Type 1 diabetes

[080509]

Hi i'm wondering if there are any ladies in here with type 1 diabetes? I'm newly pregnant, and finding the constant drops/highs abit of a pain and obviously a worry for bubs in there i see my DSN thursday and hopefully she will refer me for a scan since the gp hasn't referred me for one or not been referred to a midwife yet either. I've no idea how far along i am, i'm guessing between 6 and 9 weeks, my cycles were all messed up since having my youngest. My hba1c was 5.9% in october so at least thats something good!

 

[Xlaura_BellaX]

hi yes im type 1 have been for 22 years now currently pregnant with my 3rd i too have had the ups and downs with sugars in early pregnancy, that's to be expected, hopefully it will settle soon for you i have my first scan tomorrow x

 

[080509]

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to my first scan, it does make things seem abit more real doesn't it x

 

[amjon]

I'm not type 1, but diagnosed with GD and put on insulin at 8 weeks, so very similar to type 1. The MFM told me as I get further into pregnancy I will need to up my insulin as the hormones create greater IR. I've never had a true "low" reading until I was put on insulin and had a reading of 59 one day. The hormones seem to create more swings (though I only had IR before with hypo, but rarely got the low symptoms if I ate a balance).

 

[080509]

Hi thats a similar story to me i was diagnosed GD in my first 2 pregnancies but in my second pregnancy was on insulin early on, and they did tests to rule out type 1 as i was a little bit underweight and it came back positive and have been on insulin since last year. I was on Quite alot of insulin by the end of my pregnancy last time, i think i was on around 20 units of novorapid with meals but amazingly i was still in my "honeymoon period" so didn't need any long acting insulin! Shame that didn't last lol!

I've been to my diabetic clinic today and things seem to be moving at last! they booked me a scan for the 29th this month and i had bloods taken etc. x

 

[LouisaC]

Hi i'm wondering if there are any ladies in here with type 1 diabetes? I'm newly pregnant, and finding the constant drops/highs abit of a pain and obviously a worry for bubs in there i see my DSN thursday and hopefully she will refer me for a scan since the gp hasn't referred me for one or not been referred to a midwife yet either. I've no idea how far along i am, i'm guessing between 6 and 9 weeks, my cycles were all messed up since having my youngest. My hba1c was 5.9% in october so at least thats something good!

Hi, first off, Congratulations!

I've been Type 1 for about 17 years and am expecting my first.

How did you get on with the DSN? Do they have you booked into the joint diabetes/ante natal team?

I had to book separately for the midwife, completely off my own back - its really bad that your GP hasn't given you the details to get booked in early as the diabetes team will want you to be booked in and have the yellow notes for them to review.

I hope you manage to get booked in for the dating scan soon!

 

[080509]

I have an update! i saw my diabetes team yesterday and they did pretty much everything for me they booked me a scan for the 29th and i had bloods taken and got given the log book for writing down my sugars, my insulin has been put up aswell (i dread to think how much i will be on by the end of pregnancy lol) she told me to give my GP another week, and if i've not heard from my midwife then to contact them to chase them up, she wasn't happy he hadn't shifted things forwards, she said GP's are very laid back when it comes to diabetes and pregnancy and some don't feel the need for extra checks, pretty much the same as why i seem to have trouble getting test strips off him alot, he always goes on about funds! xx

 

[LouisaC]

I have an update! i saw my diabetes team yesterday and they did pretty much everything for me they booked me a scan for the 29th and i had bloods taken and got given the log book for writing down my sugars, my insulin has been put up aswell (i dread to think how much i will be on by the end of pregnancy lol) she told me to give my GP another week, and if i've not heard from my midwife then to contact them to chase them up, she wasn't happy he hadn't shifted things forwards, she said GP's are very laid back when it comes to diabetes and pregnancy and some don't feel the need for extra checks, pretty much the same as why i seem to have trouble getting test strips off him alot, he always goes on about funds! xx

I hate that as well, whats more expensive, extra packs of blood strips or an admission to the local hospital for each diabetic?

What makes me even more angry is the assumption that I have type 1 because I must have been fat (I'm not slight, but I've never been one to tip the scales) Its not helped by all the health adverts which say that you can cut the risk of diabetes by exercising and eating healthily - although I have noticed that on the fit 4 life advert they have now snuck in type 2. Does anyone else feel as though they've been branded as though they're a smoker whose ended up with cancer? Like its all our own fault?

