I can say it is simple or hard to live with diabetes type one and at the same time become pregnant.
Most young women with type one in Tanzania are much scared to get pregnant just because of diabetes. Here is my experience and this is to encourage and motivate every woman with type one diabetes in Tanzania.
As we [all] know the life of a diabetic is like a roller coaster. When you’re pregnant it’s more than that. So this is my story.
I [have been living] 21 years with type one diabetes, got pregnant at the age of 35, and as they say, as you age and the effects increase, so you can imagine how it is. In my first trimester, things were so hard, my Blood sugar level was always high, it used to go up to 20, my doctor had to increase my dose, from 26U to 46U, and also he added short-acting in the afternoon. I used to be very careful with my eating habit, something I was like, l need chocolate or l need something so cold and sweet, and thank God l tried not to grant my wishes.
My second trimester was not bad but during the Ultrasound session, my gynecologist told me if l [wasn’t] managing my BG I will have to either lose the baby or l will do the c section before 40 weeks because of the weight of the baby.
It was hard for me to take it but all l knew was that l will hold my baby in my hands. When I reached 38 weeks my gynecologist suggested that l should have a c section because the baby was about 4kg and l won’t be able to push if l wait and it will be a risk for both of us (me and my unborn baby).
On Dec 16, 2020, God blessed me with a very healthy baby girl. I must say, I was so scared about a lot of things but God took away my fear.
Now, here l am a type one diabetes mother, I am breastfeeding mostly at night, guess what? Now l am facing HYPOGLYCEMIA almost every night so now l have to change my diet, l have to eat much of protein and starch and also my doctor reduced my insulin dose.
People think that a type one woman cant have a baby without type one diabetes. As far as l am concerned l don’t think that this true, but l do check my baby now and then. She is now 5 months old, healthy and kicking always smiling. Though the risk is high l am going to be that kind of mother who will teach her daughter to eat healthily and avoid sweet things. My daughter will always eat veggies and fruits.
I am giving my partner huge thanks because he was and still is here with me and supports me no matter what kind of situation diabetes put me in, l think, we must tell our partner about our health condition and teach them how they can live with us and how they can help us when BG is high or low. By doing this will help us and our mental health.
