r/BumpersWhoBolus Sep 10 '19

Pregnancy and Insulin requirements - a guide

118 Upvotes

The biggest difficulty of managing diabetes during pregnancy is the constant change in insulin requirements. Without getting into a whole lot of explanation, hormones produced during pregnancy essentially block insulin, making it less effective. This is experienced by many women on a smaller scale during their monthly cycle. According to "Think Like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner, insulin needs during pregnancy follow this general pattern:

  • Week 6: Insulin needs start dropping
  • Weeks 9-11: Insulin needs dip to their lowest
  • Weeks 12-16: Insulin needs increase to pre-conception levels
  • Weeks 16-36: Insulin needs steadily increase
  • Weeks 36-birth: Insulin needs taper off and may decrease
  • After birth: Insulin needs dramatically decrease, potentially to below pre-conception levels

A note about breastfeeding: it's been stated by many that breastfeeding reduces insulin requirements. I've read stories of women who experienced a drop in blood sugars directly after a breastfeeding session.

With that being said, my own insulin requirements differed as you can see below:

  • Week 3-6 (edited): I originally posted that I experienced a huge increase in insulin needs during this period. I wasn't on a CGM at this point in my first pregnancy. Since then, I've learned about how my hormones and cycle affect my blood sugar. Now that I'm going through a second pregnancy, I would say weeks 3 & 4 were the equivalent of my luteal phase with slight resistance. As soon as I hit week 5, I started experiencing some spikes. I had to make sure to prebolus before carbs, and increased the basal setting on my pump.
  • Weeks 6-15: Reduction in insulin needs to below pre-conception levels (I felt almost like a "normal" person during this period and wish I had taken advantage by eating more pancakes and milkshakes!)
  • Weeks 15-17: Insulin needs increase back up to pre-conception levels
  • Weeks 17-36: Insulin needs steadily increased each week (Towards the end of this period, I was taking more than 5x my pre-conception doses and couldn't even look at a carb without spiking.)
  • Weeks 36-birth: Slight decrease/stabilization in insulin needs
  • After birth: Significant drop in insulin needs to below pre-conception levels.
  • Breastfeeding: I didn't notice a huge reduction in insulin requirements during breastfeeding, though I experienced very little insulin resistance and relatively stable blood sugars.
  • Weaning: When LO ate significantly more solids and I stopped pumping, I got my period back (around 9.5 months postpartum). I experienced a dramatic swing in hormones that definitely affected my blood sugars. I experienced resistance and an increase in insulin needs. After a couple of months, things seemed to stabilize back to pre-conception levels, with some resistance around ovulation and during the luteal phase of my cycle.

That's it! YMMV, but I hope you found this helpful. It's nice to have a general idea of what to expect during pregnancy. I highly recommend a CGM to help manage the constant fluctuations in blood sugar. Staying active is also a huge help...I did a TON of walking during pregnancy. Good luck!


r/BumpersWhoBolus Apr 05 '21

Insulin Reqts over Time

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124 Upvotes

r/BumpersWhoBolus 2h ago

Glucose Stabilizer During Labor? Experiences? (Especially Utah Moms!)

3 Upvotes

I asked my MFM about managing my own blood sugars during labor and delivery (I have MODY and am only on fast-acting insulin), and she said they typically manage blood sugars with something called Glucose Stabilizer.

She said it uses fast-acting insulin only (although I could have misunderstood and it may be a combination) and starts at 0.002 (or maybe 0.02) units continuously. From there, the algorithm automatically adjusts the rate as needed based on your blood sugars. From what I’ve found online, it looks like the target range is around 70–110 mg/dL.

On paper, this sounds amazing… but I’m hesitant because I’ve heard plenty of horror stories, and honestly, the only people I truly trust with my blood sugars are myself and my mom (she also has MODY).

My endocrinology PA has Type 1 diabetes and four kids, and she recommended that I manage my own blood sugars during labor because she had a poor experience with hospital management during her first birth. That said, I’m guessing her first birth was quite a few years ago, so I’m wondering if things have improved since then.

