Think I'll get a negative vib from Diabetic Team

[bev]

Hi guys
Thanks for the honest and positive advice and experience. I know everyone would love not to have diabetes but it?s what makes us us really. Me and OH decided (I know it?s a little wrong) to NPNT we started last night and just see how things go. We?ll be stressing the passion for a child on Thursday when we got to see my Diabetic Consultant and telling them about our plans and whats happening. It?s not like I?m at school anymore they cant not let me have a child!
I?m still worrying a little about my control but its in a way a denial and at the same time didn?t care but not thinking because we?re NTNP makes me think I?m already pregnant so want to start doing the right things well what I?m doing at the moment but even better and more often!
I cant really get my head round carb counting and at the moment I?m on set units for meals and the main problem at the moment for me is at work during meals. Due to working in a nursery and in the pre-school part all the children are leaving to go to school so we?re getting presents and lots of chocolates so while we?re in the childrens areas we?re nibbling away at the chocolate. I know I can have them and I just add a few units onto my meal if its 2 hours within a meal time just if people say to me I ?cant? have the things to eat I?d just eat more to make a point.
So that?s my weakness where I would just want to be like the rest of the girls at work and just eat and not like oh no cant my bloods will be out of their ?never normal? rage.
So from now on with knowing we?re NTNP attitude I want to be more positive and be less frustrated with not getting it right
Thank you
x

Hi,
I completely understand why you want to go ahead and start planning your family - its only natural.🙂
But I would urge you to speak with your team *before* you get pregnant. Diabetes and pegnancy are very hard things to balance and taking any risks with a growing baby inside you far outweighs your need for a baby. I think you would benefit from learning to carb count as this will give you much better control than you have now. There is so much evidence that a *good* hba1c pre-pregnancy is essential in producing a healthy child that you should not ignore it. I know you might think I am being hard on you - but this is about bringing a healthy baby into the world and putting your wishes to one side until you gain a better hba1c. I would imagine that your team wont be too happy that you are trying against their advice. Please re-read all the advice that the ladies on here have already given to you.🙂Bev

 

[emeraldgirl]

Sorry I also meant to say in my earlier post, if you do go to see your diabetic team, ask to see the dietician. When I first got pregnant, my hba1c was 7.3, but after a lot of good advice and help from the dietician is is now under 6. She should have handouts and things that she can give you too.

Dee xx

 

[hawalkden]

Well went to Diabetic Consultant today. Was a rather positive outcome. Talked about general diabetes and health. Night long lasting insulin has been dropped down. Woo and I?ve not had many high blood reading this week. Mainly between 8-12 before meals, which is a huge improvement from a few weeks ago and I know they need to be better than that. We're just waiting for the HbA1C. I hinted about the Pre-Pregnancy Clinic. Didn?t mention about we're planning but trying/not protecting. Got to wait for HbA1C before we go any further.
Me and OH will being going back to the hospital tomorrow to see my Diabetic Nurse to tell her about our plans and we want to be going onto Folic Acid; just if we're pregnant by the end of the month and if we're not then we'll be on then ready for the next consultant appointment in 3 months.
I hope tomorrow she proscribes us with the tablets just so I know the ball will be rolling.
Thank you for the advice and I know it's not the right way but thinking about it, my bloods are better than ever and hope everyone sees the positive side of this thread from today.
Heather and Jason
XxX

 

[Twitchy]

Hi Heather.

It's really good that you had a good appointment with your team & have some ideas to be going forward with.

Could I just please, please urge you to at the very least make sure you are careful not to get pregnant before you have been on the 5mg dose of folic acid, ideally for 3 months - this is to reduce the higher risk diabetics have of having babies with problems such as spina bifida. I would also really urge you to wait til your BG levels are right too - the ideal BG levels Diabetes UK mentions are no higher than 5.6mmol/l before and 7.8mmol/l after meals. DUK do a publication (magazine sized) called 'pregnancy & diabetes' - I really really recommend you read it, so you understand the risks to you & baby, and what you need to do & what medical support you can expect. My edition states HbA1c should be below 7.5% before trying (or allowing yourself) to conceive.

