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Pregnancy with type 1 diabetes comes with tighter blood sugar targets, changing insulin needs, more appointments, and a whole new level of attention to your diabetes. But what does it actually look like to go through the entire experience?
In this episode, Lauren sits down with Risely Coach Katarina Harmon, who recently welcomed her daughter, Lydia, to talk through her experience from preparing for pregnancy all the way through labor, delivery, breastfeeding, and the first few months postpartum.
Katarina went into pregnancy feeling confident in her diabetes management, with an A1C of 5.9 and months of preparation behind her. But even with that foundation, there was plenty she had to figure out along the way, from insulin needs that changed dramatically throughout pregnancy to advocating for herself, preparing for labor and delivery, and finding a new rhythm with T1D once Lydia was here.
WHAT WE COVER:
- What Katarina did months before trying to conceive to prepare her blood sugars for pregnancy
- How her insulin needs changed throughout each trimester
- Why knowing how to recognize patterns and confidently adjust insulin became so important
- Katarina’s experience using manual mode during much of her pregnancy
- Advocating for yourself with your endocrinology, MFM, and OB teams
- How Katarina prepared her husband to help manage her T1D during labor
- Her 44-hour labor, induction, epidural, and four and a half hours of pushing
- What happened to her insulin needs after giving birth
- Breastfeeding with T1D and navigating postpartum lows
- What Katarina wishes women with T1D knew before beginning pregnancy prep
If pregnancy is something you’re thinking about in the next year or two, you’re actively preparing, or you’re already pregnant, this conversation gives you an honest look at what the experience can actually look like with type 1 diabetes.
WHAT’S NEXT:
🤰 Preparing for pregnancy with T1D?
On October 14th, Lauren is working with a small cohort of women with type 1 diabetes who are preparing to get pregnant in 2027/2028. The 12 week group coaching program is designed to help you get your blood sugars ready for pregnancy while building the skills, patterns, and confidence you’ll need to sustain tighter targets through the changes pregnancy can bring.
If you’re interested, apply through the Risely Health Coaching Application and note that you’re specifically interested in the high touch Pregnancy Prep Program.
Stay connected with us:
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Email us at: hello@riseyhealth.com
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SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Pregnancy with T1D can come with a lot of “How am I ever going to do this?” If this episode made it feel a little more doable, subscribe and leave a review to help another T1D find it when she needs it.
