Should I be worried?

[Lauren]

I'm 22 weeks pregnant and for the last few days I have been having hypos after meals, which take 30g+ carbs to bring my blood sugar back up.
I work in a school and last week was half term, so I was resting much more and also eating more treats. My BG at the time was fine but now I'm wondering if perhaps my HCL pump gave me additional insulin to counteract this, and this is what is causing the hypos this week (now I'm back in school), and I just need to ride it out for a few days until the pump's algorithm readjusts.
I have been going low after breakfast, lunch and snacks during the day, but didn't have a low after last night's evening meal. Probably nothing to worry about?
I actually saw my consultant this morning and said I'd had a few lows, but didn't realise then that they seem to be following a pattern of happening after meals. Also I've not had lows at school following time off in the past. So I'm a bit confused. I also just don't feel that well and have had a bit of a headache for the last day or so, maybe it's down to being a bit unwell.
Has this sort of sensitivity happened with anyone else at 22 weeks? I'm back to see the midwife on Thursday so will mention this then.

 

[Inka]

I went back to work after Half Term too @Lauren and I had low sugars (Dexcom alerted me before a hypo). Like you, I think it’s the change of routine. Could you reduce your meal bolus to avoid the hypos? Could you keep a close eye on your blood glucose after meals and then eat more carbs if you feel it’s necessary (and maybe do something to the loop to stop it interfering, if needed)?

My insulin sensitivity/hypos reduced by 22weeks but continued until maybe 25/26 weeks - and then the insulin resistance kicked in! So yes, I still had some lows at 22 weeks.

I know what you’re worried about but that would normally be an issue later in pregnancy if it was going to happen, if you see what I mean. However, as always with pregnancy, diabetic or not, do speak to your maternity team if you have any concerns xx

 

[Lauren]

Thanks @Inka this is really reassuring. Yes I thought it would be too soon for it to be that too. It's good to know sensitivity can still happen at 22 weeks, and I've now had another evening where I haven't had a low after my evening meal so feeling much calmer about it - must be the change in routine.
I appreciate your support, thanks 🙂

 

[PhoebeC]

I never got insulin resistance at all. My insulin requirements dropped and dropped every week from about 20ish weeks until the end. I was only on about 4 units background in the end and my carb ratio was so low, hypos common, we never got to the bottom of it with my team, we kept reducing.

It is usual for insulin requirements to change in pregnancy quickly, as there is a lot of effort and energy going into baby. It is about adapting to the patterns as well as you can.

Keep an eye on the hypos as they can be a sign of other things going on, if you have other symptoms speak with your team.

Hopefully it settles down. How are you feeling otherwise?

 

[Lauren]

I never got insulin resistance at all. My insulin requirements dropped and dropped every week from about 20ish weeks until the end. I was only on about 4 units background in the end and my carb ratio was so low, hypos common, we never got to the bottom of it with my team, we kept reducing.

It is usual for insulin requirements to change in pregnancy quickly, as there is a lot of effort and energy going into baby. It is about adapting to the patterns as well as you can.

Keep an eye on the hypos as they can be a sign of other things going on, if you have other symptoms speak with your team.

Hopefully it settles down. How are you feeling otherwise?

Ah interesting that this happened to you!

I've not had that many hypos at all so far with this pregnancy to be honest, I had plenty of stubborn highs early on, I think I may have had a week of hypos now and again, but it was when I was working out revised carb ratios and was fairly predictable as I think I was slightly overdoing it with the insulin to err on the side of caution.
I've not had any unpredictable lows or anything that I can remember so far.
This has been the worst week for hypos so far, but again it seems to be after bolusing for meals during the day and it's better once I get home.

I'm pretty tired and have been going to bed very early. It would make sense that it's something to do with lots of energy going into the baby, and I know this week is when baby starts to put on weight. I've had tiny headaches now and again which feels more like exhaustion. And the low BGs will do that to you too. My blood pressure is low which is normal for me.
There's so many variables. I've also been more active at work than usual. It's hard to work out what could be causing it all.

With my first baby I didn't get very much insulin resistance and didn't have to increase my insulin that much, if at all, that I can remember. I remember my DSN was surprised and said I was lucky.
I think I had some random hypos around the 20 week mark as I remember having one hypo which blew me sideways in the weeks after finding out the gender, as I was talking to one of my nurses about the fact I was having a girl and then almost fainting walking the two blocks back home.
I can't remember it super well though as this was 7/8 years ago and I was just focused on getting through it - I didn't note down any milestones or take any bump photos or anything until a week before I had her!

 

[PhoebeC]

I can't remember it super well though as this was 7/8 years ago and I was just focused on getting through it - I didn't note down any milestones or take any bump photos or anything until a week before I had her!

Yes this was like my pregnancy, I was literally just getting though it. Trying to live, and work. And it was the year we had snow for months October - February, so that made being very pregnant even more fun.
I had 2 bump photos, early on and the at about 30 weeks huge!

Most of the details about it are posted on here. This day 15 years ago I was in hospital very early on (maybe 6 weeks) cramping, it was only a water infection (never had one before) but we had a right drama of them telling me I wasn’t pregnant, then I was ectopic and all sorts of random things until they worked out the infection. And now she’s 14 and a grump

Try to take the photos this time and enjoy some of magic of it. I know it’s hard to fit it.

 

[Lauren]

Yes this was like my pregnancy, I was literally just getting though it. Trying to live, and work. And it was the year we had snow for months October - February, so that made being very pregnant even more fun.
I had 2 bump photos, early on and the at about 30 weeks huge!

