I found out I was pregnant on November 1st 2022.
After living with Type 1 diabetes for so many years, seeing that positive pregnancy test brought a completely different kind of excitement—and a whole new set of things to think about.
I remember being especially excited about my first ultrasound. I couldn’t wait to see the baby for the first time and hear that little heartbeat at my 12-week appointment.
My pregnancy was considered high-risk because of Type 1 diabetes, so I had a team taking care of me, including a high-risk doctor, an endocrinologist, and my OB-GYN. I had many more appointments and much more attention to my blood sugar than I was used to.
But honestly, the beginning was wonderful.
First Trimester: A Surprisingly Easy Start
My first trimester was actually pretty good.
My blood sugar was under control, I was in a happy mood, and I didn’t have morning sickness. I could eat quite a bit without the big blood sugar spikes I used to worry about.
Overall, it felt like a surprisingly easy start to pregnancy. I was excited, happy, and enjoying the feeling that a little baby was growing inside me.
Second Trimester: Feeling the Baby—and Feeling the Changes
The second trimester brought some of my favorite moments. I remember feeling the baby kick for the first time, and suddenly the pregnancy felt even more real.
But as the baby grew, my body started changing too. I began having backaches, and my blood sugar became much more unpredictable.
The easy blood sugar control I had experienced during the first trimester started to change. I found myself paying much closer attention and making adjustments throughout the pregnancy.
Third Trimester: The Hardest Part
The third trimester was, honestly, horrible.
My back pain became much worse, and the sciatic nerve pain started traveling down my leg. At the same time, my blood sugar seemed to have a mind of its own.
Keeping my blood sugar in range became a huge focus. I remember being told that higher blood sugar could contribute to increased fluid, and in my head I imagined my baby just happily floating around in there. 😂
I became extremely focused on keeping my numbers under control.
My meals became pretty repetitive. I ate a lot of protein, fruits, and vegetables, and kept carbohydrates very limited based on how I was managing my pregnancy.
Grilled chicken and strawberries became my go-to meal. I also loved blueberries and cheese for a while, until I eventually had to cut back on cheese too.
And then there was the banana water.
I remember boiling a peeled banana, covering it, and drinking the water. Looking back now, I honestly have to laugh and think, what were those days?
Pregnancy brain, diabetes management, food restrictions, back pain, sciatic pain, and a baby growing bigger every week. It was a lot.
A note: The food choices I describe here were part of my own pregnancy experience and how I approached my diabetes management at the time. I’m sharing them as part of my story, not as a diet or recommendation for other people with Type 1 diabetes during pregnancy.
The End of Pregnancy
By the final weeks of pregnancy, I was ready to meet my baby.
And on top of everything pregnancy was bringing, I was still working a 40-hour-a-week hybrid job. So my days were a mix of work, doctor appointments, blood sugar management, trying to stay comfortable, and preparing for the baby.
My body felt like it had been working overtime. Between the back pain, sciatic nerve pain, changing blood sugar, and the constant attention to diabetes, those last weeks felt very long.
At the same time, there was so much excitement. I knew I was getting close to meeting the little person I had been thinking about for months.
I could plan my meals, monitor my blood sugar, go to my appointments, keep working, and do everything I could—but pregnancy still had a way of surprising me.
Eventually, the waiting was over.
In 2023, I became a mom.
What Pregnancy Taught Me
Pregnancy taught me that managing Type 1 diabetes can feel very different depending on the season of life you’re in.
The first trimester surprised me by being easier than I expected. The second brought the excitement of feeling my baby move. And the third tested me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
I learned that I could prepare, plan, monitor my blood sugar, go to every appointment, and still have days that felt completely unpredictable.
I also learned how much my body could handle. I was working, managing Type 1 diabetes, growing a baby, dealing with back and sciatic pain, and trying to prepare for motherhood all at the same time.
Looking back, I’m proud of how I made it through that chapter. It wasn’t perfect, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.
And then, in 2023, all the appointments, blood sugar checks, food planning, aches, worries, and waiting led to the moment I had been looking forward to for months.
I finally got to meet my baby.
Pregnancy became one of the biggest chapters of my Type 1 diabetes story, but it was only the beginning of an entirely new chapter: motherhood.
A Note from Lady Clay
Everything shared on Lady Clay is based on my personal experience and is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace guidance from your doctor or diabetes care team. Every pregnancy and Type 1 diabetes journey is different.