Hi! My name is Karina and I am The Diabetic Doula. I have had type 1 diabetes for 27 years and counting. At the age of 11 I was diagnosed with Celiac Sprue (gluten intolerance), and after having my second child I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism. In spite of these diseases (the trifecta, according to health care professionals), I have three wonderful and healthy children.
I created this course because when I was pregnant with my children I didn’t know these things and if I had, I would have had healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and less fear surrounding birth.
The doctors told me all the scary things that could go wrong if my blood sugars weren’t under tight control, however they didn’t tell me all of my options to help keep my blood sugars under tight control or that some of the complications are preventable with certain medications or diet changes.
They didn’t tell me the optimal range for my blood sugar before and during delivery, how often to monitor, etc., which would have significantly reduced my children’s NICU stays.
They didn’t tell me what tests and procedures would be done during pregnancy simply because I have type 1 diabetes. I thought something was wrong with my baby for a while before they told me that it was just a routine test for women with pre-existing diabetes.
Since I felt in the dark with a lot of the care during my pregnancy, I want to help other women with diabetes know what to expect, how to help prevent complications (because you can!), and feel empowered during their pregnancy and birth.