Just to give you an idea of why the docs bang on about good control prior to conception so much, "the risk of malformation (of the baby) is 4 - 10 times greater in babies of women who have diabetes...but... it was found that women who had tight blood glucose control during the early weeks of pregnancy greatly reduced the risk of malformations". I think you need to take a long hard think about whether your urgent (& totally understandable) desire for a child as soon as possible, is at any cost, or whether for for child's sake, you are willing to take things a little more slowly, get your ducks in a row & give this child the best possible chance of a healthy start in life. After all, I'm guessing you wouldn't just dash into the car & zip off without putting your seatbelt on because you were in a hurry, would you? 🙂 When baby arrives your whole world will change - it will revolve around them, for a start! You pretty soon find that their needs are paramount & you would do anything for their wellbeing - why not start with that mindset now? I promise you the waiting will be worth it, if for no other reason than if things do go awry, at least in your head you will be able to say "I did everything I could" - trust me, that means a lot.

I'm really sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but we are talking about another human being here, who will be totally dependent on you for their health, well being & safety - for your own peace of mind long term, please try & see the 'big picture' here. Sorry if that sounds like a lecture, but I would feel awful if no one cautioned you about the risks you are taking & bad things happened. No one can stop you doing what you say you will, but at least you can know the facts.

 

[bev]

Hi Heather.

It's really good that you had a good appointment with your team & have some ideas to be going forward with.

Could I just please, please urge you to at the very least make sure you are careful not to get pregnant before you have been on the 5mg dose of folic acid, ideally for 3 months - this is to reduce the higher risk diabetics have of having babies with problems such as spina bifida. I would also really urge you to wait til your BG levels are right too - the ideal BG levels Diabetes UK mentions are no higher than 5.6mmol/l before and 7.8mmol/l after meals. DUK do a publication (magazine sized) called 'pregnancy & diabetes' - I really really recommend you read it, so you understand the risks to you & baby, and what you need to do & what medical support you can expect. My edition states HbA1c should be below 7.5% before trying (or allowing yourself) to conceive.

Just to give you an idea of why the docs bang on about good control prior to conception so much, "the risk of malformation (of the baby) is 4 - 10 times greater in babies of women who have diabetes...but... it was found that women who had tight blood glucose control during the early weeks of pregnancy greatly reduced the risk of malformations". I think you need to take a long hard think about whether your urgent (& totally understandable) desire for a child as soon as possible, is at any cost, or whether for for child's sake, you are willing to take things a little more slowly, get your ducks in a row & give this child the best possible chance of a healthy start in life. After all, I'm guessing you wouldn't just dash into the car & zip off without putting your seatbelt on because you were in a hurry, would you? 🙂 When baby arrives your whole world will change - it will revolve around them, for a start! You pretty soon find that their needs are paramount & you would do anything for their wellbeing - why not start with that mindset now? I promise you the waiting will be worth it, if for no other reason than if things do go awry, at least in your head you will be able to say "I did everything I could" - trust me, that means a lot.

I'm really sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but we are talking about another human being here, who will be totally dependent on you for their health, well being & safety - for your own peace of mind long term, please try & see the 'big picture' here. Sorry if that sounds like a lecture, but I would feel awful if no one cautioned you about the risks you are taking & bad things happened. No one can stop you doing what you say you will, but at least you can know the facts.

Hi Twitchy,
I dont think your being harsh at all - just completely realistic and telling it like it is. I agree with every word you have said and just hope that Heather takes some of this on board - after all - it is a life we are talking about here.🙂Bev

 

[hawalkden]

First off I?m not happy and a little upset with what you have written. I know you have the right for your opinion like I?ll be having my opinion now. 😡
Like I said about the Folic Acid. Me and Jason are going to be going to see my Diabetic Nurse for prescribing them tomorrow for us or if not we'll be working together to try to get them asap. I maybe 'young and immature' but I'm sure I know and researched on what I need to do, take and what the risks I'm taking myself and another human being I'll be creating. 🙄
As you know everyone who has Diabetes is an individual and all the 'risks' are statistics and don't necessarily mean it happens to every Diabetic I appreciate that your being 'harsh' but has anything personally happened to you while you was expecting due to your diabetes?
Don't you think I've thought about everything from raising a child to money issues. Like I said in the last post. Realistically no one is ready for a child and me and Jason may not be the wealthiest of people but we'll get by like everyone else has to do in life. I'm not just any 'normal' female who can just get pregnant without thinking about the problems.
I am doing everything at the moment I can. I'm waiting for my HbA1c results before trying hardcore. My last one was 9.6% better then expected and my bloods lately have been rather good for my situation. I have been through a lot over the past year and I think I know more than many who have had Diabetes about suffering from DKA and being ventilated for a week of my life because I was under educated off my local Diabetic Team.

