Anyone diabetic before pregnacy

[Mysticalrain]

I need some advice I had a rocky control at the start then for 8 weeks or so had an amazing control my bloods would sit between 4 and 6 with a few hypos but never any highs! HOever the last couple of weeks my two hour mark is sitting at 11 10 9 and 8 please help me im taking so much more insulin I started on 4 4 and 2 now im taking 11 11 and 13 but still keep coming in at 10 its the weekend so no diabetic team please help me reassure me your babys were alright im so scared what were your sugars like at 28 weeks? x

 

[Jaybear5]

Hun dont worry....Going into the 3rd tri I find is always the hardest...My control always gets worse and my hba1c always rises....Its just so difficult as your body is resisting every bit of insulin and youre fighting a losing battle half the time...
Just stick at it hun, increase insulin as and when required...I am on silly amounts of insulin and still running higher....!
Hugs xx

 

[foreskinresto]

Well, I was never perfect, but it wasn't the disaster it is. The hardest is not knowing how much to take. With the same food, the same amount of insulin, at the same time, same exercise, everything the same will send me high one day and very hypo the next. Now at least there is little more stability. I can still go hypo, but not 1/2 after I ate and had the same amount of insulin I always have. But at least the children are cool about it. I never hid it from them, tested and twice even injected during class. They ask questions, but al least they know a lot about diabetes. One girl even came to my classroom one day and said that she just got a question in her GCSE science because the way I explained it to her and it made it feel real. So I don't have a problem with them. It is just that the school has to protect itself legally. Nowadays the threath of legal action influences lots of decisions in a school.

 

[Tanikit]

Mysticalrain hang in there - insulin levels will rise even more than you have seen now, but the end of second trimester can be chaotic as your baby is starting to really grow now and insulin resistance is hitting a peak.

Mine rose and rose til 33 weeks and then I suddenly had to halve the insulin again and even on much lower insulin values I was going hypo - even the doctor couldn't understand it. I guess pregnancy just does its own thing.

 

[Mysticalrain]

my last hba1c a couple of weeks ago was 5 but I can assure you it has increased terrifed to see the results next time I get it checked :O have another question to ask to diabetic who have already given birth. Im getting really scared about the birth I dont know what to expect, People keep telling me Diabetics babys have trouble breathing at first is this true? what do you get different from anybody else or is it just like normal leave you to it im in the Uk if this helps. Is there always enough people around or is it really under staffed :O ? x x x x

 

[Jaybear5]

My son had difficulty breathing but he was born after a 2 day induction, 11 hour labour and emergency c-section(his head was stuck sideways) so he was distressed his blood sugar was checked for the first 24 hours and luckily all was fine! He spent an hour or so in scbu under the lamp as his temp was low but other than that he was perfect and never had any problems xx

 

[Tanikit]

I think the birth is very dependent on a lot of things - will you be induced or have a C-section or go naturally - often they want diabetics babies out by about 38 weeks and then they will watch the breathing (neither of mine had any troubles though they did give my first child oxygen as a precaution - I think they thought she was earlier than she had been) Both cried immediately after birth.

Both of mine had very low sugar levels after birth (the second worse than the first) and needed glucose drips. We do not have SCBU in this country, only NICUs so both children were admitted there to be monitored - the first for a day the second for four days.

A type 1 diabetic having a C-section should be the same as any normal C-section delivery - they then must lower your insulin levels afterwards and usually use a sliding scale. You may have to stop one dose of insulin before the op. Not sure what happens if you are on a pump. Having an induction you will be put on a drip containing some insulin which will be adjusted depending on your sugar levels (they should take your levels every hour - most diabetics do this themselves or with their DHs help) If you go too hypo then they must give you a glucose drip. The idea is to keep sugars between 4-6/8 during the entire labour. Most diabetics I have spoken to had an epidural simply because it is an induction.

I don't know what staff is like in the UK but I was left on my own quite a bit but could call someone if needed. They came to check how far dilated I was and check the machines (after an epidural I was on continuous monitoring) They'd also come in every now and then to make sure the glucose/insulin drips were ok.

 

[pink23]

caleb had some fluid on his lungs but they had said if i had a normal birth it wouldnt of happened plus he was 4 weeks early but he's perfect now apart from the tantrums lol xx
Had my clinic check up today and im back in 2 weeks. think they want to get a strict control so its ok when i am pregnant. had my bloods done to as im at the pre conception clinic friday , not feeling positive tbh about hba1c but who knows xx

 

[hawalkden]

quick questions & mini fears...

I'm on the insulin pump and wondering what happens about it all.. i know i'll be on a sliding scale ! Had a mini arguement with diabetic team about why my pump couldnt be kept on just up my background insulin.. (then though they were right (darn it) and it'll be in the way if i wanted to be in different positions)..

How long is it after the birth can i be taken off the drips and have the pump back on? I'll be taking my pump with me and sets to change for after when going home, but thinking if LO isnt planned e.g 38 week mark and we go in on the day relaxed with the pump still on then onto a sliding scale.. I have this mini fear i'll be in labout out the blue and wripping my pump off due to sliding scale being on and then extra insulin, even though it'll be burnt off with the pushing..

