Yep. That's a Baby on That Thar Screen

July 10. Ahh. Finally it was time to see the baby. I was a fair wreck at this point. There is so much information online that can scare you. Things that tell you diabetics can have kids, but here are all the added risks....and then you read the risks, some of which you can't pronounce, and it makes you more nervous.

I just wanted to see a heartbeat. To know that there really was a baby. In the right place.

And, there was.

Ok. I'm Pregnant. Now What?

So...on our one year anniversary I found out I was pregnant. That's June 13th. I was a little surprised to say the least, and totally not expecting it. But then I was a little excited too. And a lot scared. After all, I had been told for years and years that being pregnant and diabetic is hard. And scary. And dangerous. And high risk. And, oh yes...my favorite:

Doctor: "You want to have kids?"

Me: "Very much."

Doctor: "Well, then you can have them!"

Of course, I immediately called the doctor's office. Because that's what you do when you are a high risk pregnant lady, right? There must be doctor appointment after doctor appointment that you need to go to. And nutrition. And diabetes stuff. Right?

Nurse: "We have an appointment for you to see Dr. Wong on July 10."

Me: "July 10?"

Nurse: "Yes. That's when the doctors want to see you to confirm your pregnancy, etc."

That was a month away!! What about all of those important appointments and the high risk, oh-my-gosh-you-can't-just-go-get-pregnant warnings I had received? I guess they weren't all that important or high risk after all. So for a month I kept my blood sugars going, emailed my endocrinologist the information she needed and waited.

Did I mention that it was probably the most anxious time in my life?

Don't Always Believe Everything You Hear

After years of thinking it was going to take me up to a year to get my blood sugar levels under control enough to try to conceive, it took me a little adjusting to realize I reached that goal in under two months. Next was the actual conception, which my doctor said would probably take at least 2-3 months, if not 6 months or more.

Remember how I said I am a teacher...oh yes...I had a timeline in mind...and my doctor told me to ignore it, because conceiving takes time. Sometimes lots of time.

And sometimes, it only takes one month.

Welcome to the world of being diabetic and pregnant.

The Process: Part 2

So...no CGM to start, just lots and lots of finger sticks all throughout March and April (and continuing on through the rest of my life).

As an FYI, finger sticks are just that. You use a little tool and poke your finger with a lancet (think safety pin, only smaller). Hopefully it bleeds just enough (not enough or too much are both not fun) to allow you to leave a small sample on the test strip that is attached to the blood sugar meter. Then the meter reads your sugar and gives you a number. Hopefully it is a good number. Sometimes it is low, sometimes it is high. And you adjust your insulin, or eat something sweet, depending on what's going on with your body.

I am going to digress for another minute here, and say that many times in my life I have had people tell me they are impressed with all of the information I keep in my head concerning diabetes. In writing this blog, I am realizing that much of the information I work with on a day-to-day basis is completely foreign to those around me. I speak diabetic jargon. It makes perfect sense to me to talk about insulin pumps, CGMs, HA1Cs, blood sugar levels, and carb counting. Yet to the rest of the non-diabetic world out there, I am speaking a foreign language. I am going to do my best to explain stuff in this blog, or at least link you to an explanation...but if you ever have a question, just email me.

Okay, so back to the finger sticking. I will be the first to admit that prior to this time in my life, I have not been the "best" diabetic in the world. I do not purport to be perfect, or wonderfully healthy. I like to eat. I like to go out with friends. I do not like to stick my finger with a little needle, no matter how small. I have moments where I forget I am diabetic. I cherish the times when I get to take a shower without my infusion set stuck to my abdomen. I love all things carbohydrates. I have a sweet tooth. And my HA1Cs over the past years have run in the low 7s to low 8s. Not super bad. But not good either, seeing as how diabetics are supposed to run under 7 at all times. Oh yes...and did I forget to mention? I did this while testing only two or three times a day. Definitely not good.

Move over "easy" unhealthy life. There's a new sheriff in town. Pregnancy's the name. Blood sugar control is the game. When you are a diabetic trying to get pregnant...the doctors want your HA1C under 6...YIPES! I had never seen mine that low...and I thought, "Wow...it really is going to take a lot of planning and practicing to get this right. We have months before the doctors are even going to give us the green light to try to conceive!"

Um...nope. Turns out my body, when testing and working with a doctor, will get into ship-shape in under a couple of months. My HA1C went from a 7.3, to a 6.2, to a 5.9 in no time flat. By May we had a green light to try for a baby.

The Process: Part 1

Let me start by saying that when I was diagnosed with diabetes at 15, I was told that I couldn't just "go out and get pregnant."

Me: "Um...I'm 15. I'm not planning on having children for a long time."

Doctor: "That's my point. You HAVE TO PLAN. You can't just get pregnant."

Me: "Um...okay. But I'm 15."

Needless to say, I have had this conversation again and again and again over the years (well...the age changed, but you get the point). I get it. I know. I realize. Do NOT get pregnant without planning. Diabetics must be in absolute excellent blood sugar control before they get pregnant. And this can take a very long time to happen...so you must plan.

Fast forward to this February, and without giving too many details, my doctor informed me that it would be a good idea for Jared and I to bump our conception date up by a year (for an issue unrelated to diabetes). After about a week of the two of us trying to process this information, I started making the necessary appointments...the first to an endocrinologist.

You see, I already am a pump user. What that means, in quick terms, is that I walk around with what looks like a beeper on my hip. In reality, it's a medical device, which is attached to my abdomen, and it gives me insulin throughout the day...but no, it does not test my blood for me. That would be a CGM, which is something I do not have.

CGMs are not covered by most insurance companies. I am not really sure why, as I have not looked deeply into the reasons for a lack of coverage. I do know that CGMs give diabetics a much better understanding of their blood sugars throughout the day, but they do not replace finger sticking. (I do this a ton. In fact, my fingers are completely dotted with the stick marks.) If you use a CGM, you have to do both to maintain control. I am sure I will blog at some point about why I think CGMs should be covered, but that's a topic for later. All I know is that I was willing to shell out the money (lots of it...these are medical supplies after all...), if it meant having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

First appointment...LOVED my new endo. She suggested trying to gain better control with finger sticks, my meter, and adjusting my insulin levels. I agreed, seeing as how I am a teacher, Jared's a musician, and additional medical supplies aren't high on the list of things we can afford. Not to mention a long-drawn out battle for a CGM with the insurance company wasn't something I was looking forward to.

First Post...thoughts.

So...here I am...blogging. Never really thought I would do this...mostly because I would rather be reading a book or drinking coffee...but I started reading this blog SUM...and it's all about Kerri's life with diabetes.

Now, mind you, I've never met Kerri...but I am pretty sure if I did I would get along with her. :)

And so, I have been inspired to write a bit about my own life...or my thoughts...or whatever...

Mostly, I started this blog so I could write about being diabetic and pregnant. Yep. That's right. You heard me correctly...I am pregnant. Yipes. Exciting. And yipes.

I thought it might do me some good to write about my experience. Of course, if I am as good at this as I am at my Facebook page, well...then this will get updated once a month or so...but I am going to try to do better.

I promise.