Any Diabetic Pregnant Cysters?

hopeforbaby1 · 02-12-2009, 01:59 PM

I would like to hear a success story of a diabetic cyster.

Jael · 02-12-2009, 09:22 PM

** this is long - sorry!**

This is my second pregnancy - as soon as I get pregnant I can't control my blood sugars with diet and exercise anymore - and both times so far i've been put on insulin immediately (I know some gals stay on metformin - but so far both OBS have pulled me off right away and put me on insulin).

this time around I'm also seeing an endocrinologist actively - I call in my blood sugars 3 times a week, they make adjustments.

I've had to take much more insulin earlier this time. last time I was on long acting until about 26 weeks or so and then a short acting with meals was added in as well. This time I was pretty much on both from week 5-6. (I'm also 40 lbs heavier this time around then I was last time and had less control going in to the pregnancy which I'm sure has made a difference).

My first pregnancy went just fine. I was induced at the end of 38 weeks, OB felt baby was getting too big
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
My son was born at 9 lbs 22 inches, no issues with blood sugars at birth, breastfed like a champ. Unfortunately - he was also born with a heart defect. The flap of muscle that closes after the baby takes his first breath - never formed for him. He's growing fine, developing well and just underwent a surgery to patch the hole (an atrial septal defect). From what we can find out this was probably more due to a history of heart issues in my husands family than to me being diabetic - but we'll never know for sure. Regardless - he's fine, and doing very well. I was able to birth vaginally but iwas very proactive in my care, and determined to achieve a vaginal birth... if I was not so insistent I think the OB would have easily pushed me into a c-section.

I asked to see the placenta afterwards (after being lectured over and over about how placental function can break down with gestational diabetes) - it was perfectly pink, no signs of calcifications whatsoever.

I've moved to a new state - so a new OB (though I would have seriously considered switching anyhow). The new OB also has concerns about placental function toward the end of pregnancy but is MUCH more open to possibly letting me go naturally in to labor as well as different options for induction.

I'm really hoping for another vaginal birth, natural (with no drugs) if at all possible but I'm realistic in knowing that having the diabetes will limit what I can and cannot do.

If you have any questions let me know
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Having diabetes is an extra complication but it's totally possible to have a healthy pregnancy and a positive outcome.

After giving birth my blood sugars went back to normal. It was much more difficult for me t oget to the gym after having my son though, and meal planning and prep was much more difficult too. I ended up gaining all of the weight back that I managed to lose before getting pregnant with him... and was starting to have trouble controlling my sugars with diet and exercise again (even when I finally DID get back in to my super strict routine). Fortunately this time - I got pregnant on the first month of trying (could have totally knocked me over with a feather! I thought for sure it would take a long time again - especially with all the weight i'd gained back!!)

So far this pregnancy is developing just fine, baby is fine (no heart defects or other defects found).
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
A1c's and fructosomines are great - have been at 5.3 and 160's respectively. last set went up slightly to 5.9 and 191 - still really great, excellent control, and I'm coming in to the part of pregnancy where your body naturally starts becoming insulin resistant and the insulin demands on the body increase exponentially.

I'll be happy so long as I can keep my averages under 6.3 or so
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

cinnamongirl · 02-13-2009, 01:30 AM

I'm diabetic and had a very healthy uneventful pregnancy. I carried to term and DD is healthy and happy! I was on an insulin pump throughout my pregnancy and my A1C stayed below a 6 the whole time. Although while I was pregnant my insulin resistance soared and I went through 4 vials a month! Now, I only use about a vial a month. Good luck to you!

hopeforbaby1 · 02-18-2009, 05:07 PM

Hello Cinnamongirl & Jael,

Those are very nice stories. How long did it take to achieve your pregancies? Also what do you think was the factor in getting pregnant......like medications (metformin, clomid ) and etc.?

I feel my insulin resistance and diabetes is why I can't achieve a pregnancy. Since I've been on metformin it took a year and a half and I'm only getting periods every other month, but my sugars are running too high also. I don't know maybe that is the problem.

Thanks,
hopeforbaby1

Jael · 02-18-2009, 06:57 PM

blood sugars may play a part in it - your current hormone levels will play a part too for sure.

For my first pregnancy - I spent 2 years losing weight and getting my PCOS symptoms under control. I was on metformin before I went off birth control - after I went on birth control it took exactly a year to get pregnant (which felt like an eternity to me but I know for some women that's not very long at all).