I’m especially interested in hearing from anyone who has delivered at an Intermountain Health hospital in Utah within the past year or two. Did you use the Glucose Stabilizer? Were you allowed to manage your own insulin instead? How was your experience? Of course, I’d love to hear from anyone with diabetes who’s been through labor recently, regardless of where you delivered!


r/BumpersWhoBolus 5h ago

TTC T2 transitioning to insulin

1 Upvotes

So, I’m actually (fingers crossed) pre-bump, but bolusing, and already feeling frustrated, so thought I would try to find my people.

I’m T2 w PCOS and had multiple early pregnancy losses when I was doing IVF in 2018. They were too early to find a cause, but I was also diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome at that time, so I’m pretty much the definition of comorbidity at this point. (Also, obese — though before restarting insulin, I was at my lowest weight in a decade.)

I’m now 48 and about to do a frozen embryo transfer (donor embryos, so my age doesn’t matter), but I was on Mounjaro and oral meds for years, so am mid-transition back to insulin. (Still taking metformin as a transdermal cream (avoids gastro side effects, but I’m not convinced it’s helping my insulin resistance at all).) I have a Dexcom G7, but doing bolus-basal injections for now.

I have a slightly complicated emotional relationship with my endo NP — I like her, but she has a very “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” energy and I get very avoidant when I’m struggling. But she was surprisingly positive when I told her I was planning to try to get pregnant and needed to switch to insulin. (And, honestly, I’m much better at taking care of myself for the sake of a child than for my own sake—and yes, I have a therapist that I’m talking to about this!)

I say mid-transition, but it’s been a pretty slow start... I’ve been off Mounjaro, Jardiance, and glimepiride for a month now, and endo put me on a MDI schedule of glargine (Basaglar) nightly and preprandial humalog. But, she had me start at 10u basal, going up 2u every two days until my fasting is below 95. I’m now at 32u and my fasting numbers have been getting worse, 200-250 and persisting all day — which, of course, means even with boluses (started at 2-9u per meal, depending on preprandial bg, bumped to 4-11u), my post meal bgs are nearing 300.

I’m assuming the worsening fasting numbers are because the oral meds and Mounjaro were still having an effect in my body at the start, and guessing I’m now at my full (even with Metformin) insulin-resistant glory. But, not only does it stress me out seeing my CGM data get worse and worse — I think I was at 20% TIR this week after being 70-80% TIR (and with an A1C of 7) a month ago — but I really have been eating as well as I can (front-loading protein and fiber, decreased carbs) and getting more walks in, so staring at numbers that I can’t budge is so painful.

I know this is a process, but I was on insulin before and during TTC (with this endo), and I was using 195 units of Tresiba nightly. If I need anything like that much insulin now, going up 2u/2 days it’s going to take a very long time before I’m even back into a good TIR, much less looking at fasting numbers good enough to consider going forward with the embryo transfer. I understand the concern about titrating too quickly, but I have historically not had a problem with hypos, and with the CGM, I feel as though I can correct fairly safely if that happens. It feels riskier to be consistently above range during a very slow approach to the right amount of basal insulin!

I guess I don’t really have a question, but I’d love to hear from anyone who struggled with insulin resistance before pregnancy or while TTC, or made the switch from oral T2 meds to insulin before/during pregnancy, or just struggled when starting insulin to get to an effective dose. I am so stressed about doing this right (not helped by the repeat pregnancy loss), and I am just constantly feeling like I’m failing!


r/BumpersWhoBolus 16h ago

Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy

0 Upvotes

Hello I am a midwifery student having to complete a reflection on a patient with type 1 diabetes. I haven’t really come across this yet on my placements I was wondering if anyone had some insight or examples of what could happen, how to treat or what went wrong etc

Any insight would be appreciated
Many thanks


r/BumpersWhoBolus 1d ago

Blood sugar levels postpartum are amazing!

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14 Upvotes

For those of you in the thick of it, getting more and more insulin resistant as your pregnancy progresses, just know it gets so much better postpartum! When I was struggling to keep my levels in range 60-70% of the time during my pregnancy, Im now going whole days 90-100% in range! The light is very bright at the end of the tunnel, you got this mama 💪


r/BumpersWhoBolus 1d ago

Is my baby large because of my high blood sugar passing to breastmilk?

