Type 1 Diabetes

[Carla MP]

Hi Musolissa
Thanks for that....Im on actrapid and protophane at night and have had high and low readings...my overall was 10%!!
Last night I tested at 3am and levels were 4.7 then this morning at 6.30 they were 9.9... I really dont know what I am doing wrong or what else to do..Im high then low..Im so worried this is going to have an effect on my baby. I called my specialist and he re arranged my dosages so hopfully in the next few days they will start to level out.

can you tell me what your levels would be on a typical day and what doses you are on??
I think I may be doing something really wrong and not eating right ..well I dunno..I give up.

[mfcr06]

Carla

You poor thing.

It sounds as though you are experiencing the dawn phenomenon. It is a very common thing for a Type 1er. It can be difficult to stop and the protophane perhaps may need tweeking.

Honestly though, could you speak to your endo about changing from Actrapid to Novorapid. Keeping you on Actrapid would be making thing extremely difficult for you to control.

I know that Actrapid is the only shortish acting insulin "approved" for use in pregnancy, but I have never heard of another typer 1er using it while pregnant.

I was on Humalog last pregnancy and am now on Novorapid this time. They are both the very fast acting (faster than actrapid).

If your endo wont consider changing your insulin (to try and make things easier for you), I would seriously consider getting your GP or OB to refer you to someone else who has more of a progressive attitude towards a Type 1er who is pregnant.

We all need all the help we can get at the best of times, but more so when we are pregnant.

Also seeing a dietician who deals with Type 1ers may also help. But make sure they deal with Type 1 Diabetics and not generally Type 2 or GD.

I know that if I eat things like pasta or rice, my bsls are really hard to control (even with a pump).

Someone else on Reality Check recently got into the public Mater Diabetes Centre for an urgent appointment and I can highly recommend them. They are the ones who got me my pump after my old endo refused to let me get one.

They have endos there (one in particular) who deals with Type 1 and Pergnancy and I cannot give them a big enough wrap. Also the Princess Alexandra does a similar clinic and I know of someone else from the Gold Coast who goes there (she is on a pump I think) and is very very happy with the care she is receiving.

I know it would be a hassle travelling from the GC for those appointments but the care you would receive would be a little more progressive than what it sounds like you are receiving at the moment.

I forgot to mention that the Mater clinic has dieticians, podiatrists etc etc so it is basically a one stop shop.

Please dont give up as it is well worth the hassle in the end.

One thing that kept me going first time around was to keep thinking that I cant give up because if anything happened to my unborn bub that could have been prevented by me having better control, how could I live with the guilt after he was born. I know this is a terrible thing to think, but this is what I had to do to keep me focused.

Being pregnant and having Type 1 is hard, and women who dont have difficult pregnancies have no idea how good they have it.

Keep going and let me know if you need to vent. I am good at listening and I know where you are coming from.

[Carla MP]

Mfcr
Hey how are you?
Thankyou for all that. I think your right with the 'tweeking' I think it is a matter of trial and error at the moment. I am 9 weeks yesterday so hard to control and I thik Im freaking out a little too much. Last night was a little better. I am seeing my specialist on Wednesday so I am going to ask him about changing and see what he says.
I have panicked all through this pregnancy from the moment I found out. i know my diabetes is a serious issue but I think I need to calm down a little and focus on whats happening instead of expecting them to be perfect withouot effort.
I will kjeep trying...Im not giving up...this is too important to me.

Thankyou for all your help, Its great having someone to talk to about this and having someone who knows whats its like......I guess its hard on people who dont have it to understand.......
Thanks so much......
So how are you feeling? Not long to go for you!!

[mfcr06]

Good to hear you have an appointment with your endo so soon.

I would also perhaps ask him/her about going on to Levemir or Lantus as your long acting insulin. I have to be honest, protophane is not worth the hassle.

I am good at the moment but I have had a really rough time being pregnant this time around (terrrible morning sickness to 27 weeks and then a severe asthma attack at 28 weeks which saw me in hospital for 10 days).

It is definitely harder 2nd time around.

My son in 2 and a bit and is full of energy and wants to be on the go all the time. I also work 3 days a week aswell. Perhaps I should start to slow down a bit.....

Before I had the asthma attack, I was not really well (struggling to breathe does that funnily enough) and my OB said that we were only going to aim for 34 weeks and then get the bub out. Since my asthma has settled, things have improved and by OB said that we could probably aim for 36 weeks. When she said that, I nearly cried because I am soooooooo over trying to control the damned diabetes side of things as well as all the other stuff you have to deal with.

Anyhow, whatever happens, I will be just glad to have it all over and have this baby arrive healthily.

My son was born at 34 weeks and really dont see the problem with No 2 coming at 34 weeks aswell. The only down side would be the lengthy stay in special care for bub, which makes it difficult.......especially with a toddler.

I really cant wait for the birth (c-section) and even though I had a really tough time with the last one, I know it doesnt last forever and everything heals and things get better.

Have you decided where you are going to have your bub yet?