My Journey From Gestational Diabetes to Type 1 Diabetes

Being a mother has truly given my life meaning, in more ways than one! On my journey through my first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, the one that goes away right? Well in many cases, I had believed this as so.

When my daughter was 18 months old I was just getting used to being a new mom. But life as I knew it completely changed. I was tired, the kind of tired where your arms and legs feel like lead weights and you struggle to get out of bed and walk up a flight of stairs. My already petite frame became shriveled and gaunt. I couldn’t get enough coffee (most days I still can’t!). I was so tired and thirsty… coffee would do the trick right?

After all, it’s normal to be tired as a new mother. I started to stare at some sorta weird lump on my foot…OMG a lump! It wasn’t the tiredness or thirst or running to the bathroom every 30 min that sent me into my doctor’s office. It was the lump on my foot and sudden weight loss. Did I have cancer? Seriously I thought the worst! The absolute worst and I was scared for my life.

No, it wasn’t cancer…phew! After a long week in and out of the hospital came an official diagnosis: Type 1 Diabetes. What a relief! And suddenly there I was, testing blood sugars 8x/day, injecting insulin 5x daily and counting carbohydrates of everything I ate in aims to avoid the highs and lows that accompany life with Type 1 diabetes. Oh and all while changing diapers and running after a very mobile and energetic toddler!

I have been blessed with a wonderful supportive family, loving husband. I am thankful for everything life has handed me, even diabetes and the life lessons it has taught me. I know, I know… that sounds ridiculous! Thankful for having a chronic disease?!

I won’t “sugar coat” it…no pun intended. Life with diabetes is not always easy. I often need an outlet to vent my frustrations about an unexpected low blood sugar, an insulin pump failure that awakens me at 3am, that Starbucks “sugar-free” mocha coffee that sends my blood glucose skyrocketing to 300! Yeah, it’s a true pain to have to live with really.

But it has shown me that human life is a precious and fragile thing. That staying healthy and taking care of oneself goes far beyond just eating well and exercise and monitoring my blood sugar. It has taught me what is truly important in life and to embrace it!

I began a blog at 10 weeks pregnant with my son ( now age 2!) as a therapeutic diary in hopes to offer others support and insights into family life, motherhood, gestational diabetes, and Type 1 diabetes….the ups and downs, highs and lows. The emotional roller coaster that one living with diabetes and just being a mother encounters on a daily basis. Enjoy reading more about me if interested!

Pumped To Be A Mother