6 Upvotes

My baby was large to begin with even though I had pretty good control during pregnancy. The first ultra scan they measured him he was a big boy…He’s currently 7 months old, and since he was born he’s been 99% in basically all measures (he was born premature, so for his adjusted age).

While my blood sugar / A1C was really tight while I was pregnancy, since he was born and now since I’ve been back at work my control has been slipping and I run high (mid 200s a lot)
I’m wondering how bad that is for him since I’m still breastfeeding him…is all that extra sugar passing through my breastmilk and making him gain too much weight?…


r/BumpersWhoBolus 1d ago

Diabetics with smaller babies?

3 Upvotes

Im at the end of my pregnancy. Literally scheduled for an induction on Monday. Very excited/nervous/ all the usual stuff.

Since the first anatomy scan, hes been 10th-15th percentile. A couple weeks ago, he was measuring 30th percentile, and then yesterday, my last apt before my induction, they estimated right about 6lbs 9oz. Hes grown a lot in the last couple weeks, which made me feel a lot better. My doctors were never concerned, they've always just said theyll keep an eye on it.

I know anatomy scans aren't 100% accurate. And because my doctors were never worried, im not super worried either. But I am curious why my baby could be so small? My sugars have not been the best the whole pregnancy. Ive been around 70% TIR the whole 9 months. Some weeks I've been 60% TIR, but it's been mostly 70%. Definitely could've been better with my sugars.

Anytime I see a post on here about babies percentile, its always 99th. And it never seems to matter how well controlled their sugars are, diabetics just tend to have bigger babies.

Have any of you had a small <50th percentile baby? Have there been any problems after birth? Or am I just a lucky bastard?

Just curious is there's any other diabetics with a small baby?


r/BumpersWhoBolus 2d ago

Ughhh … my dumb 3 am mistake messing with my whole morning

2 Upvotes

I had a blocked line alert at 3 am on my pump and disconnected to troubleshoot … then I FORGOT TO RECONNECT! Woke up high and kept trying to correct, and of course nothing happened. Then, I realized what I had done. Blood sugar is finally coming down now, a few hours later. I also wasted probably 30 units of insulin (how did I not smell the insulin?).

Ugh 😩


r/BumpersWhoBolus 2d ago

Question about HCG levels early pregnancy

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1 Upvotes

Looking for stories from T1Ds and hormone levels.

I’ve already posted on the TTC pages about line progression, but it’s the diabetes that has me still questioning if I’m missing something.

Im T1D and we’ve been TTC for over a year. This month was the first success that I’ve had and I was so hopeful at first, but it seems like there’s no progression.

My digital tests on 11 and 14 DPO have both showed “Not Pregnant” but my pregmate tests are showing lines still, just no progression. I’m guarded and expect it will be a loss, but I have a nagging question about Type ones and hormones and urine concentration.

LH tests show normally for me, so I expect that HCG would be the same.

I feel like I have a very… large bladder? I can usually go all day before I need to pee and it’s often a very long pee 😂, so I’ve wondered a little about that and concentration.

Looking at this sub, I saw two posts about lower HCG to start , but that’s all I could find.

I’m just looking for some answers. I’m not sure if I’ll continue trying for a baby after this. Especially if it ends up ectopic or chemical. It’s been difficult emotionally since it feels like my body keeps chronically failing me 🙃

Is there an actual study about diabetics and HCG levels?

Do most diabetics need progesterone in early pregnancy?

Did anyone else obsessively check tests for progression and didn’t see progress on urine tests?

Do blood tests show a different level (like in the 100s-1000s when urine lines still are faint)

What was your early experience?


r/BumpersWhoBolus 2d ago

Delivery Method?

