Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Diabetes and Pregnancy

Question:

I am married to a type I diabetic.  My husband is 37 and I am 27.  We plan on having children, and am wondering if anyone might be able to inform me of the difficulties in conceving a child? If you like to have sex a lot it helps.

But then how would you know?  You only have sex with your puter. Beanie, Type I (Humalog and Ultralente)

Response:

I am married to a type I diabetic.  My husband is 37 and I am 27.  We plan on having children, and am wondering if anyone might be able to inform me of the difficulties in conceving a child?

If you like to have sex a lot it helps.

Response:

I am married to a type I diabetic.  My husband is 37 and I am 27.  We plan on having children, and am wondering if anyone might be able to inform me of the difficulties in conceving a child?

Response:

I am 26 years old and have had juvenile diabetes for 11 years.  My husband and I are trying to start a family.

The first thing I would do is discuss it with your endo.  If he/she is aware of your plans, they can help tailor a diet and insulin regimen geared toward beginning your pregnancy in the healthiest possible way.   The second thing I would do is to check around for an OB specializing (or sub-specializing) in high risk pregnancies..especially diabetic pregnancies.  Often a maternal-fetal specialist is also assigned (depending on your OB’s preferences and your insurance plan) to monitor the health of the fetus. I have to say that I am extremely scared about this.  My Hb A1C is 6.8, but

many times my sugars can go out of range.  I check my sugars about 4-6 times a day and use the insulin pump for better control. Dont stress it.  Diabetes management during pregnancy has improved by tons over the last two decades.  You will need to maintain optimum control over your blood sugar levels…especially in the first and last trimester.  In the first trimester when all the organs and body parts are forming, very high BG levels can affect this process.  If you slip up..dont stress too hard.  My levels were very high 200-300 for my last two pregnancies in the first trimester (I didnt realize I was pregnant until the 2nd month) and it is very difficult sometimes to level things out quickly..but it can be done. Pregnancy causes the body to become very resistant to insulin and you will need to increase your insulin levels gradually over the duration of the pregnancy. if it is difficult to conceive and/or go through labor?

Diabetics have a higher incidence of difficulty becoming pregnant.  It might take a little longer for you to get pregnant..then again..it might happen at the drop of a hat (or toothbrush…or pin..LOL.you choose).  Fertility is a highly personal situation and noone can predict it.  During the last trimester you will be monitored much more closely than normal patients. Every OB has a different High Risk protocol so you will need to check with them.  Expect IV’s and a little more intervention tho.  No big deal. Dont stress it too hard..stay healthy..and happy baby making Debbie

Response:

: Hello! : : I am 26 years old and have had juvenile diabetes for 11 years.  My husband : and I are trying to start a family.  I have to say that I am extremely : scared about this.  My Hb A1C is 6.8, but many times my sugars can go out of : range.  I check my sugars about 4-6 times a day and use the insulin pump for : better control. : : Is there anyone out there that can tell me how difficult it is to keep : sugars under control during pregnancy and if it is difficult to conceive : and/or go through labor? The major problem that type 1 (juvenile) diabetics face in pregnancy is KETONES.  Ketones have been shown to damage the fetus’ brain tissue.  Part of the notable rise in the number of children needing special education is due (at least partially) to the rise of women dieting while they are pregnant, while not even knowing perhaps that they are pregnant.  Dieting burns fat, and that produces these same ketones that diabetics make on one of their bad days. Therefore, before embarking on a pregnancy, a Type 1 diabetic woman should really investigate whether she can maintain tight enough control every day for at least 275 days, so as not to produce any significant amount of ketones in the urine (trace or less).  Consistently negative measurements would be the best, of course. Skipping meals while pregnant is a bad idea as well, even for non-diabetics– ketones can start appearing from the body drawing on its fat reserves. This leads of course to weight gain during pregnancy, as everyone well knows.  But it is justifiable for the sake of the child. The excess weight can be removed afterwards, even if medical supervision and assistance are needed. Harold : : Thanks! : : :

Response:

Hello! I am 26 years old and have had juvenile diabetes for 11 years.  My husband and I are trying to start a family.  I have to say that I am extremely scared about this.  My Hb A1C is 6.8, but many times my sugars can go out of range.  I check my sugars about 4-6 times a day and use the insulin pump for better control. Is there anyone out there that can tell me how difficult it is to keep sugars under control during pregnancy and if it is difficult to conceive and/or go through labor? Thanks!

