedule something. 

 

 

 

My appointment went well...same thing as yours Ramona.  I am scheduled for a sonogram next thursday, I am so excited for that part! 

I guess the sonograms tells you exactly how far along you are, but I will be 6 weeks in 2 days according the the wheel.

Yay!

Yay Rose! (: (:

YAY Rose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How exciting for you finally....I just had my period yesterday so I had a lot of tears :(

Thanks Sarah and Nicole!  I am sorry to hear that Nicole, I will send good thoughts your way and hope that you get pregnant again soon!! 

I'm so glad it went well, Rose!  I look forward to hearing about the ultrasound!  Nicole, I am so sorry.  Sending lots of positive thoughts your way. 

Hi ladies!!!!

I am not pregnant (yet) but my husband and I are ready to begin the process of diabetic pregnancy!  I live in Rockville, MD and would LOVE any advice you girls can share about getting pregnant.  

 

Unfortunately, my a1c made a big spike recently so I am working to get it down to the pregnancy range.  I just recently began using insulin (was diagnosed 3 1/2 yrs ago) and my endo wants me to stick (no pun intended) to manual injections for a bit before I try the pump.

 

so.....any tips on getting my a1c perfect?  any prefernce on pumps?  

Congrats to you all!  Please continue to share, it is so fasinating to hear about your journeys.  

 

Jackie :)

Jackie I live in Rockville too and am 11 weeks pregnant.  I have been diabetic for 15 years and have been on an insulin pump for 14 years.  I personally think that it would be a lot easier to be on a pump and be pregnant or just on a pump in general but I am biased because I love it so much.  Its obviously not right for everyone but it sure makes things a lot easier.  I would think that it would be more beneficial to start using a pump now while your not pregnant than to start when you do get pregnant.  I took shots for a year before I got on the pump but that is just because I didn't know about the pump.  I have a minimed paradigm and have only used a minimed pump.  Something else that is very helpful for a diabetic pregnancy is a Continuous Glucose Monitor, I don't know if you have ever heard of one, but they are amazing.

Hi all!  I (literally) just joined juvenation on my lunch break and I'm so very glad that I did. I'm also in the Rockville area and my husband and I are hoping to start a family sometime in the next year.  It's so nice to know that there are people very close by that are going through the same thing.  I will certainly be reaching out for recommendations on doctors, diets, etc. 

I'm actually a newly diagnosed T1.  I'm 29 years old, but was just diagnosed in July of last year.  It was baffling to me and the doctors, as there is no family history of T1.  I've been told that we need to wait at least a year before considering pregnancy so that I can have my BG under control.  Currently, my A1C is at 5.5%, so I feel pretty good about things, but I also have heard that I might still be in the honeymoon phase.  I'm concerned that I might start to come out of the honeymoon phase while I'm pregnant, and I'm not sure how difficult it would be to regulate my sugars during that transition.  Can anyone shed some light on how blood sugars fluctuate during annd after the honeymoon phase?

Thanks and I'm looking very forward to chatting more with you all!  Danielle

Wow, what's up with Rockville and the T1's?? Sadly, your story is common -- most of us have no family hx too.

dannynicki, if it were me, I'd also wait a year (more or less of course), esp because you're still young!. Yes, to get out of the honeymoon phase and get "settled." But, also to make sure I was really comfortable with counting carbs, modifying basal and bolus insulin doses, etc. During pregnancy, you want to make sure you can react to blood sugar changes quickly because they literally change every week.

But, during this time, you can use it as a prep to get ready for pregnancy. Find high risk doctors to follow you, meet with them for a consultation, read, etc. Then, you'll be ready to go! A lot of people like Cherly Atkin's new book.

Welcome to Juvenation! Glad you found us!