[oops324]

Originally Posted by RobiJo

Can you get a pump? Or just ignore the doc and stick with your Lantus?

As for your question about getting a pump, I didn't ask about that, I guess I should. I just didn't want to change anything I was doing during my pregnancy for fear of losing control but that has already happened. So maybe I should ask. I see my high-risk ob specialist on Friday so I'll run it by him the whole Lantus issue. I have thought about staying on Lantus anyhow but eventually my scrips are going to run out.....and now the endo has set a fear in me that what if ten years down the line my child has some major health issue and it's all linked back to the Lantus, I couldn't live with that!!!! This whole thing has gotten me completely stressed-out, which we all know is not good.

[mell1682]

During my first pregnancy, I used Lantus and my daughter was born 36 weeks gestation, 7 lbs. 9 oz. I am not sure if her weight can be attributed to Lantus or not, because my A1C was 6.0 at her birth and it appeared that my blood sugars were well controlled. I guess the only thing that really scared me about using it was that the second time I got pregnant my neonatologist made me feel like **** about using a relatively new insulin that hadn't been researched during pregnancy. My oldest daughter is now 4, creeping up on the age I got diabetes and I worry that maybe the Lantus increased her risk of developing Type 1 (a totally unfounded fear I know, but I am a mom now so I worry about EVERYTHING under the sun). I love Lantus insulin, I have had a miraculous change in my A1C numbers, dropping from a 9.2 to a 7.1 in less than 2 months, shocking my doctor and I. It's far better than NPH if you ask me. I take it once a day and take Humalog at meals and I honestly love this life versus the life of Regular and NPH.

[Erin]

I think the only reason some doctors don't want people to use Lantus when they are pregnant is because there is not enough research out there about Lantus and pregnancy. Full stop. Like Keezheekoni said, they don't want to do research on pregnant mothers.

That said, I'm sure it's fine. I highly doubt that one kind of insulin would have more or less chance of complications than another kind. I'm pretty sure that it's your control that matters. So go with whatever gives you the best control.

That said, the knowledge that Lantus is an unknown value with regards to pregnancy is one of the reasons I'm going on a pump. I'm getting married next year and so family planning is on the horizon. But I'm making the switch because I thought of this 2 or 3 years before i intend to TTC. I wouldn't make any switches if I had good control on Lantus or any other insulin and I was pregnant or already TTC.

So... that's a lot of words that amount to, do what works best for you!

[Katrina Stovold]

Hello, well, I visited my diabetes educator the other day and my hba1c was 6.9%. They put me onto lantus about 2 years ago and I love taking it only once per day as well as novo rapid when I eat, my control is good I believe and so do they! But, when I told them I was going to begin to get pregnant they did suggest I come off lantus but it was up to me, they just suggested levimir was better for pregnant mum's. I didnt say much. But, I did get the impression that it didnt matter too much and it was up to me, but I do wonder why they tried to steer me away from lantus and onto levimir.AAAAAAAAaarrrrrghhhh!! xx

[birdyland]

That's quite a respnsibility for your docs to place on your shoulders!

Good luck.

[Erin]

Just talked to my CDE about my new pump. She recommended switching from novolog to humalog because there is more data available about humalog and pregnancy.

It seems we're never safe from medical professionals putting seeds of doubt about the safety of our medicines during pregnancy. I had seriously never heard that novolog could present a problem! I'm not switching yet... I'll think about it when I get closer to becoming pregnant.

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by Keezheekoni

Lantus is totally safe for pregnancy. If you check, you will see that almost every medication out there is category C for pregnancy. This is because no one is willing to do trials on pregnant mothers...lol

If you read Dr. Hale's book "Medications and Mother's Milk", you will find that he's done studies on Lantus passing though breast milk and it's such a minute amount, along with Lantus being a naturally secreted hormone (just long lasting, unlike "real" insulin)...it's perfectly fine.

Go back to Lantus. Better to have awesome control during pregnancy!!!

Originally Posted by Erin

Just talked to my CDE about my new pump. She recommended switching from novolog to humalog because there is more data available about humalog and pregnancy.

It seems we're never safe from medical professionals putting seeds of doubt about the safety of our medicines during pregnancy. I had seriously never heard that novolog could present a problem! I'm not switching yet... I'll think about it when I get closer to becoming pregnant.

