Woman finds out she’s diabetic only after losing unborn child
For Vanita Saxena, a mother’s concern and a miscarriage led to a discovery: She had diabetes. In 2015, Vanita had a miscarriage and consequently suffered from depression. “I had a miscarriage and had to travel to India for a necessary procedure,” she said.
After the incident, Vanita, 37, felt very lethargic and dizzy. This was when her mother suggested that she visit a doctor to get her sugar levels checked.
“This was when I discovered that I was diabetic… We were trying for a second baby and diabetes was among one of the reasons why I lost my unborn child,” she told Khaleej Times.
Vanita’s husband is also diabetic since he was 32 years old, but no one from her side of the family was diabetic.
“Since I wanted to conceive, the doctor suggested that I take insulin to keep my blood sugar levels normal,” said Vanita, adding that she started taking the dose once at night for the next two years until she conceived.
“During pregnancy, my sugar levels shot up to 300 because I developed gestational diabetes and I had to take insulin four times a day until I delivered,” she said.
For Vanita, stress was one reason why she developed diabetes. “I stressed over losing my baby… and, by that time, I was pre-diabetic but did not know it,” she said.
Today, she has made changes to her lifestyle. She started eating healthy and getting some exercise. Her baby is one year old and though she is not working, she still keeps herself active.
“Until now, if I do not take insulin, my sugar levels shoot up,” she said.
“I advise people to be more aware of their condition, especially if they are feeling symptoms such as I did,” she said. She also said that if possible, people should avoid stress, and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
I stressed over losing my baby … and, by that time, I was prediabetic but did not know it.”
Vanita Saxena, expat