Diabetes & Pregnancy

I was hoping for some help and what better place to find it than women in the know!

I'm a type 1 diabetic who moved here in January this year with my husband and, now, 11 month old baby. We are here on a 2 year work visa with the possibility of it being extended/residency visa.

I have just found out that I am pregnant (week 4). I have registered with my local doctor in Wadestown but have been unable to get an appointment with them until next week. The appointment is to discuss my healthcare and get an up to date prescription etc. but now will also be to inform him/her of the pregnancy. As I understand it, you need to let your GP know asap in NZ. Back in the UK you needed to wait until 8 weeks so this is a bit of a learning experience for me.

Are there any type 1 diabetics around that could let me know how the healthcare system works here in Wellington? Do you have annual appointments with a specialist at the hospital or is it dealt with through your GP (I asked and was told it was in-house at the doctors). In relation to pregnancy is it still dealt with in-house or will I see an specialist obs at hospital? Again, I asked but was told that pregnancy is dealt with my a local midwife - should I track one down or is that done by the doctor? Do you get extra scans? In the UK I had them at 9, 12, 20, 32, 34 and 36 weeks to check on growth.

I previously had an emergency csection after 3 days of failed induction so it would be interesting to hear other people's birth stories in relation to diabetes.

For information, I have private medical through my husband's job - although I don't know if it will cover pregnancy! My previous pregnancy was VERY well planned and this one has come as quite a shock. I'm reasonably well controlled though but think a HBA1C will be necessary to put my mind at rest. My levels have been quite difficult to keep down for the last few days but I had this with my first pregnancy - it was my trigger to know that I was pregnant in the first place.

I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

firstly congrats on pregnancy :)

i have diabeties when preg - i see a diabetic team at the hospital once a month. and am under the care of an ob.

to get refered to ob - go to your gp and they will write the letter. you should be seen within the next week or so.

Your gp will do antenatal blood tests and check your sugar levels for you.

you will prob have to see a dietician too. also from what i hear get in touch with a midwife soon too as since u had c section some prefer to not have paitients who have had them in the past.

Good luck

IM a T1, but im in auckland. You will need to get your GP to refer you to the high risk maternity unit at the hospital. Again, cos im in auckland I cant tell you anything about how wellington works.

Also, for T1s finding a mw is slightly different as we ARE and always are considered high risk. you can get a private mw BUT you are unlikely to find one that will work with a high risk patient with Type one diabetes (its a huge bug bear within the T1 mother group up here..) You can get a private ob though, no sweat. Majority of the time you will be under the care of a team (MW, physician and ob) through the hospital..

Oh, sorry but ive thought of more lol
I found that my first 8 weeks my levels sat alot higher then normal, so I combatted with a higher basal and tougher boluses .Are you on MDI or a pump? Do you know what your last hba1c was and when? They'll probably give full bloods for diabetes stuff too

Definitely let your doc know asap. They prefer to hear about it to get the referals in place.

Depending on your control you will either see an endocrinologist 6 monthly or three monthly (outside of pregnancy).

IN nz, t1's are induced at 38 weeks. IM not sure how they will work yours, they may offer an elective CS to avoid that risks associated with VBAC.

Scans - yes, you should get a few more to watch size etc. If you are sure of your dates they may still offer a dating scan at around 7 weeks, then 12. But more scans definitely later on in the pregnancy..

Edited by KcP

my diabetic nurse doesnt worry if under 6.8 after a meal as long as its 5 or under b4 my next meal. she says if its happening regular and not under 5 b4 a meal then insulin goes up. They have tightened the levels from when i had gd with ds who is nearly 5. The lower to 6.5 the better though.

Your Dr doesn't know immigration apparently! Pregnancy is covered under any visa longer than 2 years. Here you go! And this too!
I'd ask your midwife (since she sounds on the ball), or your Dr if that's easier, to redo your forms so you don't have to pay for bloods.


Edited by Bky