Response:

We have the same problem.  The thing is it’s impossible to know weather the few time that your sugar goes too high will effect your baby.  Our pregnancy was unexpected so to begin with her sugar was way to high. 200-300 with some rare spikes of 300-600 (holidays)  Fortunately,  we found out she was expecting right away so we got her on insulin and have been able keep it normally under control.  However sometimes it is as high as 200+.  We just got a ultrasound and was happy to see things are so far OK (at least the things that they can see).   The thing is what didn’t effect our kid could have devastating effect on your and via-versa.  So the main this is PLAN!!!!!!!  Talk to your doctor.  However remember THIS IS YOUR CHOICE AND THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT.  Make sure your doctor knows that this is what you want and that he has to work with you to have a baby, NOT PREVENT ONE.  It sometimes seems that doctors often times don’t understand or want there diabetic patience to have babies.   I know several people on insulin pumps that have had healthy babies, but remember that this will be a high risk pregnancy.  There are lost of possible problems for you and the baby so you have to have a doctor that will work with you to keep your sugar down and under control.  Good luck!!!  If you want to see our baby go to http://hometown.aol.com//testivecho/BABY.html Sorry I haven’t been able to figure our how to put links into newgroup posts. Sherry and Jeffrey B.

Response:

Hi Carla, I’m a diabetic woman and i have two children, one, a girl is 2 years and a boy he is 6 weeks old. both times i got pregnant very easy and both pregnancys did go very well. I am told to control my glucoses already before getting pregnant, because the first 6 weeks of an pregnancy are the most important to avoid problems on the child itself. During the whole pregnancy i controlled myself 10 t0 20 times a day to get a very stabil glucose and it worked, both kids are very healty and not overweight (often a problem with kids from a  diabetic – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was told last Monday that my fasting glucose was 162, insulin 44.6. The nurse who called to relay this wanted me to make an appointment to see the doctor.  However, I had found out since having the blood drawn that I am pregnant.  She really flipped when I told her that and said they would squeeze me in on Tuesday.   SO now I am seven weeks pregnant and testing my blood 6 times a day and giving myself insulin shots twice a day.  They say they don’t know whether to call this gestational diabetes or not because they don’t know what my sugars were like before.  (I actually had the test done to check for insulin resistance related to PCOS and because I was starting the Atkins lowcarb diet).   My question (well I have a million, but one of them…) is this:  I miscarried in April at about 9 weeks.  I have seen in several FAQ’s, web sites, various literature etc, that diabetics have a high rate of miscarriage as well as trouble getting pregnant.  But no one talks about it other than to state the fact.  Can someone point me to a source that discusses it more fully?  I am very worried about this pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage as the previous one did.   My endocrinologist simply replied the equivalent of sh*t happens when I asked him if this pregnancy was at risk because of the diabetes. Thanks for any assistance Carla

Response:

I was told last Monday that my fasting glucose was 162, insulin 44.6. The nurse who called to relay this wanted me to make an appointment to see the doctor.  However, I had found out since having the blood drawn that I am pregnant.  She really flipped when I told her that and said they would squeeze me in on Tuesday.   SO now I am seven weeks pregnant and testing my blood 6 times a day and giving myself insulin shots twice a day.  They say they don’t know whether to call this gestational diabetes or not because they don’t know what my sugars were like before.  (I actually had the test done to check for insulin resistance related to PCOS and because I was starting the Atkins lowcarb diet).   My question (well I have a million, but one of them…) is this:  I miscarried in April at about 9 weeks.  I have seen in several FAQ’s, web sites, various literature etc, that diabetics have a high rate of miscarriage as well as trouble getting pregnant.  But no one talks about it other than to state the fact.  Can someone point me to a source that discusses it more fully?  I am very worried about this pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage as the previous one did.   My endocrinologist simply replied the equivalent of sh*t happens when I asked him if this pregnancy was at risk because of the diabetes. Thanks for any assistance Carla

Response:

Carla, I have gestational diabetes (GDM), and hope I can be of some help. First, unfortunately, diabetes does put pregnancies at a greater risk, however, with close monitoring, this is minimalized. I am being seen at a clinic that specializes in high-risk pregnancies, and specifically pregnant diabetics. My appointments are once a week, I see the diabetes nurse, dietician and doctor each visit. If you can find a similar clinic, do so! I am currently controlled with diet, no insulin. Good luck, and let me know if you have any further questions. Elaine – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was told last Monday that my fasting glucose was 162, insulin 44.6. The nurse who called to relay this wanted me to make an appointment to see the doctor.  However, I had found out since having the blood drawn that I am pregnant.  She really flipped when I told her that and said they would squeeze me in on Tuesday. SO now I am seven weeks pregnant and testing my blood 6 times a day and giving myself insulin shots twice a day.  They say they don’t know whether to call this gestational diabetes or not because they don’t know what my sugars were like before.  (I actually had the test done to check for insulin resistance related to PCOS and because I was starting the Atkins lowcarb diet). My question (well I have a million, but one of them…) is this:  I miscarried in April at about 9 weeks.  I have seen in several FAQ’s, web sites, various literature etc, that diabetics have a high rate of miscarriage as well as trouble getting pregnant.  But no one talks about it other than to state the fact.  Can someone point me to a source that discusses it more fully?  I am very worried about this pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage as the previous one did. My endocrinologist simply replied the equivalent of sh*t happens when I asked him if this pregnancy was at risk because of the diabetes. Thanks for any assistance Carla

