March 10, 2003
Daily Care
Question from North Carolina, USA:
I have had type 1 diabetes for seven years and took 40 units of insulin per day for five years, but when I got pregnant that increased to about 100-120 units per day. Immediately after having the baby, I noticed a sharp decrease to about 25-30 units per day, it has steadily declined for the past eleven months, and I am now taking 5 units a day total. My doctor ordered a C-peptide test. Is it actually possible that I could be making insulin this late in the game? Could something else be making my insulin requirement so low? Could my pancreas just start back up?
Answer:
It is unlikely that your pancreas just started back up. There are people with type 1 diabetes who make low but measurable amounts of insulin, and it may be that they are easier to treat because of some residual function.
Remember that pregnancy is associated with marked insulin resistance. Your decreased requirement may also reflect additional improvements in lifestyle choices you have made since attempting tight control with the pregnancy.
JTL