Too late??

[smsakai]

Hello,

I'm new and had an endo appt today. I received some scary news. I'm 22 controlled (pump for 7 years) type 1 for 20 years. No complications. I was told today that I ONLY HAVE 5 YEARS TO HAVE ALL OF THE KIDS I PLAN TO HAVE!!:( I just recently got married December 2007, and this is a lot to take in. My MD said that 20+ years with type 1 is extremely risky and proceeded to tell me all of the awful details. My A1Cs are never above 7, and I try really hard. He Has anyone done it successfully with diabetes as long as I have had it, and how did it go??:confused:

Thanks,
Sarah

[mell1682]

That is a lot to take in at one appointment! I didn't have it for 20 years like you did but with my first I had had it for 17 years and my 2nd daughter I had had the big diabetes for 18 years and both girls came out just fine! I don't know if that really helps but I hope so!

[morrisma]

I have never heard that. It might be worth having your sperm checked for defects. I cannot believe it would be a sudden loss so if you are nearing the end of potency, it should be readily apparent under a microscope. Sounds like your endo is going by statistics not actuality. Get tested and if you are time limited, freeze some for later use.
Mike

[sprzepiora]

I have never heard that. It might be worth having your sperm checked for defects. I cannot believe it would be a sudden loss so if you are nearing the end of potency, it should be readily apparent under a microscope. Sounds like your endo is going by statistics not actuality. Get tested and if you are time limited, freeze some for later use.
Mike

hmm, Sarah yeah ;)

Anyway based on what you said it was his opinion and you know what they say about those. Both of the doctors you talked to really know nothing about pregnancy, talk to your gyno's office, and make sure they have experience with diabetes. Doctors will sometimes tell you things to cover their butts.

My wife has diabetes insipidus, which is very different then what we have, the doctors have told her for years it could be dangerous. She has been going to the same gynecologist for years and they finally leave her alone after having a few kids with their office.

So calm down and go talk to someone that knows what they are talking about.

[mortis505]

Your MD is an idiot for making such sensationalist statements. Talk to a Gyno that specializes in Diabetes. Or an Endo. Or put a call out for Rikki, another member here on DF. She is currently pregnant with #6.

[Cassini]

Your MD is an idiot for making such sensationalist statements. Talk to a Gyno that specializes in Diabetes. Or an Endo. Or put a call out for Rikki, another member here on DF. She is currently pregnant with #6.

I second that emotion! Call out for Rikki!

Sounds like your Doc needs both information and bedside manner schooling, sorry for your stress in this matter,

Cass:T

[morrisma]

hmm, Sarah yeah ;)


Um, I seem to have missed a gender cue somewhere. Ooops.:banghead:
Mike

[smsakai]

I just spoke to some one else about it today. Apparently, it was the age of my onset that is the largest issue. I was diagnosed at 2 years old (maybe born with it). Most people are diagnosed 5-10ish years later. The person I spoke with said that people who were diagnosed after age 7 had the best chance of doing it successfully. I just wish I would have known sooner. Has anyone else had a similar age of diagnosis and managed to have a successful pregnancy??

I looked at Rikki's profile, and she was diagnosed in 1989, but born in 1970-something. She seems to have been over 7 years old.

Thanks for all of the input!!:o

[belyro]

Because I don't know all the details of your diabetes or your other health history, I don't want to pretend I know for sure, but this all sounds like a lot of hooey.

I'm 30 years old, diabetic for 27 years (diagnosed at 3) and currently 18 weeks pregnant with baby #1. I'm considered a "high risk" pregnancy because of the diabetes, but was never told anything like what you've been told. I'm pumping too, and have my bloodsugars under good control (but they haven't always been). I see my endo and my OBGYN lots during the pregnancy (and also my ophtho, as I've had laser treatments for retinopathy), but they're all very comfortable with the pregnancy so far. The only unusual factor for me (other than lots of appointments and keeping tight bloodsugar control) is that I'll probably be induced around week 35 (after the baby is fully developed) to avoid certain complications that are more prevalent in diabetics in the latest weeks of pregnancy.

Assuming this one continues to go well, I do plan on getting pregnant again, but I'm aiming to finish having children by the time I'm 35, just because pregnancies over 35 are typically considered "high risk", and I figure one "high risk" factor (i.e. diabetes) is enough. This is only my personal choice for myself, though - no doctor has ever pushed me to finish by 35 or earlier.

Another interesting fact - my doula is one or two years older than me, type 1 diabetic (for as long as me, I believe) and has successfully had 3 healthy children - all of whom are less than 5 years old.

If I were you, I'd get a second opinion...and I'd DEFINITELY try to take a deep breath and relax about this.

If you want to talk to me more about my experience, PM me and I'll give you my email address.

Take care.

[Taytesmommy]

Sarah, it seems as though you might want to get a second opinion. I am 31 years old, have had Type 1 diabetes for 27 years, diagnosed at age 4, and I am expecting our 3rd child-28 weeks along. I have never been given an age to have my children in, nor have I been scared out of having them. I have 3 very supportive doctors that have taken me through all 3 pregnancies, one is an Endo who specializes in Diabetes in Pregnancy but she is also my regular Endo, one is a high risk obstetrics doctor, and the last one is a Perinatologist-does the ultrasounds on the growing babies and makes sure that all is where it should be-growth wise and in uetero due to the potential complications.
I have very well controlled Diabetes, always have, obviously with the exception of the teen years where I wanted to rebel but otherwise I have been a very tightly controlled diabetic. I have been pumping for 6 years now and that certainly makes a pregnancy easier, I hade my first son while I was still doing MDI's and althought the A1c's were still fantastic...it was very hard.
I wish you all the luck and do your research on the most experienced Endo's and Ob's in your area, with Diabetic pregnancies.
Keep us posted!
Kel

[Keezheekoni]

Yes, I was dxed when I was 16, but I have had very successful pregnancies. I am now 36 and almost 19 weeks pregnant with #6.

