[Pixel97]

I am insulin resistant, some docs would call it diabetic. I'm taking metformin for it, possibly another medication that will be insulin in pill form. Will this stop me from adopting? I saw that Russia has "diabetes" as a firm reason to deny you. Do they do that in the US too?

[cbrink7]

I would assume that it would consider what termonolgy your doctor uses, whether Russia would consider you a diabetic. I do not know about the US, but I would be really surprises if it was an issue seeing as you are under a doctors care and handling it. But that is just my opinion

I know I am insulin resistant because of PCOS (I was put on Metformin when we were TTC). I know that insulin resistant and diabetic have similar traits, but I also know that no doctor has ever consisdered me diabetic because of it, although I do try to keep my sugar up and control it by eating on schedule.

I hope you find your answers

[Pixel97]

Well, my first doctor who decided I was diabetic didn't know much. Purly a "numbers" person. I have PCOS as well, which is why the Metformin and then due to fertility treatments and the resistance I ended up on insulin injections. Purly because the specialist didn't think the other drugs were safe for pregnancy so said let's just put you on this. He was so sure I was gonna get pregnant...here we are 3 years later....sigh.

I see we have similar journeys so far. 8 years of trying here, 3 years of fertility treatments, 7 IUIs, 1 IVF, 1 miscarriage at 5 months. Done with all that now, I'm running out of time and have come to accept that if I'm to be a mother it's going to be through other avenues than my stupid body which is NOT cooperating.

So at any rate, long story there, all that to say I'm just so sure that because I'm a bit overweight and insulin resistant that they'll turn me down and I just don't think I could take the heartache on top of everything else. If they are gonna do that I'd rather just not try, just accept a life without children. So that's why I'm asking.

Sorry not sure where all that came from, guess I needed to vent!

[minibus]

I don't think that most agencies would turn you down because you're diabetic, as long as you have it under control. Some might, but I haven't ever heard of it. Our adoption worker, when we first started, told us of a couple where one partner had M.S. and was in a wheelchair that got chosen for domestic adoption, to illustrate the point that "You never know what will prompt an eparent/bparent to choose you."

[Cjmeck]

I'm on met too; for pcos symptoms and also insulin resistant. And it was never even an issue. And it is definitely not diabetes so it should not affect your adoption attempts. And, our agency had our doctors do a medical history form and so your doctor could elaborate on the insulin resistance thing not being the same as diabetes.

[cbrink7]

Pixel-vent away! and we do have a lot in common-unfortuanly...I am sorry to hear about your loss-God it was/is hard...

I can not say much about international adoption because we are doing domestic, but it did not even occur to me to mention to my adoption agency about the PCOS insulin resistance because other than affecting me when trying to get pregnant it is a non issue in my life day to day (other than getting pretty grumpy when I don't eat, and it is hard to lose weight...errrr ).

Let us know what happens, but I really do not see you have a problem!

[SummerB]

I CANNOT imagine someone being turned down for being insulin resistent or even diabetic.

I have a very rare form of Muscular dystrophy, that keeps be from being highly functional to very low functioning at times (I use a walker/wheelchair and do not work). When I first started inquiring into adoption, I guess I was naive... I was actually hung up on by a busy woman at a private agency.

She told me flat out "We really don't place babies with sick people".

[BrandyHagz]

I can imagine someone being turned down for both - if they aren't taking care of themselves.

A guy I dated in High School was/is diabetic - he refused to take care of himself. He's now almost blind and had a part of his foot amputated recently. Neither of which would rule him out as a parent - but I would think that not taking care of major medical issues like that would be a red flag.

If you're taking care of yourself, following Dr.'s orders - then no...domestic adoption is NOT something that is out of reach. Cancer survivors adopt as do people with mobility issues and even the forums admin here, Crick, is deaf...

The bottom line - if a Dr. can say "She's fit, healthy and able to parent, with Managed Diabetes" then you're golden.

Summer, regarding your health concerns - I would encourage you to use non-threatening (non-scary) terms with people who know nothing about the issues you face.

What I'd say, in your instance, is that "I'm a healthy 28 year old female with a disorder that sometimes impacts my mobility, but not my ability to care for myself and others". I don't encourage lying - but I do encourage using language that people with no first hand knowledge can understand. What you're trying to convey is "Hey, I use a wheelchair sometimes, so what!?"

I know for a fact that wheelchair bound (100%) people have adopted both domestically and internationally.

You just need someone to understand the scope of your abilities and the limitations you face. Remember, people hear Muscular Dystrophy and they think of the kids from the MDA Jerry's Kids program they see on TV every year.

[jren]

I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and we are home study approved and waiting to be matched with our 2nd domestic adoption. I was not diagnosed when we adopted our DD 4 years ago. My doctor just had to verify that my disease would not affect my ability to give a child a "normal" life - which it does not b/c I'm a stay-at-home mom to my 4 year old and I do it ALL by myself (until DH gets home from work at least). Also, they (agencies/SW) want to know that life expectancy is not affected.

The only thing that will hold it back is perception. Will an expectant mom decline to choose us because I have MS? It's not written in red ink across my profile, and I look fine in pictures and am very active. But if she requests the home study, she will see it. And if she asks if there are any health issues, I'm not going to lie.

I told DD's bmom as soon as I found out. She didn't have any problem with it, but she has an uncle with MS, so she knows about it. Anyway, I think you may just need to be prepared to educate people (social worker or potential birthmom) about your condition and be upfront with any limitations. But there are no guarantees in life and anyone could be diagnosed with anything down the road...