Hi Johanna.  I am one who has had 2 kids on the pregnancy board. Although I am not 40 I hope I can help. I think what you need to do is see an OB Specialist to get all the facts.  Here's the bottom line, being a type 1 automatically puts you as "high risk" but anyone, diabetic or not, after the age of 35 is at high risk also.  Once you are past this age you are at higher risk of complications, especially with chromosones (i.e mental retardation). I don't think that it's impossible to get pregnant and have a baby, you just will be at a much higher risk of having a baby with defects.  This doesn't mean you can't have a perfectly healthy baby either.  Bad thing is you won't know until you're about 4-5 months pregnant.  In terms of being a diabetic and pregnant it's definitely possible. They key is keeping your sugars in control and having an A1c that is 6.5 or lower when conceiving.  Your sugars will go totally whacky while pregnant but with close monitoring you should be able to handle it like I did.  Think about going on a pump if you're not on one already.  My doctor said I could be doing up to 7-10 shots a day while pregnant....I opted for the pump as soon as I heard that!  Good luck. Anything is possible!  Please talk to a specialist and make your decision once you are armed with all the facts. 

 

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Thank you for answering My name is Johhna and a 30 year diabetic..How old are you now? Thnaks for your encouragement and in fact I am going on the pump next week.I am just waiting for insurance approval. I am afraid it will be diffiicult but it is said that my sugars will be in such good contol that not only will i be able to have a healthy baby i wll be around to see him or her go to college. My alc was 11.3 when I miscarried so that is the reason why.  I have been so careful now and doing all the right things so hopefully the pump will help me a great deal. Your advice is so much apppreciated and i will let you know what happens if you are interested, vThanks again  Michelle.

Hi Johnna again. Sorry I mispelled your name earlier.  I am 32 and have been diabetic since I was 9 so 23 years now. Wow, that's a long time.  the pump is great. I have not had an A1c higher than 6.5 since I've been on it.  I'm sure you will see great results too if you follow the rules and use it as directed.  Yes, having a good A1c when conceiving and during the first trimester is the most important so please be sure to be in really good control at that time.  You can definitely keep me posted on your story.  I am definitely interested. I know there's a lot of times you want to talk about it and it's hard to communicate with those who aren't diabetic because they don't have that understanding.  There's also another board I frequented while pregnant but it really was mostly gestational diabetics but a few type 1 and 2's too. It's a site called Baby Center and there is a board in there for Pregnant with Diabetes.  You might want to check it out too.  Good luck.

 

Michelle

Hi again,

I just wnated to know what kind of pump that you have I am looking into the medcare mini 722. I just think i will find it difficult to enter how many carbs i am having everytime i eat. Do you have to do that with yours I also saw one that sticks to your skin with no infusin line it last s for three days it is called the pod or something  like that.And also with the pump where does it go when you sleep?I am sorry for all the questions but i really do appreciate your advice. Thank you thank you thank you.

Johnna

hi,

and thank you for the website with Nicole Johnson. I saw your pics and i see you have cats. i am an extrteme animal lover especially cats in fact my email is felinecrazy@@hotmail.com. Feel free to write anytimme. I thank you so much just for answering and givung some advice. Tkae care and hope to hear from you.

Hi Johnna.  I just switched pumps to an Animas 2020 and I think Gelsey2003 (other poster) has the Animas as well (I recall asking questions about it).  So far I am pleased with it.  It's a bit different from my other one because there are more safety features and such but I think most pumps are based on the same concept. I haven't heard too many good things about that Omni Pod (the one that stays on your site).  I've heard it's bulky and rips off a bit.  I have like an elastic neoprene sport belt I use to wear my pump at night.  I think everyone does what is comfortable for them.  Some just clip it onto their pajamas, they make special pajamas with a built in pocket for them and so on.  I think it's really up to your preference.  No I do not have to enter in carb amounts each time I eat though it is a feature I can use.  You will get a carb ration when you get set up. Mine is 15 grams of carbs per 1 unit of insulin.  I just calculate mentally what I am eating and give insulin accordingly.  I think in time you will get used to that too.  The Animas pump has a bunch of foods built into it so you can scroll through and pick the foods and it shows the carbs. So that's a neat feature if you're unsure about your carb intake.  Just check out the pumps in person and compare features. That way you'll see what suits you better.  Also insurance will only cover some pumps not all. I had the choice of Animas or MiniMed and I chose Animas.  Ok I have to take care of the kids....I'll check in some time soon. I normally only check this while at work so if I don't write back soon that's why...You can also email me at [email protected]

 

 

Michelle

Isn't it funny how most of us take what the doctors say as far as what WE CAN"T or SHOULDN'T DO.  I was 23 when I first got pregnate and lost her at 20 weeks gestational. She had Potters Syndrom. Don't worry about condolences I know she is looking out for me and her brother and sister these days. LOL. The only advise that I can really give you is this. Once being coming pregnant keep your sugars under good control. And at all cost keep your stress low. I really didn't start having low sugars until I started having kids. Plus at the time I had a lot of stress with my first husband.

 

Some say that it is hard for Diabetics to get pregnant. I say it is all up to our bodies and the history of our family.

 

While pregnant I never had to take more then 2 shots a day but I was also on the humalin Insulins R and N.

 

There is a new pump out there and not all of the components are covered by insurances. But it is called Real Time it not only distributes insulin but it will also monitor your glucose. The company name is Medtronic. This is the type of pump that I will need concidering that my sugars drop more frequently when I am sleeping and it has alarms on it to let you know before your glucose goes too high or too low. The glucose part of the machine has only been out for a year and not all insurences cover it. I got a call from Medtronic last night. After my insurance deductable I have to pay 80% of the pump which will be over $1,000 thank God they take payments. But if I get this Real Time pump once the insurance covers the glucose checking part of it I can upgrade it so that I have it.

 

I think that these companies need to loan these pumps out to the Dr.'s so that they can have the patient test drive them for about a week or maybe a month. Right now I am hooked up to a mini med which is bigger then the glucose checker of the Real Time pump. For 3 days I am to wear this check my blood by finger stitck 4 times aday log in the time of the check, time of the meds, and when ever I eat I need to log the time, what I ate as well as the amount. Not bad. The one thing is that earily this morning I woke up and found the machine off once again like I have the past few mornings. Husband said that not more then 5 minutes prior to me waking up I was messing with the device in my sleep. So there is another question for the Dr. is there a safty button on the device that isn't where the other buttons are so incase during the night if I start playing with the darn thing I won't shut the pump off. BIG CONCERN FOR ME> LOL

 

Sorry I went off the subject. But hope this will help you.

 

Cyndi

Hi Cyndi

Thanksfor your advice. I just got approved for the mini med and My dr has to call the insurance about the glucose monitor. I am not good at keeping notes and stuff so i hope I can do this. The thing about entering your carbs reall throws me> I have no idea how to count carbs??? Hopefully I will learn quickly becauese drs say that is probably my only hope for a safe pregnancy for me  and the baby. By the way what Is Potters ?I never heard of it. Thank you again. And will keep you posted. Johnna