I'm not sure what your diet and exercise plans are, but I had good success with a program called Body-for-life. I will admit - it was pretty hard core. It took a LOT of energy and preparation and commitment to truly stick to the program. I did lose weight though (albeit VERY slowly compared to other people on the program - which was extremely frustrating for me). I went from a size 20/22 W to a size 14. In the year I went off birth control I did slowly gain back some weight - back up to a size 16W before getting pregnant. I wasn't able to exercise asmuch in that year either due to a shoulder issue In the months before I got pregnant some of the more high impact aerobics (running and other high impact classes) were curbed due to making the shoulder pain worse (turns out I had a ganglionic cyst, bursitus and a bone spur in that shoulder which later took surgery to get me pain free).

Anyhow I think the fact that my weight was pretty stable, blood sugars were in good control (A1c's averaged 5.1-5.3 - more 5.3's in that year of TTC'ing) - that was all part of it. As I lost weight I saw some of my PCOS symptoms calm down too. My cycles were regular, hormone levels normal (including LH and FSH levels and ratios), also I stopped losing as much hair, and stopped growing as much hair in 'male places' My agricanthosis nigricans (the dark patches of skin) started to fade, and I wasn't getting any new skin tags either.

where are your blood sugars right now? Fasting/post prandial etc - are you getting regular HbA1c tests done? If so - what are your #'s like

Are you trying to lose weight? (some insulin resistant PCOS'ers don't need to lose weight - but a good portion of us are overweight and do need to lose).

if you do exercise - maybe try cutting back your high impact exercise just before ovulation and until your period comes. there are some studies out now that cite high impact exercise as detrimental to fertility - the theory being that implantation may be compromised in women who run a lot or do high impact aerobics. If you aren't exercising at all - even walking, elliptical, and weight training can help decrease your insulin resistance. And if you're overweight (or even just over fat - meaning you may be at a weight that's healthy but body fat % indicates that you're still carrying too much fat for your frame) - getting that weight or fat levels at healthy levels can only help you while you try to conceive.

With this current pregnancy - I'm excited to say that I got pregnant on the first month of trying. My blood sugars weren't where I wanted them to be, they had just started to get out of control (fastings were creeping in to diabetic ranges, and 2 hour post prandials were in the 140's, the last HbA1c I had done I was up to 5.9, my family practitioner had JUST put me on metformin again (at my request) and I'd been on it for a month. I expected that TTC would take a while again - but much to my surprise we got pregnant the first month we stopped using condoms (I had not been on any hormonal birth control for about 5 months because it had been causing migraine flareups for me). Unfortunately - with this pregnancy I was on both types of insulin (long acting and short acting with meals) immediately. With my first pregnancy I was able to keep my post meal #'s down by eating well and watching processed carbs like a hawk, and the long acting insulin at night helped with the fasting #'s in the morning. So I did see an immediate difference in the pregnancy in terms of diabetes and control. I was also about 40 lbs heavier for this pregnancy than I was iwth my first (motherhood brought many changes for me - gym time and meal prep was a really tough thing to work in for me and with a baby, now toddler, that STILL does not sleep through the night - getting up early to go to the gym every day was a big battle for me. My weight shot up 15 lbs at two different intervals and then the last 10 lbs slo
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
crept back on. I went back to the gym with commitment to go at least 4 times a week, aiming for 6, not long after my son turned 2 - but by then the damage was pretty much done. Even cleaning up my eating severely didn't slow the creep of the weight gain, nor my blood sugars. I think by that point I'd regained enough that the insulin resistance was back FULL force (and I had started losing hair on my head, growing hair on my face/body again, and the dark patches of skin were getting way darker again, and yep - more skin tags cropping up too).

Sorry this is so long!

One last question - what is your metformin doseage? Are you on metformin alone or insulin as well?

fostermomTTC#1 · 02-19-2009, 12:39 AM

Well I am also Type 2 diabetic. When I got pg with DD by a miracle I found out early on. I did not control my blood sugars prior. My BFP was a wanted suprise. I found out when i was barely three weeks pg. I was put in the hospital at four weeks and stayed there for seven days So they could get my sugars under control. It was a big wake up and i was determined to do all i had to keep this baby. I amazed my doctors. Well GOD amazed my doctors. With His help. I brought my A1C from 8something down to 5.7 in a matter of six weeks or so. Dont know exactly. I dropped weight because I was taking care of myself. But I am a bigger sister so they werent concerned. Daughter developed perfectly right on track. She was born at 39wks and 2days via c-section after 36 hours of labor. LOL. She was a healthy 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches long. Her sugars dropped just a little in the first 24 hours but stabalized. Nothing alarming where she had to be put on IVs or given insulin just had to sub some formula with my breast milk. My sugars got hard to control the further along i got.

