We were over the moon when we heard that D-blogger Gina Capone, founder of Diabetes Talkfest and The Diabetes Resource, was expecting a little one. We knew that Gina’s road to parenthood was not an easy one. Before conception, pregnancy and childbirth, many women with diabetes struggle to prepare for conception by achieving ultra-tight glucose control. Gina, now in her mid-30s, discusses what it took for her and her husband to have a baby, and we couldn’t be happier it all worked out!
A Guest Post by Gina Capone
Remember when you were a kid and your friends on the playground would make fun of you when they found out that you liked certain a boy or a girl?
It would seem as if the entire playground was chanting in unison that horrible, horrible song that went like this:
{Name} & {Name} sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes comes love, then comes marriage then comes a baby in a baby carriage…
But when you have type 1 diabetes, the song is altered in your head and goes a bit like this…
{Name} & {Name} sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the battle of reaching a safe A1C Baby Range, and then comes a baby in a baby carriage (hopefully!).
For me, it seems as if since the day I got married four years ago, that song has been stuck on that one part: then comes the battle of reaching a safe A1C Baby Range, then comes the battle of reaching a safe A1C Baby Range, then comes the battle of reaching a safe A1C Baby Range... Baby range A1C’s are recommended to be 6.5 or lower, something I had not seen since my first year of diagnosis. Getting to a 6.5 felt like an impossible task.
I talked to my doctor numerous times about pregnancy, asking him what I needed to do. But no matter what I tried, I just could not get to that 6.5 target. The summer of 2009 was my lowest A1C. My diabetes team was happy that I got where I was, but I still didn’t have the go-ahead to try and get pregnant… I tried so hard, and thought the number was going to be so much better. Coming up short felt like a huge slap in the face.
Now, I could have easily tried harder to beat that number, but I didn’t. Instead, I beat myself up about it. It was much easier to feel sorry for myself. As time went on and in defeat I stopped trying to improve the number, it got higher and higher. I felt as though my dream of one day becoming a mother was going to be just that: A DREAM.
Some reoccurring depression I’d experienced in the past came back full force this past year, but I still had it in my head that I wanted to be a mother no matter what my A1C was. So last fall, I bought myself an ovulation monitor that my cousin recommended and started tracking which days were best to conceive. An egg was supposed to pop up on days of ovulation but, of course, no egg came up for months. Along with my risks due to being type 1 and an older mother, I now had concerns of infertility too.
My anxiety was getting so bad about pregnancy, my A1C and the possibility of infertility that I really felt as if I were going crazy. So much so that I left my job, a job I loved at a Fortune 50 company, to focus on my health and achieving what I wanted so bad: to become a mother.
Just when my stress level was at its highest coupled with my crappiest A1C ever, an egg finally decided to ma
ke an appearance on the ovulation monitor. I can’t tell you how excited I was to know that I could indeed ovulate. Phew! What a relief! After a long discussion with my husband, we decided that we would try, even knowing about all of the risks involved. Call me a horrible person or judge me if you will, but it was a decision my husband and I made together and one we will never regret because that same month we conceived a baby!
In one month, I was able to bring down my A1C level almost three full points and by the third month, it was down to an amazing 6.1. It turns out a bun in the oven was just the motivation I needed.
After years of struggling with my diabetes, all of a sudden everything just feels so easy. Checking every two hours, correcting, bolusing on time, eating right and just being aware of what was going on doesn’t bother me anymore. For the first time since being diagnosed, I feel as though my head is absolutely clear of all of the negative feelings I once had toward living a life with diabetes. It makes me think, why the hell was I stressing out all of these years?
Having diabetes and being pregnant isn’t always the easiest, and I am doing the best that I can everyday to make sure that the baby and I stay as healthy as possible. Having a loving and supportive husband who checks me every night (sometimes twice per night and once before he goes to work in the morning) to help make sure blood sugars are in target range also helps me tremendously.
