Pregnancy with type 1 diabetes: a perfect plan
Becoming a parent is an extraordinary act of love. For women with type 1 diabetes, there is an extra focus on managing glucose levels during this time. Juggling pregnancy and type 1 diabetes can feel like having too big shoes to fill. In our article series about pregnancy and type 1 diabetes, we will provide you with information to feel ready and safe before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Are you full of questions? You are not alone! Online research might offer contradictory recommendations. Shared experiences from other women may not apply to you. Before making changes to your diabetes therapy management, please consult your health care team.
Why is it important to plan my pregnancy?
Pregnancy outcomes for mothers with type 1 diabetes and their babies are highly impacted by the degree of glucose management at conception1 and during pregnancy2.
Approaching pregnancy as a “project” will allow you to plan and put strategies in place (like start using a CGM or a hybrid closed-loop system) to optimise your glucose management. Additionally, your endocrinologist and obstetrician-gynaecologist (OBGYN) might be able to help you optimise health parameters prior to trying to become pregnant.
Even though pregnancy outcomes are highly variable from person to person1, time spent in the pregnancy target range (TIRp) – 3.5–7.8 mmol/L (63–140 mg/dL)3 – seems to be the factor that closest correlates with risks for both the mother and baby. Every 5 % increase in TIR is associated with improved obstetrical and neonatal outcomes4.
Have you decided to have a baby?
The best pre-conception plan is one that gets you to the ideal pre-pregnancy glucose target as fast and safely as possible. In short, a plan that shortens the planning stage.
Ideally, you will start seeing your healthcare team at least 6-12 months before stopping contraception, so they can help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy. While preparing for pregnancy, glucose levels should be tightly managed without compromising your safety, ideally achieving an HbA1c < 6.5 % (48 mmol/mol)5 prior to trying to get pregnant. myLoop can help you achieve these ambitious glucose targets.
Could parenthood be in your plans in the coming years?
Keep in mind that most insulin pump contracts have a multi-year duration. Therefore, your choice of therapy today could impact how you manage diabetes during a future pregnancy. The Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system myLoop is powered by CamAPS FX, the app indicated for pregnancy.