Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kristin on May 7, 2012 at 4:07pm

Are you breastfeeding?

I had my son in June and I am still breastfeeding. My blood sugars can be more unpredictable than usual. My endo said that it is just another variable that I can't control (how much he eats).

Your body did go through many changes. So it does seem normal that the pre-pregnancy basal rates would need to be adjusted. I have already adjusted mine, but we are always tweaking my basal rates -- so it didn't seem that unusual to me.

Hope that things will even out for you soon!

Permalink Reply by Super_sally on May 8, 2012 at 2:41am

Hi Megan!
I know where you're at. My daughter is 6 weeks old now a nd I am having issues with controlling my blood sugar.

Part of it was that there was such a huge effort invested during the pregnancy, that I just don't seem to have the motivation now. Also I am back to 'honeymoon' after the pregnancy and after needing 20+ units of fast acting to eat during the pregnancy and only needing 1 or 2 per meal now (does depend on what I eat), I just can't seem to be bothered.

I don't use a pump so can't comment on that.

Can you redo your basal testing? I am planning to do that - haven't yet.

What are you eating for lunch? Maybe if you can reduce how much insulin you need for lunch you may not get such a drop later?

Permalink Reply by E. Louise on June 7, 2012 at 5:46pm

I was thinking of posting a similar question. My daughter is 7 months old now, and I'm still breastfeeding. Over the last couple of months, I have had to increase my basal rates steadily, and suddenly I'm having to decrease them again. I'm wondering if it has to do with hormones--my cycle has not returned yet. Is that true for you?

Permalink Reply by Super_sally on June 7, 2012 at 10:55pm

I asked a question on this at the last Bernstein telecast.

He said that there could be an impact from prolacting and as prolactin levels rise then insulin resistance will also rise. I guess this happens as breastfeeding gets established.

I would think there is a big effect of hormones. My cycle also not returned yet. but baby is only 2 1/2 months old. We are exclusively breastfeeding, but I am also pumping as I work and go for 6 - 7 hours at some times between pumping / feeding, so I expect my cycle will resume fairly soon.

Permalink Reply by E. Louise on June 8, 2012 at 4:46am

Interesting, thanks for the info. I guess it would make sense that as the baby grows and nurses more, my prolactin levels would rise to make more milk.

Permalink Reply by Megan Ritter on June 8, 2012 at 10:55am

Hi ladies,
It may be a commentary on being a mother, but I completely forgot that I posted about this! Yikes! I am not breastfeeding, which was why I wasn't sure what was going on. My endo assures me that my basal levels aren't that off, so maybe it just feels that way. My A1C was 7.2 last time around, which I knew was likely since its so much harder to manage my sugars with being a mom... although, I'm not knocking 7.2 since I was afraid it would be much higher!

Permalink Reply by Kristin on June 8, 2012 at 1:14pm

I will be smiling if I can get a 7.2 -- I have a feeling mine will be higher! So way to go for now and we will get them down soon :-)

Permalink Reply by E. Louise on June 8, 2012 at 4:28pm

The weird thing is that mine is now 5.7, despite a lot of really high numbers lately (as high as 414 one night--yikes). My A1c never seems to be what I think it will be!!

Permalink Reply by Kristin on June 9, 2012 at 6:37am

Are you having lots of lows that could help bring that average down? My endo always checks A1c and average number of lows per day!

Permalink Reply by E. Louise on June 9, 2012 at 5:21pm

yep, I have been having some lows. And probably some when I'm not testing, too.