I'm considered high risk, and have been since I was pregnant with my 1st at age 16. The biggest thing that they want to watch, more than your bgs and A1c, is your kidney function and later in pregnancy, your liver function.

I refuse to be induced and know the risks associated with not inducing early. I did have two inductions, and will never do that again! My perinatologist agrees with me and won't induce unless there are signs of placenta degradation after 38 weeks.

Beth, I'd get a 2nd opinion on being induced at 35 weeks...a lot of babies aren't cooked yet by then and if you want to take the baby home from the hospital with you, let him/her cook longer. 40 weeks is just an estimate of a pregnancy's timeline... it's more like 38-42 weeks.

Anyhow, I'd be happy to chat with the OP about pregnancy. I think you need a 2nd or 3rd opinion from a perinatologist or maternal-fetal-medicine specialist. They aren't as bad about labeling you high risk when you really aren't.

[Mich]

Sarah,

I don't know the details of your current control, or your history with complications, but I'll toss this into the discussion.

I was diagnosed just as I turned 13.

I had my first daughter at 28. It was before we had meters so I was just guessing. Other than a ton of morning sickness, I did pretty well. I was active, ate well and was considered a "high risk" pregnancy because of the diabetes. When my daughter was born, they had a team of neonatal specialists standing by, but all went well and though she needed glucose at first, she adjusted quickly. It was a C-section birth. 32 years later, she is not a diabetic in spite of having a history on both sides of the family. By the way, I walked the three blocks to and from the hospital. One direction while in labor. :T

Daughter number two was born five years later, when I was 33. We had the assistance of meters then, but the pregnancy went pretty much the same. They did fetal stress tests near the end to determine a good c-section delivery time. She too had a neonatal specialist team standing by, but didn't need them. She weighed a little less than her sister due to better glucose control.

While I realize that all kinds of scary situations are out there, I think your doctor overplayed his or her hand a bit. Just my opinion.

Mich

[belyro]

Rikki, I mistyped. I'm expecting to be induced around week 37 (although it sounds like the OB's a bit flexible...maybe a bit later). He's not inducing at week 35. Sorry, my mistake.

[RedRD]

I had just turned 8 when diagnosed - 16 years later pregnancy #1, 2 1/2 years later pregnancy #2 (both before the 20 year mark). My OB or my endo never mentioned any deadlines...

I had both of mine at 36 weeks - went into labor, but never dilated. Both were fine - my A1C was below 5 during both pregnancies (that was tough to do), but they both weighed 8lbs, 9oz. The 2nd one had steroids just to be safe (for lung maturity) since my first one came early, and I was doing the same thing w/#2 (contracting nonstop for the last couple of months).

Anyhoo, definitely get a 2nd opinion. And don't have one until YOU are ready!!!

Good luck!

[smsakai]

I've definitely been considering my options. I would never rush anything like this. I do understand where my MD is coming from though in a way. He just doesn't want for me to have a complication in the meantime. I am totally healthy now. No eye, kidney problems, or anything else!!! Apparently, pregnancy can be very hard on the diabetic body and worsen complications (he knows that I wouldn't want that). I work hard to take care of myself.

I haven't looked into a perinatologist or anything like that yet considering I'm not ready to be pregnant, but thanks for the advice because I will absolutely do that.

I did stop birth control recently due to other issues. I had been on the pill since I was 13 (~8 years). I was shocked to see how much my blood sugars dropped after I droppped the pill!! Has this happened to anyone else?

[mazea]

I was shocked to see how much my blood sugars dropped after I droppped the pill!! Has this happened to anyone else?
Yes this happened to me. I started the pill in November for IVF and my blood sugars went really high all of a sudden. When I stopped taking the pill in January, my blood sugars dropped all of a sudden and I had a very bad hypo 1.5 and then 2.5 for 2 hours. I nearly ended up in hospital when they dropped because I had no experience with drops and the drop was pretty bad: 30 points in 1/2 hour at one stage if I count each jellybeans I ate as putting my blood glucose up one point. I am now on half the novorapid than I was when I was on the pill.

[smsakai]

I am glad to hear that I'm not the only one. There is absolutely nothing else to account for it. It couldn't be healthy!! If I knew it put it up this much, I would have stopped it sooner. It wasn't like it jumped up when I first went on it either... The only answer I get from docs is "every diabetic is different, and yes it can happen".

[BonnieB]

yup I have had 2 kids. My son at 18 and my daughter at 21 years with type 1. My son was born when i was 30 years old and my daughter when i was almost 34. My dr told me as long as my AIC's were good time and age meant little. And although my control was good yours sounds better. My didn't hit it's best until I had my first pregnancy. I even delivered my first 6 weeks early cause of severe toxemia and then developed diabetec retnopathy afterwards too but it never put any of my Drs in a place to say not to have another.