Pre-existing Diabetes

[lavitaebellamy]

Hi Ladies,

I'm a little over 8 weeks with my first baby.  I've been diabetic since I was 12 years old, border-line type 1 and 2.  So i'm pretty freaked out about my pregnancy, which is aweful because I know stresses only makes my glucose levels worse.  Since finding out Jan 1st, I've been monitoring my glucose 8 times a day.. and they are generall VERY good, with the exceptions of getting a few like 175, 189, and even a 212 one time.. And I've been watching my carbs and haven't eating anything sweet since finding out.. so I don't know what caused those high numbers.  Other than that, they stay within my range.  Sometimes my evening meal will linger at 140 at my 2 hour check.

After reading some of you getting worried about having a 100 fasting, I'm like omg I'm thrilled if i see that number in the morning.  Recently Ive been getting below 95, which seems to be ideal.  But I never stressed when I saw anything below 110. 

My biggest worry is my 4 weeks of pregnancy before finding out, and the 2 weeks after conceptoin when I wasn't monitoring my glucose like I should have been.  I ate Christmas cookies for christ sake!  My husband doesnt understand my worries, but I know my preconception health is so vital to our baby and chances of having heart and brain defects.

I see a new Obgyn next Friday, so i'm really hoping for some conforting words on his part to help lower my stress of what I may have done to my baby with Christmas cookies and other unhealthy holiday foods.  I know what's done is done, and I can't change the past.  But I can't help but worry until I get my 4 month super-doober ultrasound that will check for the birth defects that i'm worried about.

In the meantime, any positive thinking seems to help.. so bring it on!  (Thanks in advance, mamas)

[ProudNYMom]

 First, congrats on your expecting!! I am gestational for the 2nd time, however mine was not determined until 28 wks with my son and this time I was diagnosed at 24 wks and I pushed for the glucose test earlier because I was testing on my own and noticed I was elevated at times. Since you are experiencing that on your own at this time (and that happened with my friend, she found out with her 2nd at 8 wks), I would ask your dr to do your glucose tolerance test asap, that way they can get you followed right away, instead of waiting. Even if you don't have an appt right away, I would call and ask for a script and explain why, I did that with this one early. In the meantime, look online for the ADA diet, I am being followed by a specialist and they recommend I do the 2k diet. Try to eat every 2-3 hours, smaller meals, and follow the diet to make sure you are getting enough calcium /veggies/protein/fat and natural sugar. I would definitely cut out the white flour and sweets, like you have. I was concious of that the 2nd time around expectig it again. My good friend is type 2 and the only difference for her is she needed insulin. I didn't need it with my 1st, however I do insulin injections at night to control my fasting because they ideally they want it below 100. My friend being type 2 had a harder time controlling, but she was followed well, and both her kids were fine. You too will be, just ask for evertyhing to be looked into sooner than later. It can definitely be controlled and you and baby can be healthy, they just want to make sure it's controlled well. I wish you all the best, and keep us posted on how you are doing!!

[lavitaebellamy]

Sorry, I was a little unclear.  I have been treated for diabetes most of my life.  When I said border-line I meant between beging type 1 and type 2.. but there is not doubt that I've been diabetic since I was 12 years old.  When you're diabetic that long, you go tend to let yourself go every once in a while.. never having anything sweet your whole life is unrealistic in my opinion.  But for the sake of my baby, It's been super easy and will continue to be so for the next 7 months... because It's the health of my baby.. not just my own personal health anymore.  There isn't a pre-existing diabetic group, so I joined the GD group instead. 

For the past year or more, I've been on Levimir (24 hour acting insulin) in addtion to Metformin.  At my appointment last Friday, a high-risk OBGYN took me off of Metformin, but wanted me to schedule an apointment for next week to change my insulins.  After researching Levimir, it's a class C prenatal drug, meaning there hasn't been any studies on human pregnant women and the effects are unknown.  If it s unsafe, it pissed me off that the Doctor wanted me to wait a whole nother week!  So I researched high-risk OBGYN in my area, and will be switching to a 5 star rated Doctor next Friday.. and hope to see immediate changes.  I've seen three doctors thus far of my pregnancy and none of them referred me to a nutrionist, endocronologist, or any one else yet!  I thought high-risk pregnancies were suppose to have a whole team of Doctors.  I've been knowingly pregnant for over a month now, and have seen three shitty doctors thus far.  I hope I got it right next time.. he is suppose to be the best high-risk obgyn in the area, so keeping my fingers crossed.  And no matter how hard I demanded results from past doctors, I never got what I wanted.. I just need a doctor that will listen to me.

