New Here! Recently diagnosed.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2006
New Here! Recently diagnosed.
4
Sat, 07-14-2007 - 5:19pm

Just wanted to pop over, I am new to the diabetes thing (well at least the permanent thing).
I had gestational diabetes with my last two pregnancies, one controlled, one not. Anyway, I am currently classified as Type 2 insulin resistant under medication/diet control.

I have just been put on a diabetic diet which includes 150g of Carbs...wow I didn't realize just how easy it was to hit that everyday and am learning about the whole bs testing. I have been Metformin for the bs, but I am not convinced that it is doing the trick. I am watching what I am eating, taking in no more than the dietician has given me, but my blood sugars are running between 90 & 150 still :-(

I was on Glyburide (sp?) while pregnant with my last little girl and felt so much better. Do you think I should ask to see if they can change meds?















Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-15-2007 - 2:04am

Melody,


Welcome to the board.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2006
Sun, 07-15-2007 - 10:08am

I have been taking the Metformin for about 5 years total now. I started taking it when they realized that I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). It's been my miracle drug as it is what allowed me to finally have my sweet babies. I had had 6 miscarriages prior to having my first son Alex who just turned 4. When I found I was pregnant with Alex, I actually had only been on the Metformin about 4 months. I literally got pregnant with Alex the week I started taking it. I was in denial--I had always had irregular cycles. Anyway, I went into the OB for what I thought was a cyst rupture only to find out that I was about 4 months along with Alex. I had only carried one other baby that long and lost her approximately one month later. So when I did get the confirmation that I was pregnant with Alex I was on pins and needles until delivery. The stopped the Metformin when I was at about 6 months pregnant with him.

About 2 months after delivery I had some more cyst ruptures, so the OB put me back on it at a higher dose 850mg a day and a minipill for birth control...didn't help, literally about 6 weeks later, I was pregnant with my 2nd son. They took me off the Metformin completely. Need less to say, Ben who will be 3 next month, is my true miracle baby. He was delivered at 34 weeks and was HUGE!!!! 7 pounds 3 ounces 19.75" long. When he was born, he all the signs that I was an uncontrolled diabetic. He had everything from the excess downy fur as the nurses called it to the extra padding on the back of the neck that is typically seen with babies born to diabetic moms. He also had uncontrolled blood sugars for the first week or so...it would either be too high or too low. So after my final check with the doctor that delivered Ben, I switched doctors altogether...ob and reg doc.

After getting a set of doctors, I was put back on the Glucophage/Metformin and back at the 500 mg dosage. My A1C counts had been hovering around the 6% range. Dr. decided to up the dosage, Ben was about 18 months at the time. He upped my meds to include a stronger birth control pill and upped my Glucophage to 850 mg twice a day. Again within a month, I was pregnant with Lindsay.

I was considered diabetic with her throughout the pregnancy because of having the history of the uncontrolled diabetes. They left me on the Glucophage until I hit about 8 months. They then took me off of the Glucophage and place be on Glybuderide. Something about the Metformin causing the babies blood sugars to be too low. Anyway, the glybuderide helped and lowered my glucose level better and I was able to maintain it better than I had previously. Anyway, I was able to carry Lindsay farther than I had with either of my boys and she was SMALLER....which absolutely amazed me.

Fast forward to my 6 week check up after delivery. I went in, they did the bloodwork and a physical, I went in for a tubal, came out of surgery and was told that my A1C levels were creeping again. They were at 7.5. He referred me back to my normal doctor who confirmed the results and placed me back on the glucophage at 500 mg. I had my last A1C back in May and it was 5.3, and have another A1C early next month. My concern is that my blood sugars are hovering on average for fasting between 97 & 140 currently.

Sorry this has turned into a book.
So the short story-- Currently Glucophage 500 mg 1 time daily, BS this morning still at 115. I am down 55 pounds since I had Lindsay (I only gained 10 lbs with her) and still trying to lose weight (I have about 60 more I would like to lose). I am at a stand still though.

Anyway, that is my story and thank you for taking the time to read it.















Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 07-15-2007 - 10:29am

Hi and welcome to the board!


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-15-2007 - 5:50pm

Melody,


You actually look like you are doing wonderfully on the Glucophage. The most I would expect that your doctor would do is increase the Glucophage to 500 twice per day. You will better know after your next A1C. But with a previous 5.3 you are doing really well. Congratulations on your weight loss. I suspect that your daughter was smaller than her brothers because girls are normally smaller and your blood sugar was under better control and you didn't gain too much weight. In fact, you actually lost weight with that pregnancy because the normal amount of weight gain is 20-30 pounds. I was reading an article today about over weight children and the research that says it starts with the moms gaining too much weight when pregnant.


Try increasing your activity and/or cutting out the amount of carbs to equal a slice of bread. I am sure you saw a dietitian for meal planning help when you were pregnant but meal plans for you are different now that you aren't pregnant. So I also suggest that you as for a visit with a dietitian to fine tune your meal planning. It will really help you.


Keep up the good work and do visit us often.