Five months later I found out i am expecting again. First sign was blood sugars were out of control out of nowhere. I am having a harder time controling them this time. I am getting there. Only been at it for two weeks now. But baby so far at last appointment seemed to be fine with a good strong heartbeat at 6wks and 3 days. 140 bpm. My A1C drawn two weeks ago was 7.... EEEE
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
But I also had an infection just about a week prior in my mouth that i had to have oral surgery for so i believe some of that spike was from having an infection for three weeks. But it is harder this time around because i have my little one to look after too. And trying to eat when i can what ever i can. I dotn have as much time for meal planning like before. Plus with this pg i am wanting nothing but junk. so that is high in carbs which turns to sugars.

But let it be known. If you strive to take care of you and baby. It can be done and a diabetic can go to have a happy healthy pg. but on the other side i have heard of somewoman who just dont care and eat what they want and are uncontrolled and the babies pay in the end. But You can have a healthy baby. Most defiently..
Best of luck...

hopeforbaby1 · 02-20-2009, 01:15 PM

Jael,

My blood sugars fasting our running 140-175, which I think is still high. My last A1C was 8. something.....almost 9......way too high!! I was just recently put on the insulin due to Doctor saying my sugars were too high. Prior to that I have been taking the metformin for a little over 2 years.....only getting periods every other month. From when I was first diagnosed with Diabetes and PCOS I have lost about 60lbs. I don't excersise, but my eating habits are much better. I only wish I could master those carbs....it's very hard. I think if I really lowered my carbs and excersied would really make a big difference.

weight - 235
medication - 1500 metformin xr
Lantus - 20 units at night
Hubalog (fast acting) - 3-9 units depending on sugar level 3 times a day

cinnamongirl · 02-20-2009, 01:58 PM

I had lost about 60lbs prior to conceiving...(I wasn't trying at the time. I had given up) I had been taking metformin for 5 years and had just recently gone up from 1000mg to 2000mg. I believe that's why I got pregnant. I don't believe the 1000mg was enough for me to ovulate. I had also gone on Lantus (long acting insulin) along with my novolog. My sugars were MUCH better, which may have also contributed to my pregnancy.

I weighed right at 200lbs when I got pregnant btw. Good luck to you!
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I also see you are on Lantus, too! It really helps keep my sugar down.

daniellej · 02-20-2009, 03:05 PM

I had GD. I tried to control it with diet and exercise but eventaully was put on Glyburide, cause I couldn't keep my fasting am numbers under control. I was monitored weekly towards the end with stress tests and u/s. Baby weight 8lbs 11 oz and was 20 inches long. He was and is a big boy. I was induced at about 39 weeks. He had a few breathing issues and one low sugar after birth, but otherwise healthy. My numbers are back to normal. I also didn't gain much of anything once I found out I was GD thanks to the diet, but had issues with keytones. It was nice to know, however, cause I am sure I had it with number one, was just left undiagnosed.

hopeforbaby1 · 02-23-2009, 01:03 PM

Cinnamongirl,

Did you get your period when you were on 1000mg of metformin?

Question - If you're getting your period does that mean you are ovulating? I never understood how that works.

Thanks,
hopeforbaby1

joeskitty · 02-23-2009, 03:55 PM

I was type 2 diabetic before I got pg and controlled it somewhat with met. Then being pg met wasnt enough so im on long and short acting insulin and met all together. I take 5 shots a day and my insulin steadly increase as time goes on. Good luck.

cinnamongirl · 02-24-2009, 01:37 AM

I'm sorry it took me so long to post a reply! Yes, 1000mg did make me have a period, and within probably 6 months, it was very regular. But, 1000mg didn't make me ovulate. (That I knew of) But 2000mg definately did...I was pregnant in two months after the dosage was raised, after 10 years of actively trying. I was shocked to death considering I had completely stopped trying to get pregnant.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

And I forgot to add...no, having your period doesn't mean you're ovulating, unfortunately. I had cycles you could set your watch by, but never ovulated.

hopeforbaby1 · 02-25-2009, 03:30 PM

Congrats Joeskitty,

I know you will have a very healthy pregnancy. If you don't mind me asking......did you get pregnant naturally? If you so how long did it take you and, do you think taking metformin and the insulin contributed to achieving the pregnancy?

Thanks,
hopeforbaby

hopeforbaby1 · 02-25-2009, 03:33 PM

Cinnamongirl,

Thank you so much for your info. It helps me understand things more...even though I know everyone is different. I think I'm going to try to up my dose to 2000 mg again. My last attempt it didn't go to well. My stomach couldn't handle it...but I'm going to weather the storm this time. Wish me luck!!

Thanks,
Hopeforbaby1

cinnamongirl · 02-25-2009, 05:42 PM

The way I handled the stomach upset was Immodium! Each time I took the met, I would take an immodium with it. Eventually, I got used to it and didn't have to take the immodium anymore. HTH!