I am 27 years old and I have had type1 diabetes for 8 and a half years.

I got it when I was pregnant with my son and I am the only one in my family with it. Having this has cost me my little girl. I lost her when i was 9 mths pregnant and I nearly died at the same time.

I also have two other kids, she would have been number 3.

I had what they call metabolic acidosis. It turned my blood to acid and I spent 4 days in a diabetic coma and was so close to death.

But out of all this I have learnt to live life and not let diabetes live it for me. I love life and I spend every day with my two lovely children. I monitor my blood levels and take my insulin every morning and every night, but I don't let it get me down.

Due to what happend to me I take control of it.

I believe the minute you let it take control, this will happen to you.

 

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Editors note: Pregnancy is a complex time and there will be changes in the body that are not always easy to manage. However with the variety of treatment options available, close monitoring and working with your doctors in pregnancy, most women with diabetes will have healthy pregnancies and babies.

See this booklet.
http://www.realitycheck.org.au/DiabetesAndPregnancy2005.pdf

Metabolic acidosis is a serious complication of diabetes that can occur particularly in type 1 diabetes.  You might have heard of DKA or diabetic ketoacidosis.

This is due to a reduction in the effective action of circulating insulin and the increase in counter-regulatory hormones in the body. Glucose is unable to enter the cells when this happens and accumulates in the blood. Glucose needs adequate amounts of insulin to transport it out to the body cells.

This then leads to a range of things happening in the body including the development of ketones. If not treated this can be life threatening.

Signs and symptoms of ketones include thirst, weeing a lot, fatigue, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, fast heart beat. Under normal conditions DKA is preventable in the main through monitoring and adequate insulin injections, but if you are sick with an illness, whether your BGL is high or not, you should always keep a check on ketones. This is important in preventing DKA occurring. These guidelines are even more important during special times such as pregnancy.

See below
http://www.rochediagnostics.com.au/Accu-Chek/resources/DKA_Consumer.pdf