And just to say, I'm not having a go at the type 2's out there, I do realise that there are other factors - I'm just sick of such a black and white picture being painted. - OK, rant over

My GP was the same with test strips so I had my diabetes care team write him a letter, which was saved to my file, which really didn't give him the option of saying no - I don't know where GPs get off, its not like its their public purse is it?

I'm glad to hear that your team are on the ball and ready to get things sorted for you, hopefully the midwife will be in touch soon!

 

[080509]

That annoys me too, my family are worse and my sister tells me i have diabetes because of all the energy drinks i drank before (sugary drinks) (nobody seems to understand the difference between t1 and t2 and this is what gets to me)
I remember before my sugar was low and my mum said "do you need your insulin jabs" Please no are you trying to kill me! Lol.

I spoke to my DSN about the strips and she did say she would phone them if they wouldn't prescribe, which is a godsend as i do seem to use quite alot, but like you say bringing the Paramedics out and giving me IV drips would cost alot more, plus i can't risk passing out when i'm on my own with my two little ones, thats my worst nightmare if i'm honest.

Diabetes is such a pain in the bum and i'm really sorry i've gone off on a ramble lol xxx

 

[080509]

I've had good readings for the past week, no hypos and almost all meal readings in range, and now i've just gotten an 11.1
I need positive stories with rubbish readings, feeling abit crap now

Edit, 10 minutes later down to 8.8, bit better! I'm just trying to tell myself i had some rubbish readings with ds1 and ds2 and they were fine at birth, my eldest had sugar issues but was fine after a few feeds, and my second had no problems at all, and i had double figures most days with him (was diagnosed gestational diabetic then properly diagnosed type 1 later in pregnancy then put on insulin and things got better).

 

[LouisaC]

Sorry, but seeing as I'm with number 1, I can't really give a success story just yet. But I'm sure the odd reading that's out of touch will be fine provided that its acted on and not just left

You did make me laugh with the 'do you need your insulin?' comment! Lost track of how many times I've heard that one!

 

[080509]

I've just been refused test strips and insulin my my GP. i've got enough insulin to last me a week but zero test strips. My DSN told me its my fault i shouldn't be testing 10x a day, i should test a maximum of 4 times. how is that even possible?!! I'm fuming right now

 

[LouisaC]

I've just been refused test strips and insulin my my GP. i've got enough insulin to last me a week but zero test strips. My DSN told me its my fault i shouldn't be testing 10x a day, i should test a maximum of 4 times. how is that even possible?!! I'm fuming right now

WTF!?!?!?!

That is absolutely ridiculous! I'd be fuming if I were you as well.

Ok, practical steps... is your DSN on your pregnancy care team? If not, try to speak to one of them, the consultant may be better to speak to, there's no way in hell that they would be willing to write in your notes that they have advised you to only test 4x per day (given that its absolutely bloody crazy and boarders on negligence!)

In the meantime, can you purchase the test strips for this weekend? I know that most sell Accu-chek test strips, or if you normally collect your prescription from Boots, they occasionally allow you to take an item on the understanding that they'll knock it off your next prescription.

I can't believe that they expect you to have a healthy prescription on 4 tests per day!

I hope you manage to find something, but I absolutely cannot believe that your DSN said that - she's much worse than the GP (At least they partly have an excuse in that they don't deal with T1 on a day to day basis) and I'd try to get her changed ASAP!

 

[080509]

I'm really cheesed off, thanks for your reply xx
Just found one test strip, tested (first time since last night) and BS 15.1. No ketones yet. Phone NHS direct and they said theres nothing i can do. Asked to have a doctor out or asked for an appointment at out of hours they said no as its not an emergency, and if i suspect DKA to go to A&E. my dsn is linked to my pregnancy care team (with the consultants etc) i can't see them until tuesday. I just don't think this is good enough in pregnancy, its not ideal at any time buts its not just my health

 

[080509]

Just phoned them again and waiting for a phone back, fingers crossed

 

[080509]

Still not heard anything. On a brighter note i felt baby move just now, must be sick of all this lot! Must be further along than they seem to think i am, i told them i've felt pregnant since end of september but they seem to think i am 7 weeks pregnant, ok that really explains the morning sickness since beginning of october does it? Lol.