As I sit here and reflect on my life up until this point in my 7th month of pregnancy, I can’t help but think of all of the obstacles I have gone through and how this baby boy growing inside of me has already changed my life for the better. I can’t believe that I, a person who was once so broken inside and full of hate for a disease she never wanted, is finally able to heal and is given the greatest gift of all: LIFE.
Who would have thought that the greatest help of all in dealing with my diabetes would be someone who I feel love for unconditionally, but have yet to meet. In three months’ time, I will be able to hold my son, look at him smiling, and whisper in his ear: THANK YOU!
Thank you, Gina, for this beautiful post. I’m so incredibly grateful for my own three healthy children, who remind me every day why “I can do this” with diabetes.
It is so amazing how, in an instant, your care no longer revolves around just you, but now this other person who depends on you being healthy, and the new drive that it gives you to BE healthier no matter what.
Congrats Gina. Babies are a wonderful blessing!
Gina, this was a beautiful post. I am so happy for you and hope the rest of your pregnancy and the delivery go smoothly! I’ve heard so many great A1c readings from pregnant women, I’m wondering if that’s the key? lol
Stacey,
My sister told me I should be pregnant all the time so my numbers are always in range haha!!
congrats, Gina! I am so happy for you! it has been fun sharing our experiences over the past many months.
I agree that there is no motivation like carrying a child for improving diabetes care; I think my diabetes management will forever be changed for the better as a result.
I’m so happy for all three of you GIna! I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly.
I really liked your post.Really thank you!
yay Gina!!!!!
Congratulations Gina and Mike! you look terrific! I’m so proud of you!
all my love,
landi
Congratulations! So happy for you. And that baby is lucky to have you as his mother. Wow! How does one get an A1c down three points so quickly? Amazing. We test our DD two hours after eating but if high, of course, stays high until correction kicks in. Wonder if you had to lower your carb intake quite a bit also in order to achieve your goals; sure it wasn’t easy. I am glad you quit your job, so you focus completely on the little one. Good timing.
Julia,
It was really hard work to get it down so fast.
Mostly because I was scared to death. But I did start eating better carbs and making sure to bolus 15 minute before eating. And also add in the dreaded morning sickness as well!
It is a full time job but worth every second! I have a 23 year old to prove it. Good luck!
Congrats on your pregnancy and looking forward to reading the post about the happy arrival of your little treasure
Wow! Tears and goosebumps reading this post, Gina. I am so happy for you and your husband….I hope this is the start of not only a new life, but a more positive outlook on D!
[...] The Best Motivational Post follows a rather common theme in the awards this month. It goes to Gina Capone’s guest-post on DiabetesMine: How Pregnancy With Diabetes Saved My Life. [...]
Gina! I’m so excited for you and your growing family — and so inspired by your hard work to get your A1C down. Congrats!
Congrats Gina, it is not easy of having diabetes while being pregnant, You have to double check your diet.
I was diagnosed at age 2 with T1D. I remember being told I would not be able to have children. At 26, I had my daughter slightly before Christmas. My second daughter came along when I was 30. Last year, both my daughters had a daughter within 2 months of each other. I retired shortly after at 63 and get to babysit regularly. The joy and wonder conbtinue daily.
Hi Gina, I understand how you feel. I have the same issue two years ago. No worry, with proper medical care everything will be fine.
Fabulous post!! So much happiness to you! Our children have a way of motivating us and changing us from the moment they belong to us. Good luck with it all! – Mama to 3 kids who are my heart and sould (one with T1D).
[...] Gina Capone shares a powerful story of how pregnancy with diabetes saved her life at DiabetesMine. [...]
[...] Gina Capone shares a powerful story of how pregnancy with diabetes saved her life at DiabetesMine. [...]
Dear Gina,
I am an endocrinologist working in Egypt. you have indeed reminded me of all those great ladies who have successfully beaten diabetes and hypertension throughout there pregnancies and managed to deliver magnificent babies, I bow to their great determination and strength