I slacked off in reproductive medicine and hope someone knows the answer to this, but isn't the baby protected from the mothers insulin source? HIV is rarely passed on and would think that other protinous factors such as viruses, insulin, glucagon, etc is protected from the placenta<?>.

[Erin]

I don't think it's the insulin itself that is the theoretical problem, it's all of the preservatives and additives that are mixed in with the insulin. Doctors are also petrified by malpractice suits involving infants, so I imagine that's why they are so conservative.

[mazea]

I wanted to be on Lantus for pregnancy, me and my husband planning for our first. It controlled my blood sugar levels really well. However because of side effects from Lantus I couldn't take it. Lantus made me moody and I got oedema in the feet and hands when I took it and couldn't walk. My current insulin is Protophane and I really don't like it as it peaks and drops a lot and I find my eyes drying out. I don't think I can get my HBAC1 low on Protophane unless I eat a lot of snacks to cope with the peaks and drops. I'm considering Levemir, which is also a category C like Lantus. I guess it is important for it is safe for pregnancy but most iinsulins are and I feel I have to be able to maintain good blood glucose levels. The doctors all want me to be on Protophane because that is a category B which means it is not expected to be a risk in pregnancy.

[slgraham]

Hi ladies, I'm glad to see that other women are having the same questions I am! I switched to Lantus 2 years ago and it has had a tremendous affect on my blood sugars.... I wasn't in great control before on NPH and now I've consistantly had a A1C under 6.5 for the last 18 months or so.

I have an appt with my endo next month to discuss pregnancy. I'm really hoping she says it's okay for me to stay on lantus. I'm thinking that it would be better to have tighter control on lantus while prego than poor control on another insulin.

Does anyone know if it's been approved in any other countries for use in pregnant women?

[Nomski]

I'm on lantus and pregnant.
I was offered to go on Insulatard by my nurse. Previously I have been on insulatard and I was having a hypo whilst asleep night after night, I find Lantus is brilliant. Much easier to keep control.
They recommend Insulatard because it has been used for years and years and has not proven to have any effect on pregnancy. They are unable to test on pregnant women to prove which insulin is the best to use.

I think it all depends on the individual and how they react to the insulin.

[meggiemogs]

Hi. I'm new to this forum so I hope no body minds me posting here. I have 2 children, a daughter aged 7 and a son aged 2. I was on Lantus when pg with my son in 2006. My diabetic consultant and obstetrician knew I was on Lantus and although they pointed out that there was no research on pregnancy and lantus, they were not concerned and never suggested I change insulins. I am in England, so its probably done differently here. My son was born naturally 6 days early weighing a healthy 8lb 4oz.

[Katrina Stovold]

Hi Meggie Mogs, thanks for your input! What I love to see is a sucess story straight from a person like you who has had a healthy baby with no studies involved. There is no need for studies if more women like you speak up and let us know about their successful and healthy babies they gave birth to while on lantus. Thanks to you I will definatley stay on Lantus throughout my pregnancy, if I get pregnant! Will start trying soon. xxoo

[teddybear0624]

I am 30 years old...diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I got pregnant 5 years ago (docs figure i was always diabetic just never got out of control until i got pregnant) I would like to have another child but I am on Lantus...my endo (he specializes in pregnancy and diabetes) has told me that to get pregnant while I am on lantus could cause all sorts of birth defect in the baby (ie. missing kidney, heart problems etc) I am terrified that this will happen and would like anyone else's opinions...or advice! Thanks

[slgraham]

Hi everyone... just to update you all...

I spoke to my endo regarding pregnancy in November. I was on Lantus for about 2 years and was having consistent A1Cs of 6.5. She said that Lantus wasn't approved for use here in Canada during pregnancy and suggested that I try Levemir. So, I did switch... but I hated it!! I ended up splitting my dose (after going to bed at 6.0 and waking up at 18.0 for a few days in a row) and still had completely unpredictable bgls.

I went back to my endo and she let me know all of the risks of Lantus while pregnant. We discussed it for awhile, and I decided (with my docs advice) that high, unpredictable bgls were ultimately a higher risk during pregnancy. So, I'm back on Lantus (with my bgls already in good range ) and we'll start ttc soon.

Just thought I'd share my experience, good luck to everyone who's trying to make a decision right now.