I have another fear in my mind with the drip in my hand and wires everwere, they'll come out etc and tangled when holding the baby (I know my mind will be in a different place at the time when pushing or holding LO for first time) but always hated moving my hand, when i was on with DKA (induced come in feb '10) and when i came round and had the drips in i didnt want to move my arm/hand and when i had to it was slow motions... :\

Next question snacks? Do i take some? If i do whats the best for high carb/energy etc? Drinks too? Whats the best and keeps the diabetic team happy when they see me drinking it and not stressing it's full of energy or do i just ignore them and take whatever i need and have whenever (unless midwife says it's pushing time etc)

someone was on about c/s so can't eat.. what if its in the middle of the night not much energy inside of me and the main thing i need to do is push!?!?

 

[pink23]

if you still have wires drips, you wont think anything of it you will just want to see lo. i think I had to take a drip with me when i saw caleb on neonatal. it is annoying but i just wanted to see him so had it on that pole thing and wheeled it as oh pushed me in wheelchair.
The care team or who ever is lloking after you will make sure your ok, i think its just i went to bed i had some toast then sliding scale went up in the morning. They did wake me in the night to check sugars to.
Food and drink, take what you want, i did, Make sure you havent plenty of lucozade with you. I told them i would hypo and they didnt belive me and i did so had some handy.
It will all fall into place. not sure on the pump but im just going to go with the flow when im pregnant next time around xx hope this helps xx

 

[hawalkden]

I get very ratty when it comes to not eating and lack of energy !

 

[Mysticalrain]

Thanks for all your replys x x x x

 

[Jaybear5]

Yeah the drips are a pain in the bum, but the least of your worries once baby is born, and its not as much of a nightmare as you think it is... Plus with me they were taken out not longer after i'd had my son anyway!
I never took my own snacks and drinks in last time but the hospital staff brought me regular snack boxes(knowing I was diabetic) with sandwiches/ orange juice etc, so had quite a stash built up if ever I needed it.
I had to take my own blood machine in etc to test often aswell as my injections! So i'd just take in all your bits!
x

 

[Tanikit]

I've never worried too much with drips unless they went under the skin by mistake - they are not supposed to hurt so if they do make sure you complain, but otherwise you can just carry on as normal and holding a baby is not a problem.

I had an induction with my first child and wasn't allowed to eat in case I had a c-section - I sneaked ice chips anyway cause I was getting so thirsty. The second induction I was told to eat as normal because emergency c-sections can be done even if you have eaten, so I did. Once labour was well under way though I didn't want to eat (there wouldn't have been time between contractions anyway)

 

[capel]

I've never worried too much with drips unless they went under the skin by mistake - they are not supposed to hurt so if they do make sure you complain, but otherwise you can just carry on as normal and holding a baby is not a problem.

It is very important to let someone know if a drip is hurting. I told the midwife that mine was and she dismissed it. Only to realise it was not working and all the insulin was going to the tissue of my hand. And of course they realised it after I had my spinal block and my BP was going dangerously low.

And holding the baby is not a problem if the drip is in your hand/wrist. I had one in the middle of the arm (where they normally take blood for exams). There can be complicated.

 

[capel]

Jaybear, I have to say that my elective section was a much better experience than the induction. I don't know about emergency sections but the elective is very relaxing and stress free compared to the induction. Noone is in a rush, the doctors are relaxed (even joking). You walk to theatre and there is not the panic around.

 

[capel]

Well, I was never perfect, but it wasn't the disaster it is. The hardest is not knowing how much to take. With the same food, the same amount of insulin, at the same time, same exercise, everything the same will send me high one day and very hypo the next. Now at least there is little more stability. I can still go hypo, but not 1/2 after I ate and had the same amount of insulin I always have. But at least the children are cool about it. I never hid it from them, tested and twice even injected during class. They ask questions, but al least they know a lot about diabetes. One girl even came to my classroom one day and said that she just got a question in her GCSE science because the way I explained it to her and it made it feel real. So I don't have a problem with them. It is just that the school has to protect itself legally. Nowadays the threath of legal action influences lots of decisions in a school.

This is exactly one of my posts back in february. Exactly word for word...

 

[Jaybear5]

Jaybear, I have to say that my elective section was a much better experience than the induction. I don't know about emergency sections but the elective is very relaxing and stress free compared to the induction. Noone is in a rush, the doctors are relaxed (even joking). You walk to theatre and there is not the panic around.

Thanks hun have decided to have an elective! I have another growth scan next Thursday so am hoping they will give me a date ! X

 

[Jaybear5]

How was the recovery with your elective Capel?! I've been told you recover quicker than when you have an emergency section?! Am hoping this is true cos I had an awful few months recovering after having Jay!

 

[hawalkden]

hey
had my first growth scan today . Cute seeing peanut again ..
diabetic team were pleased that it's growing in the chart I've been given at the back of my notes..
It weights a bag of sugar at the moment ..
Then had a mini cry when I was in the consultants room; they wanted me to go into hospital for a week as a planned admin patient to get my sugars 'controlled' I said no stright away & think it's a pointless idea.. It's not reality & my bloods will be 'perfect' whilest in hopsital and then back to 'reality' when i'm back home e.g 10-15!