Newbie, 7w pregnant ...and so exhausted already!!!

[MtS]

Hi all, I'm a newbie here, have had type 2 for 3+ years now and am 7 weeks pregnant.

I had a miscarriage in June and was v.worried about the new one because this is my first baby, in my mid-30s. So risks galore 🙂

*fingers crossed* things are going ok this time around but the soaring blood glucose numbers are already starting to get to me. Been on insulin since week 3 (early, I know!) and still am unable to get my post meal numbers down! I have bruises on my fingers because of the constant testing and managing my BG just takes up the entire day. I wish I had a continuous monitoring unit!!!

I'm terrified that I will ruin this new persons health by not being able to manage my levels responsibly (and feeling so guilty about it) but also am not able to stop the cravings for carb heavy foods. I'm trying to be vegan to make a better world for the new human, but that's only increasing my BG levels. Everything seems to tell me this is going to go badly and I'm so stressed!

I'm sorry this has turned into a rant. Any advice - general or specific? Thanks!

 

[Inka]

Welcome @MtS and congratulations 🙂

What insulin(s) are you taking and when? Is it just the post-meal numbers that are too high? How high are they? Are you able to do correction doses? What are your numbers like at other times?

Lots of questions there!

It’s hard to give more advice until I know what insulin(s) you’re taking, but I’m sure you can improve things, so try not to stress (easier said than done, I know!)

 

[grovesy]

We had a memeber recently had a baby Tpe2 on Insulin but she does not visit often, but I will give a shout to @merrymunky .

 

[MtS]

Welcome @MtS and congratulations 🙂

What insulin(s) are you taking and when? Is it just the post-meal numbers that are too high? How high are they? Are you able to do correction doses? What are your numbers like at other times?

Lots of questions there!

It’s hard to give more advice until I know what insulin(s) you’re taking, but I’m sure you can improve things, so try not to stress (easier said than done, I know!)

Thanks Inka, yes I know I didn't really put much info in there.

I'm taking 12u of Humulin I at bedtime to reduce fasting sugars, they're down from 8.4 a few weeks ago to 5.6 mmol/mol now. 1 hour post meal numbers are the confusing ones. Ranging from 6.5 to 9.9 at times, even with balanced meals and reducing carbs. But I suppose I am not the best at keeping track or understanding food compositions. I take 4-6 units of NovoRapid with meals. The nurse did suggest taking the NovoRapid 15 mins pre-meal to help. Waiting to see how that works.

I suppose my general approach to diabetes has been a bit 'take it as it comes' since I've mostly managed to keep it under good control with metformin and haven't had much difficulty with it yet. With the pregnancy its just been such a shock trying to manage diet and injecting myself 4 times a day and tracking everything...I'm just overwhelmed!

 

[MtS]

We had a memeber recently had a baby Tpe2 on Insulin but she does not visit often, but I will give a shout to @merrymunky .

Thanks!

 

[grovesy]

Thanks!

Hopefully she will visit soon.

 

[grainger]

Hi,
Firstly congratulations. Pregnancy is overwhelming regardless of diabetes so I just ask that you treat yourself with kindness. Along with trying to do everything you can, you have a huge amount of hormones coursing through your body which can make emotions feel much stronger too.
I’m type 1 so not sure I’m the right person for advice re numbers etc but I would assume given you are on insulin now that you should be able to meet your team often and they can help to review your doses more often (every two weeks or so)
You may find during the first trimester you are more resistant (even though for some it’s the opposite). Maybe ask if you could receive a libre on prescription as you are on insulin and pregnant - this may help your fingers and give your team great insight.

everything crossed for you.

if it helps - with my youngest during the first trimester my numbers were crazy. It is still possible to have a healthy little one and your numbers seem to be single figures which is great.

 

[Inka]

Thanks Inka, yes I know I didn't really put much info in there.