Your response that your type 2 friend had a hard time controlling, but had two perfectly fine children makes me feel a lot better.  I just can't help but thinking that I hurt my baby the first two weeks after conception when I was eating unhealthy Christmas treats.. I know my glucose levels had to be skyrocketing, even though I wasn't testing at that point my life. 

Since knowing I was pregnant Jan. 1st, I've been working out.. getting plenty of exercise and eating very very healthy like I should be.  So I know I'm on the right track now, I just want a doctor to tell me that Christmas cookies didn't harm baby.. but the reality is from everything i researched, that point of my life is super critical to my baby's health.  My glucose was wasn't undercontrol prior to finding out I was pregnant.  The crazy thing is, I took a pregnancy test Christmas day and it came back negative... so I was like bring on the sweets! (limiting sweets since your 12 years old, special occasions like Christmas are the perfect time to cheat)  I was in fact pregnant and now I super worried about how that effected my developing fetus. 

So until I get that 4 month ultrasound testing for birth defects, I'll be worrying.  Your response about your friend is the soooo helpful.  Is there anyone else who had uncontrolled glucose in the beginning and still had healthy babies?

 

[ProudNYMom]

 Ohh I understand now!! Sorry I misread....well, I can tell you my friends situation. With her 1st she had no idea she was type 2 until she was very sick at 4 months pregnant. She was hospitalized and then put on insulin injections four times a day. She is a perfect example of how she was very uncontrolled for 4 months and her daughter is as smart as a whip. Her 2nd preg she was already controlled, so she was taken off the pills and put on insulin injections as well, 4x a day. I am a huge worrier and researcher, but she is not. She just tried her best and her son was fine as well. She was seen by a high risk endo, and her OB, had non stress tests and was followed very closely, which I am sure you will be too. but, rest assure, she carried both til term, normal weights and vaginal deliveries...I can understand your fears, when my fasting was high, I was freaking out, but tgrust your gut and do what you feel is right and never feel bad about second opinions or pushing the drs!! Best of luck and enjoy the pregnancy!!

[lavitaebellamy]

Thanks so much proudNYmama!  I used to think my mom was nuts worrying about stuff she couldn't control or change.. and since becoming pregnant I've become the same way.  Oh help me please if the saying is true that you become like your own mom.. lol.

But you know.. all the research we do tends to put more worries in our heads.. we should just stop that craziness.   easier said than done i guess, it's just in our nature to be worriers. plus i think the research helps us know whether or not the dr. is doing his/her job.

But other than my fears of christmas cookie birth defects, I've been loving my pregnancy!  I haven't had any morning sickness (pushing towards 9 weeks, i'm hoping i bypassed it)  I have heard other women that have gotten it much later so ya never know.

sounds like we are following the same diet.  my new favorite treat as of yesterday is a frozen blueberry smoothie!  i call it the drew carey smoothie, because i found the recipe in a diabetic magazine that had drew carey on the front cover.  it's simple, and is a great substitute for my milkshake cravings.  basically just frozen blueberries, skim milk, vanilla, and splenda (optional, since the sweeteners have to be limited). 

i have a friend who was diagnosed with g.d. at 30 weeks, but she hasnt been doing anything to change her lifestyle.  She claims her baby inside wants dunkin doughnuts, and uses that as an exuse to keep going there.  Sounds like you were diagnosed both times pretty late as well, but are like me and will follow your diet to keep your baby healthy.  it's so nice to hear from another concernced mama, and i can't tell you how helpful you've been to me.  Goodluck with your second baby and stay healthy!