Hi Tori,
My apologies for being so late to respond to your post. I actually don't come to the site very often these days, but Natalie alerted me that you were here, so I thought I'd write and send my support, too.
First of all, I'm so sorry for all you've been through!! HG is so miserably difficult to contend with by itself...paired with Diabetes, it's twice as tough. I am a Type II diabetic...I was borderline most of my life, then developed gestational diabetes with my 1st pregnancy, again in my 2nd pregnancy...and it did not go away after that. Not a total surprise, though...Diabetes runs in my dad's family. I am currently diet controlled, but did also take Glyburide during my last pregnancy to keep my numbers down.
I realize that Type I is a more involved type of diabetes...do you have an insulin pump, or do you do shots? Are you strict with your diet? I know the worst thing for me was the whole notion that even when I was at my "HG-best" (which was AWFUL, on a good day), most of the foods that I felt I could stomach were not a part of my diabetic diet
It was a real challenge to come up with what to eat, particularly in the beginning. However, I worked with my dietician, and gradually, I developed some 'stand-by' foods that I could stick to, and manange my sugars. It was very stressful to wake up every morning, and think, "What am I going to eat today?" I would literally have anxiety attacks over it, at first. Basically...I lived on sourdough breakfast jack sandwiches and iced tea from Jack-in-the-Box for a long time, until I was able to stomach more vegetables, and other sources of protein. I can go more into all the diet stuff that worked, if you ever want to chat.
Now about the medical management...I was lucky to have good care. I have Kaiser for insurance, and they were really good with me, especially having known me from my 1st pregnancy 4 1/2 years earlier. I as hospitalized at 5 1/2 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy, and since no other meds were working (Zofran, Phnerghan, Compazine, Reglan, Anzemet), the doctor finally agreed to start me on steroids (Prednisone). It was earlier than we would have liked to have started them, but since I was so ill, and we were discussing termination, we decided to try them again. They really are what enabled me to continue on with the pregnancy...without them, I wouldn't have had a chance. Mind you, I still felt that mind-numbing nausea until around week 16, with some improvement after that..but the steroids kept me out of the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy. However they did come at some cost to me, though...they do raise your blood sugars, and so I developed the diabetes early on in the pregnancy, so I had to balance it with the Glyburide, and diet. After tapering off the steroids, I devloped swollen lymph nodes, particularly one very large one in my arm, about the size of a golf ball. They still aren't sure what caused it, but the oncologist I saw suspected it may have been an infection, due to a weakened immune system from being on the steroids for so long (about 4 months, at fairly large doses). Thankfully, my baby was born healthy...and I do not regret taking the steroids, for without them my baby and I woudn't be here.
My diabetes was much better managed during my 2nd pregnancy...and what a difference...my doctor only had me do a fasting blood draw once a week during my 1st pregnancy, and my baby was born at 10 lbs
The 2nd time, I got a glucose monitor, and tested myself 5 times a day...my baby was 8lbs.
Anyway...I'm so glad to read that you've had luck in finding a high-risk ob to see you...that's wonderful news. I know it may be a hard road, but with the right care, it IS do-able. I'll check in on you to see how things are going, and PLEASE, feel free to pm me if you ever want to chat. Big
to you, and I wish you all the luck in the world!
Oh...by the way...after my pregnancy, somone told me about a website for diabetic mothers...it's called
www.diabeticmommy.com. Perhaps some of the ladies there migh be of help, too.