My First Trimester With Type 1 Diabetes: The Joy, The Nausea, and Everything in Between

Finding Out I Was Pregnant

The last week of May 2025 changed my life forever. After months and months of trying, I found out that we were pregnant. I was completely overjoyed. For a few days, I just let myself soak in the happiness before thinking about blood sugars, insulin adjustments, or appointment schedules. I decided that I would give my experience with pregnancy and T1D.

As someone who’s had Type 1 diabetes for nearly 15 years, I knew this was going to be a team sport. But I also knew that women with Type 1 diabetes can absolutely have healthy pregnancies. The American Diabetes Association reminds us that while it’s considered high-risk, careful management from the start can make a huge difference (ADA, 2024).

First Trimester Symptoms

Fatigue, Nausea, and Sleepless Nights

My first trimester hit me with zero energy, constant nausea, and insomnia.

Morning sickness (more like all-day sickness) made diabetes management tricky. I learned to wait to bolus until after I ate, just in case I couldn’t finish my food. This helped me avoid blood sugar lows caused by insulin without the carbs to match.

Many women with T1D actually see more low blood sugars in early pregnancy because insulin sensitivity increases, especially in the first trimester (ADA, 2024). Thanks to my closed-loop insulin pump and CGM, I didn’t have an increase in lows because my system caught them before they happened.

Medical Care and Support

Once I told my OB I had Type 1 diabetes, she sent me straight to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist.

There’s also a diabetes educator in the MFM office who works with me to fine-tune my care plan. This extra layer of support is exactly what the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends for pregnant women with diabetes: a multidisciplinary team that keeps both mom and baby safe (ACOG, 2024).

Interestingly, my insulin needs didn’t drop like they do for many women in the first trimester. Mine went slightly up, which just goes to show that no two pregnancies are the same.

Emotional Health During Pregnancy and T1D

Here’s the truth: my biggest fear going into the first trimester wasn’t diabetes. It was losing another baby.

We had previously experienced a loss, and that was always in the back of my mind. So, I read everything I could, and I talked to other moms who’d gone through pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes. That community made a huge difference.

The CDC stresses the importance of mental health support during high-risk pregnancies, especially for women managing chronic conditions (CDC, 2024).

What I Ate (and What I Couldn’t)

With nausea ruling my life, my diet turned into “whatever I could keep down.” Yogurt, bagels, and pretzels became my “survival” foods.

The UK National Health Service says that eating small, frequent meals (even if they’re not perfectly balanced) can help control nausea while keeping blood sugar from swinging too much (NHS, 2024). That’s exactly what I did, and I took insulin for whatever I managed to eat.

Diabetes perfection took a back seat to morning sickness reality.

Exercise and Energy Levels

I’d love to say I stayed active, but honestly? I was a lump on a log. The Mayo Clinic encourages light physical activity during pregnancy for better blood sugar control (Mayo Clinic, 2024), but my body was telling me to rest, and I listened. I was so exhausted that I didn’t even want to leave the couch when I came home from work. We went for several weeks eating dinner from our couch so I didn’t have to walk up and down the stairs.

Advice for Other T1D Moms-to-Be

If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant and you have Type 1 diabetes, here’s what I want you to remember:

1. Enjoy the moment.
   
2. Trust your team. You’ll have specialists, educators, and doctors to help you through every step.
3. Breathe. It’s okay to take it one day at a time.
4. The morning sickness will probably end, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the 1st trimester fatigue.

Pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes isn’t without challenges, but it is absolutely possible to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. The first trimester is all about learning, adjusting, and trusting the process, nausea, bagels, and all.

Additional Resources:

• American Diabetes Association (ADA)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• UK National Health Service (NHS)
• Mayo Clinic
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  

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