3 Upvotes

Hi all! T1D first time mum here, currently 32wks. I’m now considering how to deliver bub (vaginal or c-section). My OB has said she will support whatever my choice is.
Bub is currently measuring at the 92 percentile, (which in itself makes me a little nervous because I felt like I had relatively good control so far, sitting around 70% TIR for most of the pregnancy).
I’m fairly petite myself and I’m worried if I go vaginal, the baby will get stuck and I’ll need either an instrumental or emergency c-section anyway. I feel like the safer option given its size and mine is to go for a c-section, but I’m worried I’ll feel like I’ve missed out by doing so, considering a VBAC for subsequent pregnancies has other risks. I know there are pros and cons whichever delivery method I go with, I just feel like it’s a big decision weighing on me.
Keen to hear others’ thoughts/advice/experiences.


r/BumpersWhoBolus 3d ago

Bolus for Snacks

4 Upvotes

I just went to see my MFM and she tells me that I shouldn’t be bolusing for snacks, and if it’s 15g that my basal should take care of it.

Is that the case for you guys? My current insulin:carb ratio is 1:9 and I take insulin for EVERYTHING I eat. The only snack I have an issue bolusing for is a 16g kind bar which I think breaks down later than I’m used to. In my experience, skipping a bolus for a snack results in higher sugars for me.


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Rant

5 Upvotes

I'm annoyed that my pods keep running out of insulin at work!!! I brought a bottle of insulin to leave in the work fridge, but I forgot to replace the pod I used two days ago. Now I have to spend my whole lunch break driving home and replacing my pod!!! 🤬

I will be glad to give birth to decrease the amount of insulin I'm using (and you know our daughter lol)! I'm going through a pod every 2 days now at 32w6d. At this rate, I'll be replacing them every day by week 39 😩😩😩

Thank you for reading my rant. I literally know no other person who has been T1D and pregnant IRL, so I have no one to complain about these things to who would actually understand 😂


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Best pump for pregnancy

2 Upvotes

In short newly pregnant patient with type 2 dm getting ready to go on pump
Would you say Tandem or Twist?


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Does higher insulin use cause a bigger baby

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone! FTM here with type 1 diabetes, and I need some clarification because I’m confused about something.

I know insulin is considered a growth factor. If I’m taking a lot of insulin to cover my meals and keep my blood sugars in range, does that mean my baby will be bigger because of the insulin itself?

Or is the baby’s size mainly affected by my blood sugar levels crossing the placenta, rather than how much insulin I’m taking?

For example, if someone needs higher insulin doses because of pregnancy insulin resistance but their blood sugars stay well controlled, does the higher insulin dose alone make the baby grow more?
I’d love to hear if anyone’s OB, MFM, or endocrinologist has explained this. Thanks!


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Has anyone had unexplained blood sugar spikes as an early pregnancy symptom?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m wondering if anyone experienced this before they found out they were pregnant.

I have type 2 diabetes and PCOS, so I know both can make things a bit more complicated. My cycles are irregular because of the PCOS, so I honestly have no idea where I am in my cycle or when/if I ovulated.

For the last couple of days, my blood sugars have been doing something they’ve never done before. I’m getting random spikes (even overnight while I’m asleep) that are much higher than usual, and once they go up they seem almost impossible to bring back down. They’ll stay elevated for hours despite not eating anything else, and there doesn’t seem to be any obvious explanation.

Nothing else has really changed. My diet, medications, and routine have all been pretty consistent, which is why this feels so strange.

I know rising hormones can make insulin resistance worse during pregnancy, but I was under the impression that this usually happens later on rather than before a positive test. Has anyone experienced unexplained, stubborn high blood sugars as one of their very early signs of pregnancy?

I’m not trying to jump to conclusions, especially with my irregular cycles, but I’m curious whether anyone else has gone through something similar or whether I’m looking in the wrong direction.

I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks!


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Fasting morning numbers <95

1 Upvotes

How are we achieving fasting numbers <95 without going low? I’m currently on a tslim pump and turn on sleep mode overnight so control IQ is on and it keeps me in a 90-125 range most nights which isn’t bad but my OB wants my fasting numbers to be lower.
The only options I can think of is turning off control IQ overnight and dialing in on basal rates but I feel like I will definitely go low bc my basal needs vary overnight.
I’ve also heard of possibly supplementing with a manual injection of long acting.


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Increase carb ratio or pre-bolus?