Most of the details about it are posted on here. This day 15 years ago I was in hospital very early on (maybe 6 weeks) cramping, it was only a water infection (never had one before) but we had a right drama of them telling me I wasn’t pregnant, then I was ectopic and all sorts of random things until they worked out the infection. And now she’s 14 and a grump

Try to take the photos this time and enjoy some of magic of it. I know it’s hard to fit it.

Oh gosh, what a thing to go through! Glad to hear she is very much alive and well!
And the snow 😱 that's a lot of snow!!

I will try to enjoy this pregnancy more. Once I feel a bit more alive!

 

[Lauren]

My hypos have stopped, huzzah! Good old hybrid closed loop doing its thing.
I feel so much better, just a bit wiped from the last few days!

I went for a scan earlier today as they weren't able to see baby's heart last time. The technician scared me so much. She was super quiet and serious and spent a long time looking at his heart. Then she said "Oh he has a tricky heart". Then silence for two more minutes at least while she kept looking and making notes on the screen. I was terrified he had some sort of awful anomaly. Then eventually she said, "When I say 'tricky heart', I mean it's quite hard to see all the layers of the heart... there's four of them... they all seem to be there..." She said this so slowly and didn't sound sure at all! I was so scared by this point. I asked if it looked ok to her and she just said "It seems to be all ok".
As I was getting ready to leave, she then did a little disclaimer about how the heart could change between now and birth though, and there's a chance a problem might develop later, but there's no way of knowing at this point.
I was shaking after leaving. I was really quite worried. I've taken this to mean his heart is ok but, as with all babies, there's no guarantee. There was none of the usual NHS chirpiness and chatter!
Looking forward to my next scan at 28 weeks, hopefully with a different technician!

 

[Inka]

So sorry you’ve been given that worry @Lauren That’s not on. If it’s still playing on your mind, maybe you could ask your midwife or OB for reassurance. I’d hope by “tricky”, the technician simply meant tricky for her to see, not that there was anything actually wrong xx

 

[Evergreen]

Oh @Lauren this sounds so stressful! I was only wondering the other day about how you were getting on.

If it makes you feel any better with my previous pregnancy at the 20 week scan the technician was concerned about my son not moving much. She made me do a wee and when I came back a consultant was in the room, which scared me. They stared at the screen for ages and then the consultant told me to sit down in the ‘counselling room’. I was terrified! She told me they had concerns the baby had a hole in his heart and some other things wrong. I had to come back for a more in depth scan a couple days later. Everything was fine! My boy is happy and healthy! So for me the take away was that even though these scans are amazing they get it wrong sometimes. There’s a very good chance your little boy will be absolutely fine as well 🙂

I’m also currently 22 weeks pregnant and still having hypos. Some days worse than others. Everyone told me I should be starting to get more resistant but I don’t think that’s happened yet to be honest…we might be wishing for this time to come back when resistance hits in a couple weeks haha

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Lauren]

So sorry you’ve been given that worry @Lauren That’s not on. If it’s still playing on your mind, maybe you could ask your midwife or OB for reassurance. I’d hope by “tricky”, the technician simply meant tricky for her to see, not that there was anything actually wrong xx

I might ring my midwife tomorrow because I'm honestly confused!

 

[Lauren]

Oh @Lauren this sounds so stressful! I was only wondering the other day about how you were getting on.

If it makes you feel any better with my previous pregnancy at the 20 week scan the technician was concerned about my son not moving much. She made me do a wee and when I came back a consultant was in the room, which scared me. They stared at the screen for ages and then the consultant told me to sit down in the ‘counselling room’. I was terrified! She told me they had concerns the baby had a hole in his heart and some other things wrong. I had to come back for a more in depth scan a couple days later. Everything was fine! My boy is happy and healthy! So for me the take away was that even though these scans are amazing they get it wrong sometimes. There’s a very good chance your little boy will be absolutely fine as well 🙂

I’m also currently 22 weeks pregnant and still having hypos. Some days worse than others. Everyone told me I should be starting to get more resistant but I don’t think that’s happened yet to be honest…we might be wishing for this time to come back when resistance hits in a couple weeks haha

Hope you feel better soon!

That's reassuring to hear, thank you for sharing - I'm so glad your boy is ok!

Ah no, you've not had a good time with these hypos, bless you. I hope it gets better soon. I've had a load recently and was surprised because I thought that the resistance would be starting now. I'm sure our time will come!!

How are you otherwise?

 

[Lauren]

Now I'm home and have decent signal I can upload this! 22 weeks+4 days.
Only 16 weeks to go if he's coming out at 38 weeks!

 

[Inka]

He’s a cutie @Lauren !

 

[Evergreen]

That's reassuring to hear, thank you for sharing - I'm so glad your boy is ok!

Ah no, you've not had a good time with these hypos, bless you. I hope it gets better soon. I've had a load recently and was surprised because I thought that the resistance would be starting now. I'm sure our time will come!!

How are you otherwise?

The hypos have been annoying but luckily nothing too bad! Think the pump is doing a lot of the heavy lifting!

I’m good overall except for little niggles here and there! We found out we’re also having a boy! I’ve felt pretty nesty since finding out and our son is over the moon!

 

[Lauren]

The hypos have been annoying but luckily nothing too bad! Think the pump is doing a lot of the heavy lifting!

I’m good overall except for little niggles here and there! We found out we’re also having a boy! I’ve felt pretty nesty since finding out and our son is over the moon!

Glad you're ok on the whole
Oh huge congratulations to you! Aw how lovely for you to have two boys! They will be besties!