 

[xxlou_lxx]

Although my pregnancy was unplanned i totally agree with you twitchy! and if im honest being pregnant was and probably always will be the most traumatic time of my life for all of the reasons mentioned above and also some deep emotional distress I put myself through with worry!

End result was fab as all children are, and now to me gracie will be my greatest life achievement..... but it really was hard going 🙄

 

[bev]

First off I?m not happy and a little upset with what you have written. I know you have the right for your opinion like I?ll be having my opinion now. 😡
Like I said about the Folic Acid. Me and Jason are going to be going to see my Diabetic Nurse for prescribing them tomorrow for us or if not we'll be working together to try to get them asap. I maybe 'young and immature' but I'm sure I know and researched on what I need to do, take and what the risks I'm taking myself and another human being I'll be creating. 🙄
As you know everyone who has Diabetes is an individual and all the 'risks' are statistics and don't necessarily mean it happens to every Diabetic I appreciate that your being 'harsh' but has anything personally happened to you while you was expecting due to your diabetes?
Don't you think I've thought about everything from raising a child to money issues. Like I said in the last post. Realistically no one is ready for a child and me and Jason may not be the wealthiest of people but we'll get by like everyone else has to do in life. I'm not just any 'normal' female who can just get pregnant without thinking about the problems.
I am doing everything at the moment I can. I'm waiting for my HbA1c results before trying hardcore. My last one was 9.6% better then expected and my bloods lately have been rather good for my situation. I have been through a lot over the past year and I think I know more than many who have had Diabetes about suffering from DKA and being ventilated for a week of my life because I was under educated off my local Diabetic Team.

Your hba1c is 9.6% - this means that you are at risk of complications yourself if you dont get this figure down. I would be very worried with an hba1c this high. You obviously will already know the complications that I am talking about so I wont state the obvious.

I run a support group for diabetic children and their families in our area. One mum came along with her 2 young boys and husband - and another lady. The mum is diabetic herself and 'abused' (her words) her diabetes when she was a teenager (she is now 28). She is blind in one eye, has partial eyesight in the other and her kidneys are showing signs of failing. Her husband is also diabetic and her 2 boys are diabetic. The other lady was a 'carer' that was supplied by the social services as this poor mum couldnt see properly to be able to look after her own children and she couldnt read the blood glucose meter results. If you dont bring your hba1c down you run the risk of complications like this.

The only reason people on here are being honest with you is that nobody wants you to have complications, and more importantly, they dont want your baby to have any. You came on here to ask for advice, and that is what you have been given. Obviously it is your choice as to whether or not you take it, and it seems that you have already made your mind up. There is a wealth of knowledge on this pregnancy section and you would be wise to take it on board. I do wish you and your future baby the very best of luck.🙂Bev

 

[getcarter76]

I am going to stick my oar in here too which I never do for any thread where there is a bit of a heated debate - i'm outta here i say. But, with this one you are talking about another life and the preventable risks that you can do before you get pregnant.

I for one am a healthy woman who has a young daughter. I have been T1 for 28 years and like Twitchy and Bev, wholeheartedly agree in all that they say. I have just recently had a miscarriage as my hubby and I are trying (I also had one prior to my daughter being born) and my HBA1c was and is in the good parameters (6.2%, 6.4%) prior and during the early weeks of this pregnancy I lost. It is traumatic in addition to feeling useless and 'diabetic'.

This isn't to gang up on you and make you feel bad but as a mother and a long term diabetic you really need to get yourself on the straight and narrow before even entertaining the idea of getting pregnant. Didn't you say that you were in a coma and had hospitilisation due to a blood clot? I am sorry that you had to go through all this to come out the other side to then feel like you have hit another barrier with wanting a baby but with a high HBA1C for a period of time will count against you and your unborn baby.

If you look after yourself and have excellent control before pregnancy then the risks are no higher than that of a non diabetic woman. But, believe you me, you need all the support and help and knowledge of diabetes helps too during the pregnancy itself let alone the bit before and the bit after. Pregnancy for a high risk woman is like walking the long green mile!