Response:

I second what Mari Sullivan said in an earlier post.  I have 2 healthy little girls.  Have had Type I for almost 18 years.  My girls are 5 and 3. A pregnancy coupled with Type I diabetes is high risk, but it’s well worth it.  Like you, I was a few weeks pregnant before I found out too. My OB specialized in high risk pregnancies, especially diabetic pregnancies.  I had way more OB visits, ultrasounds, and 2 amnios with each baby.  Rather than finding them a hassle, I found the visits and tests very reassuring.  With each one, I was reassured that my babies were okay and that my diabetes wasn’t harming them.  Both were very healthy babies and are healthy little girls now. If you want to talk, let me know.  I’ll try to answer any questions I can. Linda Wilson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just found out that I am 10 weeks pregnant. I am also a type I diabetic.  Has anyone had any experiences with pregnancy and diabetes.   Does anyone have any details of past risks and results.  I am concerned with the risks to the baby by not knowing I was pregnant for 10 weeks. Any past experiences would be helpful.

Response:

I just found out that I am 10 weeks pregnant. I am also a type I diabetic.  Has anyone had any experiences with pregnancy and diabetes.   Does anyone have any details of past risks and results.  I am concerned with the risks to the baby by not knowing I was pregnant for 10 weeks. Any past experiences would be helpful.

Response:

writes: I just found out that I am 10 weeks pregnant. I am also a type I diabetic.  Has anyone had any experiences with pregnancy and diabetes. Does anyone have any details of past risks and results.  I am concerned with the risks to the baby by not knowing I was pregnant for 10 weeks. Any past experiences would be helpful.

If you found out by going to a physician, you should already be in possession of information that should ease your concerns and help prepare you for the future.  By all means, if this is not the case, you need to go to your obstetrician at once.  You will likely be able to carry your child safely to term and deliver a healthy baby, but you will need to be followed closely by your OB.   As a nurse who has cared for some twenty type I’s during their pregnancy and delivery, I offer you this:  control during pregnancy is not difficult for the most part, and the possible complications are exactly what your doctor will help you to understand and avoid.  The BEST source of information for you IS from your own doctor.  Your situation is as individual as you are, and your care must be tailored to your uniqueness.  I wish you all the best. Bill Mayers, RT, RN

Response:

I have had two wonderful healthy boys and had and still have IDDM.  You must be hyper vigilant with your blood sugars especially now in early pregnancy.  If you have a good diabetes center around hook up with it. some big University Hospitals have good programs associated with them. You may find a perinatologist who specializes in diabetes outside of this setting as well.  If this isn’t an option for you, try to find an OB who is very comfortable with IDDM and pregnancy.  You will need to be checking bgs way more and making frequent insulin adjustments.  Great time to get an insulin pump, if youve been considering one!!! Good luck!!! Write if you need to talk with someone who has been through it.  A high risk pregnancy can be very rewarding.  You get WAY more attention and more information…ultra sounds, amnio’s etc.  Takes some of the guess work out of things…BUT it is more anxiety provoking…and talking helps. Mari – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just found out that I am 10 weeks pregnant. I am also a type I diabetic.  Has anyone had any experiences with pregnancy and diabetes.   Does anyone have any details of past risks and results.  I am concerned with the risks to the baby by not knowing I was pregnant for 10 weeks. Any past experiences would be helpful.

Response:

Hi all,     I’m sure that many of you have had children while being a diabetic.  I was wondering how you controlled your sugar during the pregnancy.  Also what are the risks of being a diabetic and being pregnant?   Thanks, Tina

Response:

Tina many people have found their blood sugars easier to control during pregnancy. Personally I have found controlling mine while breastfeeding the biggest challenge. There is much written on the American diabetes assoc. website (diabetes.com) about pregnancy and diabetes. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all,    I’m sure that many of you have had children while being a diabetic.  I was wondering how you controlled your sugar during the pregnancy.  Also what are the risks of being a diabetic and being pregnant? Thanks, Tina

Response:

   My wife is pregnant, just reaching 8 weeks, and is also a Type I. She    has been keeping careful track of her bg, with frequent testing. The    OB-GYN said the numbers she has been getting were okay, but then tonight    she got a bg of 300. All the other numbers recently have been between 80    and 120, but of course just after you see the doctor you get one of    these. She immediately took extra to correct the problem. I’m wondering    if anyone has had an experience like this. I know we need to be    concerned about her level, but now we’re just beating ourselves up. I’m type I, and my daughter is turning 9 months this week. *Most* of my bg numbers were in the target range (60-130) while I was pregnant, but most days I hit 160 or so once, and 200 about once a week, and 300 maybe once a month. That’s after I knew I was pregnant. I didn’t know until I was 6 weeks (4 weeks post fertilization) pregnant. I ran a lot of 200s and 300s then — I thought I was getting the flu. My daughter was absolutely average size at birth (21 inches, 7 lb, 13 oz), extremely healthy, born by vaginal delivery at 39.5 weeks gestation. She has since leaped into the 75th percentile for size and is a pretty smart kid, crawling and exploring all over the place. Yes, the doctors made me absolutely paranoid about watching my bg while I was pregnant. It was a ton of work. I eventually went on disability leave from work at the start of the 6th month. And I had an amnio, lots of ultrasounds, and a fetal echocardiogram. They all showed normal, and she is normal. (The nurses even commented that she didn’t look like the baby of a diabetic mother.) I wouldn’t worry too much. I don’t think a very occasional high that last for an hour or so is a big deal. I only wish I’d had Humalog (which wasn’t out then) to bring the highs down faster… and I highly recommend using an insulin pump if your wife doesn’t already. It makes all the tiny changes in dosage a *lot* easier to handle. You’re welcome to write privately if you have more questions. Janet Wiener

Response:

She/We didn’t eat anything sweet, but we think  the problem was caused by the fountain diet coke she had. We are no longer going to be drinking diet soda from fountains.

A few years back a survey of diet sodas from fast food places was done.  A very large percentage of them contained significant sugar.  The most common error was to grab a pre-poured soda from the wrong area.  Sometimes the wrong syrup bottle was hooked up to the diet fountain. Sometimes they never registered that a diet soda was ordered. Some here have reported using urine sugar testing tape to verify fountain diet sodas, although it is getting hard to find. — Charly Coughran

Response:

Hi, Dave and Wife of Dave (!), I agree about fountain cokes:  too risky EVER unless you can test them before drinking. Your attitudes sound good:  be vigilant, but stop stressing over imperfections.  If you aren’t already including your diabetes team in your pregnancy check-ups, start now.  The OB-GYN needs to work along with your endocrinologist all the way through, as you will surely need to begin adjusting insulin and food intake very soon. The endo can also help the OB-GYN set good goals for blood sugars; decide how often you ought to be testing (and when); and generally add his or her expertise to the mix. By the way:  I’m type I and my twins will be 6 in December.  I worked with a perinatologist and my endo from the beginning:  when we decided to try to get pregnant.  (Of course, that’s partly because I was over 35 for this first pregnancy–and diabetic–and then at 6 weeks of pregnancy, found I was carrying twins.  Talk about a triple witching hour.) Do some reading in your library about pregnancy and Type I.  Be prepared for the medical literature and its rather scary focus on bad things that might happen if . . .; but pay most attention to why you want to aim for good control. Feel free to email me if you want to talk more.  And a last word of caution about docs:  in case one or both of yours is a prima dona of either sex, try to help them avoid fighting each other for control! They need to work as a team if at all possible, not as competitors (which latter happened at least once during my pregnancy, alas). Good luck….! –Cheryl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, My wife is pregnant, just reaching 8 weeks, and is also a Type I. She has been keeping careful track of her bg, with frequent testing. The OB-GYN said the numbers she has been getting were okay, but then tonight she got a bg of 300. All the other numbers recently have been between 80 and 120, but of course just after you see the doctor you get one of these. She immediately took extra to correct the problem. I’m wondering if anyone has had an experience like this. I know we need to be concerned about her level, but now we’re just beating ourselves up. She/We didn’t eat anything sweet, but we think  the problem was caused by the fountain diet coke she had. We are no longer going to be drinking diet soda from fountains. Any words of encouragement, experience in this matter or any other information would help. Thanks, Dave

Response:

Hi, My wife is pregnant, just reaching 8 weeks, and is also a Type I. She has been keeping careful track of her bg, with frequent testing. The OB-GYN said the numbers she has been getting were okay, but then tonight she got a bg of 300. All the other numbers recently have been between 80 and 120, but of course just after you see the doctor you get one of these. She immediately took extra to correct the problem. I’m wondering if anyone has had an experience like this. I know we need to be concerned about her level, but now we’re just beating ourselves up. She/We didn’t eat anything sweet, but we think  the problem was caused by the fountain diet coke she had. We are no longer going to be drinking diet soda from fountains. Any words of encouragement, experience in this matter or any other information would help. Thanks, Dave

Response:

Filed under: PCOS Diet

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