I’m pregnant with my second child and I’m also type 1 diabetic. I was diagnosed at the age of 9 in 1996. I’m thinking of starting a blog to help share my story with others. When I was pregnant with my first child I wanted so badly to “relate” to others like me. It was really difficult to find that.
What are some things you wish were available to help you cope and manage with your type 1 diabetes pregnancy? Thanks!
I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with my first and type 1 for 23 years. I would love to hear if others were able to breastfeed, if they kept their pump and sensor during delivery and how balancing a newborn and diabetes went. Good luck to you!
I would like to hear some of the positive/successful things that happened during your pregnancies. I am working towards getting pregnant and all of the information I have been given is all of the terrible things that can go wrong and considering how much hard work I have put in getting my a1c into target range I am needing to hear a success story. I am aware of the challenges that we have to face but I would love to hear simply that it can be done. Some positivity would me the world to me!
I have been type 1 for 30 years and have a 3 month old little boy at home 
I can’t really recall any information I was looking for during my pregnancy and could not find, but I’d be willing to answer questions or tell my own story if you’re just looking for “real-world-experiences” to draw from.
@kapu02 I am currently breastfeeding my little boy if you have questions–you can message me 
@Nstroh Yes, it can be done! I not only have my happy and healthy little boy, but am also the child of a T1D mother. If I can be of help send me a message
I just gave birth to my second happy and healthy son. I find that my relationships with all sorts of healthcare providers during pregnancy were quite strained. There was one doctor that I loved but the lack of knowledge of my condition and how it relates to pregnancy was startling to me. I had a lot of doom-and-gloom lectures from doctors despite having otherwise PERFECT control and hA1Cs aside from 2 or 3 abnormal highs a week.
If I could find out more about other T1’s experiences with their healthcare team that would have been really therapeutic for me. I’d know if it’s just me or if there’s a system-wide problem where I live. More information about how others have dealt with these situations where it seems like the provider has no idea what they’re talking about because they see relatively few T1s vs gestational and T2s would also be super helpful.
Try reading this book: Balancing Pregnancy with Pr-Exisiting Diabetes (I bought on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932603328?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00)
I found it helped me to understand how/why certain things happen during pregnancy with diabetes. I’m TTC right now.
Thank you for all of these posts.
I am 31 and was diagnosed almost 1 month ago. Before that, my husband and I had been trying for several months to conceive and it just wasn’t taking. I am hopeful that it is because of this new beast (T1D). I am looking forward to starting a family. My a1c last time (well… The 1st time) was 10.4 and I understand it needs to come down before I try. I’m sure it is all dependent on the person, and I don’t want to be impatient, but how long does it take to get your a1c in a healthy range for conception?
I am feeling more hopeful after reading these posts that I’ll be able to have more than 1 child. 3 has always been our dream. Am I being unrealistic in still having this dream?
Any tips on what I can do to really do a good job bringing my glucose and a1c down would so be appreciated. How much exercise? Foods that really helped? Daily routines?
Thanks!
Hi, Dlombardi –
First, I know that the first few months after diagnosis could be overwhelming. I hope you have found people to talk to (both diabetics and non). You WILL learn how to deal with things and will be able to have the kind of life you want, but it will inevitably require some extra effort. The good news is – there is so much more support in every sense than there was even a decade ago.
On planning pregnancy: yes, it is super important both for better conception chances and ultimately for a healthy baby to bring down the HbA1c. Since you were in the process of developing the disease probably for months, without realizing it, the current number isn’t something to worry about. Just focus on what you should be doing for good control day-to-day and the results will come.