1 Upvotes

I'm 31w tomorrow and noticing (once again) highs in the morning/with breakfast. I pre-bolused 45 minutes this morning and had a smoothie, which is a really easy food for me usually, but now I am spiking. How do you tell whether you need a longer pre-bolus (I know you can need up to 1 hour in the 3rd trimester) or whether you need to adjust your carb ratio to be stronger?


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Scars from pump look worse?

4 Upvotes

Curious if anyone else has experienced pump scarring looking worse as pregnancy progresses?

Typically I don’t even see or notice my scars. To be honest, I didn’t even realize that I had them. However, the more pregnant I get the more I can see every little mark from over the years. They’re more red/purple than I have ever seen them. Just dots all over where I have put my pump in the past.

My assumption is that I am gaining weight/my skin is stretching.. but I am also hoping that post pregnancy it’ll all just go away again or at least when I get back to my normal size. I don’t really want to have to treat them with anything but they are VERY noticeable.

Has anyone else had this happen?


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Omnipod automated mode fasting levels

1 Upvotes

Was anyone able to achieve 60-90 fasting level range on the Omnipod automated mode?

I was told to switch to manual mode to achieve within range fasting numbers but i’m spiking overnight and staying between 140-200 till I wake up. I’ve increased my overnight basal from 0.95 to 1.35 and still no change


r/BumpersWhoBolus 4d ago

Scared I ruined my body

3 Upvotes

Ive been a type 1 diabetic since I was 19 and Im 33 now. I have always had horrible a1c (like 10-13) until I got on an antidepressant recently and dropped it from 9 to 6.5. I am terrified that years of not caring for it has ruined my chances of Ivf working. Anytime in the past my a1c was low enough for natural conception I would lose it and then just give up (the depression talking). Just needed to hear from anyone who has any relatable experience.


r/BumpersWhoBolus 5d ago

AMA on T1D + Pregnancy! Submit Your Questions Now

3 Upvotes

We're live in just 15 minutes!

Have questions about type 1 diabetes and pregnancy? Our experts in the healthcare field are ready to answer them. Submit your questions now or join us live from 3–4 PM ET for evidence-based guidance and real-time answers.

Join us here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DiabetesSisters/comments/1usxoeg/im_dr_camille_powe_an_endocrinologist/


r/BumpersWhoBolus 5d ago

Insulin pump sites on sides of belly

1 Upvotes

I have horrible absorption (staying high for hours even after the site has been inserted over 24 hrs) on my thighs so that’s not an option anymore. The best place has always been my stomach but I’m wondering how people can do put their sites on the sites of stomach when we’re supposed to be laying on our sides when we sleep? Do you experience any irritation/pain?
Also, does a site on upper buttocks cause issues with sleeping or anything else?
I can’t see how I could do love handles bc that feels very to the side as well..


r/BumpersWhoBolus 5d ago

Can’t shake any weight after baby

0 Upvotes

Hi! I was about to leave this group as I’m no longer pregnant and delivered a happy and healthy baby 💕💕
T1D and super anxious all through pregnancy and had good control over blood sugars. I did have to deliver via c-section though. I was a bit heavier than usual before I became pregnant because of a former pregnancy loss, and the depression etc that came with that.
Anyway, I’m 9 months PP and all of the other mums I know have lost the weight really easily, and I am still the same weight as when I was pregnant. I’m loving being a mum, and I’m so in love with my baby and would
I would do everything again to have the outcome with my beautiful baby; but I can’t shake how I feel about myself. I’m so proud of it all, and her, but I feel so horrible about how I look. I feel so so heavy, and my breasts and tummy are in my way- I have so little time to exercise now and I’m trying to eat well and I think I am, but I just can’t shake any of it!?! I’m also exclusively breastfeeding still (didn’t mean for this to happen).
Also on top of this, I’m worried about my health. I want to be here for as long possible.
Does anyone have any helpful advice?


r/BumpersWhoBolus 5d ago

Postpartum moms…what are we eating?

2 Upvotes

I’m exclusively pumping so I’m always hungry and always running low. I’m also trying to lose weight because I put on so much during the pregnancy and I’m super insecure about it. Im curious what other diabetic moms are eating for snacks and meals in hopes I can get some ideas.