Weeks 22 & 23: the honeymoon’s over

Honeymoon. Over.

The honeymoon is over. They said it would happen, that the halcyon diabetes days of the second trimester wouldn’t last. And they were right. Insulin resistance has arrived.

In all honesty, it’s not been too bad so far. I spent a few days knocking up my basal rates and reducing my carb ratios. Then a couple of days in I also remembered to amend my correction ratios. My total daily dose is up around 30% on what it was a month ago, and things are just going to keep on climbing. I’m using all the same tricks I used to deal with the first trimester insulin resistance and so far so good. It’s not easy, but with the pump and CGM it is definitely manageable and at least it shows that the placenta is doing its job, keeping baby nourished and kicking out massive amounts of hormones.

I’ve switched to maternity infusion set tubing. I hadn’t even thought about this, but having used the shortest tubing available for the last 6 years, I’ve come to the point where when my set is in my back or buttock, the tube is a bit short for me to bring my pump around the front of the bump to bolus. This hadn’t even crossed my mind as something I’d have to deal with, but a quick call to Medtronic for some longer tubing and all is well. Apart from the fact that if I drop my pump now it no longer bungee jumps, it simply hits the floor. I need to stick to thickly carpeted rooms for a while for the sake of the pump.

In non-diabetes related news, I can no longer see my feet and I’m rapidly running out of belly button. I’m never really thought much about my belly button before, but now it’s being stretched beyond its capacity and is on the verge of turning from an innie to an outie, I’m feeling quite sorry for it.