Five babies later, my diabetes is under control

 

I found out I was pregnant in 1997 and 30 weeks into my pregnancy, I developed gestational diabetes. Very scary moment for me as I'm not the most confident when it comes to needles.

I gave birth to my first child 4 December 1997 and that was it, diabetes gone. So what did I do........chomped lots of sugar!

However at my 6 week postnataI I had my gtt. Thinking everything would be okay I was positive throughout the day, then come the evening I was knocked down. I had developed diabetes. I was scared, very scared.

Time went on - I got used to the diabetes. I then fell pregnant with number 2 and number 3. No problems with the diabetes, my insulin rose, but not by much.

I then fell pregnant with number 4 and from day 1 my sugar was a massive problem. I couldnt get my sugars down. At each antenatal my insulin would rise by at least 20 units. At the end of my pregnancy i was on 430 units of insulin and I was huge.

It was decided that I would have to have a c-section 10 days before my due date because of the size of the baby. My little whopper was born 10 days early weighng 10 lb 8. I went down to pretty much my pre-pregnancy insulin levels.

I had asked to be sterilised because I had struggled with the pregnancy due to the diabetes. After being told I had been sterilized i continued on enjoying the kids, making the most of it. To be told then at my 6 week postnatal that they had forgotten to sterilize me.

So yes you guessed it.......number 5!

Now this pregnancy was my hardest. I was ballooning by the day. At 30 weeks it looked like I was ready to give birth to twins. I could hardly walk. I couldn't keep my sugars under control. At 34 weeks I went for a scan to check the baby. The consultants were worried as baby was an estimated 8 lb already.

That day I will never forget. I saw the midwife, consultant and diabetic specialist. All very concerned by the whopping 680 units of insulin a day I was taking yet my sugars could not get below 12.

That evening I was admitted. I was told that I needed to stay in over night just to be monitored. I never left. Seven days on a continous insulin drip. Checking my blood sugars everyday all day for seven days. I had to have steroid injections.

Then on the 25th May 2010 I gave birth to my final little baby. At 35 weeks he was born via c-section weighing 8 lb 10.......

I have now and has been confirmed that I am sterilized. Although I'd love another, I would dread to think what would happen in the pregnancy.

All my children are healthy and not showing any signs of diabetes.

I am remembered throughout the hospital as having the highest insulin intake on record, which I must say makes me smile, although it was tough.

I am now on 160 units of insulin daily. Life is perfect :)