I'm taking 12u of Humulin I at bedtime to reduce fasting sugars, they're down from 8.4 a few weeks ago to 5.6 mmol/mol now. 1 hour post meal numbers are the confusing ones. Ranging from 6.5 to 9.9 at times, even with balanced meals and reducing carbs. But I suppose I am not the best at keeping track or understanding food compositions. I take 4-6 units of NovoRapid with meals. The nurse did suggest taking the NovoRapid 15 mins pre-meal to help. Waiting to see how that works.

I suppose my general approach to diabetes has been a bit 'take it as it comes' since I've mostly managed to keep it under good control with metformin and haven't had much difficulty with it yet. With the pregnancy its just been such a shock trying to manage diet and injecting myself 4 times a day and tracking everything...I'm just overwhelmed!

Taking the Novorapid more in advance should help for sure 🙂 You’ll probably find you need a different time in advance for each meal eg more in advance at breakfast, less in advance for your evening meal. You say you’re taking 4-6 units - does that vary depending on what you eat, and have you been given carb amounts for each meal? My advice is to find meals that work, and then stick to them with slight variation. Having similar breakfasts and lunches removes some of the mental load, I find. Weigh your carbs eg pasta, potatoes, so you know how much you’re having and stick to the ‘right’ amount.

Ask about correction doses - ie using your Novorapid to bring down a high blood sugar. That’s always useful, especially as the pregnancy progresses and insulin resistance increases.

Your Humulin seems to be working well, and your after meal numbers aren’t too bad. I got some 12s in early pregnancy and was terrified, but I got control and everything was ok (I have 3 children).

 

[MtS]

Taking the Novorapid more in advance should help for sure 🙂 You’ll probably find you need a different time in advance for each meal eg more in advance at breakfast, less in advance for your evening meal. You say you’re taking 4-6 units - does that vary depending on what you eat, and have you been given carb amounts for each meal? My advice is to find meals that work, and then stick to them with slight variation. Having similar breakfasts and lunches removes some of the mental load, I find. Weigh your carbs eg pasta, potatoes, so you know how much you’re having and stick to the ‘right’ amount.

Ask about correction doses - ie using your Novorapid to bring down a high blood sugar. That’s always useful, especially as the pregnancy progresses and insulin resistance increases.

Your Humulin seems to be working well, and your after meal numbers aren’t too bad. I got some 12s in early pregnancy and was terrified, but I got control and everything was ok (I have 3 children).

Thanks so much! This is useful. I'll definitely ask about the correction doses - didn't know those were a thing.

 

[MtS]

Hi,
Firstly congratulations. Pregnancy is overwhelming regardless of diabetes so I just ask that you treat yourself with kindness. Along with trying to do everything you can, you have a huge amount of hormones coursing through your body which can make emotions feel much stronger too.
I’m type 1 so not sure I’m the right person for advice re numbers etc but I would assume given you are on insulin now that you should be able to meet your team often and they can help to review your doses more often (every two weeks or so)
You may find during the first trimester you are more resistant (even though for some it’s the opposite). Maybe ask if you could receive a libre on prescription as you are on insulin and pregnant - this may help your fingers and give your team great insight.

everything crossed for you.

if it helps - with my youngest during the first trimester my numbers were crazy. It is still possible to have a healthy little one and your numbers seem to be single figures which is great.

Aww thanks so much! This is very encouraging to hear. Having a healthy little one is the ultimate goal!! 🙂 I'll definitely ask about the libre, looked it up and seems like it will save a lot of time and effort, and help those sore fingers as well.

 

[Inka]

Yes, correction doses are very useful - particularly in pregnancy when you have such tight targets. The basic idea is that you’re told how much one unit of insulin (in your case the Novorapid) will drop you eg 3mmol, and then you can correct any highs.

You might also find a half unit pen useful as then you can correct and inject more accurately.

 

[trophywench]

And when you test your blood, you do use that part of the end of your fingers at the sides of your nail, and not the actual 'pad' of your fingers? This then gives you 2 different sites on every finger! If you are getting bruises on em, you have the depth of the lancet turned up too high, and are most likely pressing down too hard. Treat your fingertips as delicate very fragile little darlins!