Pregnancy with type 1 diabetes: a perfect plan
Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience. For women with type 1 diabetes, it also means paying extra attention to glucose management throughout the journey. Balancing pregnancy and diabetes can be challenging, but with the right support and information, it becomes more manageable. In this article series, we’ll share guidance to help you feel prepared and supported, before, during, and after pregnancy.
Have questions? You're not alone. Online information can be conflicting, and what works for others may not be right for you. The best way to get advice that’s safe and tailored to your needs is to speak with your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes management.
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 with a plan can help you prepare and put helpful strategies in place, such as starting a CGM or a hybrid closed-loop system. 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/L3 – 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 optimum 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.