I see from your profile that your regiment is MDI. From my experience, I’d recommend that you try to get on a pump as soon as possible, as well as to wear a continuous glucose monitor. (My own early experience in brief: I was diagnosed eight years ago, at 28, in a place that had an extensive T1D research program, so I feel incredibly lucky that my first endo, who was up to speed on all current research and herself a major researcher, recommended that. It makes a HUGE difference. It took three months of MDIs while I was waiting for my insurance to approve the coverage of both those, so I really can compare. I still did OK in that time and my second HbA1c was in the 6s after being – I think – over 13 when diagnosed. But the flexibility and control you get with a pump are incomparable. I am sure during pregnancy, when everything fluctuates even more, it will be even more important.)
I am happy to talk to you about pumping and whatever other questions you might have in trying to decide (I hope not “whether”, but “what kind”).
There is another woman here who approached me about setting up a small TTC group here – I am trying to figure out how to do it. Would you be interested in joining if it works out? (In the meantime, I am happy to communicate one-on-one.)
@Dlombardi – I responded to your post, but apparently forgot to address it properly to you. See my comment right above.
Hello!
I was diagnosed 8 months ago- about 3 months into my marriage. My A1C when I was diagnosed was >15. After 3 months of MID I was able to get it down to 6.7. Now (another 3 months) I am at 5.8 and my husband and I are ready to start trying in the next few months. I am on the Omnipod pump now as well as the Dexcom. I am with @NSTROH that I could use some happy stories. Docs like to dish doom and gloom like nobody’s business. It would be helpful to hear that everything is going to be okay.
They say that you’re never supposed to go over 130, but let’s be real. T1D can sometimes have a mind of its own. I am taking the mental stand that as long as the majority of my pregnancy is in that range, things will be okay…
Any happy thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
@Dessito (and everyone else)
Well, two months into my diagnosis and I became pregnant. We just found out last week. It is still very very new but so so exciting nonetheless! I am still on syringes. I was offered the pump but declined b/c I honestly don’t know if I can handle the stress of learning it with my job… and my goal right now is to be as steessless as possible!
I am managing my BG okay. Some days better than others. I HATE when I go too high, but if I over bolus, I go too low a couple hours later. I get so discouraged. I just can’t seem to figure this stuff out!!
I am worried about these highs and lows and what they’re doing to the little bean growing inside me. I’m so excited that it happened, but scared it won’t last.
I understand that it may be very daunting to start a pump, but you will find that it is much more effective at balancing out your blood sugars. Also, look in to a cgm. With the cgm you can see where your blood sugar is headed (up, down, or stable) so you don’t over correct with insulin. For example: if the cgm says that you are 150 and headed down than you know not to take any more insulin. As your pregnancy progresses your blood sugars will become increasingly difficult to control. However, it can be done! And has been done by many diabetic women!
I have a healthy, beautiful 15 month old girl, and am pregnant with our second. My a1c during pregnancy averages at around 6. It is tough work, and lots of people like to give you all the horror stories, but you CAN have a health, enjoyable pregnancy. I really like being pregnant. Yes it’s more monitoring, and stressful sometimes when blood sugars don’t cooperate, but you also get to experience all the great things about pregnancy. YOU ARE NOT YOUR DIABETES. IT DOES NOT DEFINE YOU. Happy pregnancy vibes to you all!!!
Hi everyone!
I am so glad that I found this discussion. I have been TTC for the past 6 months, spent almost a year getting my A1c in range and am hopeful every month. If there’s another discussion board for TTC members, I would love to be a part. Any suggestions out there?
I’m hoping that all is well with everyone here and that healthy babies are on their way!
Thanks for your help - have been looking for T1D TTC support and it’s A LOT harder than I thought…
Yay sooo glad I found this group! We are ttc baby #2. Our son is 19 months old and he is perfectly healthy. Pregnancy is stressful and labor even more so with diabetes but it is absolutely worth it I’m here if anyone has questions about my experiences with pregnancy, breastfeeding, or having a newborn as a diabetic mom!
@Graceann910 – you might find this thread even more relevant for the TTC stage: http://t1n-migration.10uplabs.com/groups/diabetes_and_pregancy/forum/topic/interested-to-hear-about-others-road-to-pregnancy/. Welcome here!