I see you say that they are just statistics the risks, but this information will be from tragedys and cases where things have gone wrong and not just plucked out of thin air. The nurse at the EPAC clinic said to me that any woman can miscarry at any stage of their pregnancy (including still birth) and is far more common than anyone realises. As a 'normal' woman you have a 1 in 4 chance of miscarrying and i know lots of women who have who aren't even diabetic. With a long standing health condition, these risks increase, its just maths, but i hope and pray that you aren't one of the unlucky ones.

My final word to you is get that HBA1C down as you aren't just risking your life in pregnancy, but that of your unborn child. This counts against you i can assure you.

Bernie

 

[Cate]

I see you say that they are just statistics the risks, but this information will be from tragedys and cases where things have gone wrong and not just plucked out of thin air. The nurse at the EPAC clinic said to me that any woman can miscarry at any stage of their pregnancy (including still birth) and is far more common than anyone realises. As a 'normal' woman you have a 1 in 4 chance of miscarrying and i know lots of women who have who aren't even diabetic. With a long standing health condition, these risks increase, its just maths, but i hope and pray that you aren't one of the unlucky ones.

Hi,

I'm afraid I'm going to agree with Bernie.

To give you an idea of how common problems in pregnancy can be, I have had diabetes for 27 years, and have 2 children. HOWEVER I have been pregnant with 5 children. Two of them I miscarried, one was stillborn, and that's an experience I would never wish on anybody. My control nowadays is good (HbA1c below 7% for the last 6 years) and I was taking the recommended dose of folic acid both pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy too, plus baby aspirin and other recommended things. None of it helped, and I think we were just lucky with the two living children we have.

In addition, during both successful pregnancies the pregnancy itself caused changes in my eyes, after my daughter was born in 2007 I had to have a vitrectomy in one eye. This involved spending 2 weeks post-op upright, to keep the air bubble holding my retina in place in the correct position. I am likely to need a vitrectomy in my left eye within the next year or so, again this is because pregnancy accelerated the changes in it despite extensive laser treatment. I also had to deliver my babies by csection, as my eye consultant was very concerned about my losing even more vision from the stress of labour.

Finally, I knew a lady through my GP surgery diabetes nurse, she died when her little girl was 4 years old because of diabetic complications - her kidneys were put under stress from the pregnancy and basically they never recovered. This scares me silly, but it's far more likely to happen if you aren't sufficiently well controlled before getting pregnant.

Please please do think again about trying right now.

Best wishes,

 

[Pigeon]

Thanks to everyone who's put their own experiences on here - I'm always a bit daunted by the thought of having children, so it's nice to hear honest reports from ladies who have.

I tend to think of the risks as being like smoking - as you say, the complications won't necessarily happen to everyone, but they are related by data which has been gathered over many years. Everyone knows someone who has smoked all their lives but not had cancer, and some people who have never smoked but got cancer. But it's not denied that smoking is linked to cancer and your risk of cancer would be cut if you quit smoking.

So in terms of pregnancy, I see it that not everyone who has a high HbA1c would have a complicated pregnancy (e.g. I think Lou had a higher A1c when she got pregnant, but got it down quickly), but if your results are higher than the recommended range then the risk of complications increases, for you and the baby. Obviously complications can happen anyway, to healthy mums, but I think if I had a baby who was ill or disabled then I would always question if it was something I had caused, and if I knew that I hadn't followed medical advice then I would find that quite hard to deal with.

 

[rachelha]

Hello - sorry for the late response to this.

I can understand where you are coming from. My hba1c was 8.4 when I first spoke to the pre-pregnancy team at my clinic. It took be about 7 months(and alot of effort) to get it down to 7.4 when they said I could start ttc. This was one of the most frustrating times of my life. I was 35, and was v v worried about getting old, and that adding to the posibility of complications. Everyone at my work seemed to be having babies and I could not even start trying. I took the decision to start ttc before getting my pump (which I am still waiting for) as we decided 7.4 was ok, and waiting for the pump would drive me nuts.

I am glad I did not start ttc straight away. Managing blood sugar levels whilst pregnant is alot harder than when not, although you do have the best motivation possible to do it. If you look through some of my posts you will see how hard I found it. If possible you really need to get as much understanding and control of your levels beforegetting pregnant to give you a good chance of controlling things when you are.

My hba1c was under 7 for the whole of my pregnancy and I still had a large baby 9lb 11oz. He is fine (now 2weeks + 3 days), but the birth was v tough and I am still recovering from it, and having regular hospital check ups now.


big hugs

Rachel