RE:how safe is it to have a baby...You asked what my regiment was. My viral load is 654 and my cd4 count is 667. My doctor says that I do not need hiv meds right now! The only meds I am on are insulin and oral diabetes meds! Will the hiv and diabetes cause a problem?

HIV infection should not be an issue in terms of becomeing pregnant or carrying a baby to term. However, even with a low viral load, there is the risk that you will transmit HIV to your baby. While many experts would not advocate trating a non-pregnant woman with your viral load and CD4 counts, most experts strongly recommend therapy for ALL pregnant women in order to reduce the chance of transmitting HIV to the baby. If your viral load remains < 1000 and you are on therapy, your chance of transmitting HIV to your baby is < 1%. You should discuss your options with your care provider before you become pregnant. The Guidelines for the Use of Antretrovirals During Pregnancy, (available on this web site) are a good source for information on recommended therapy regimens and ways to reduce the chance of passing HIV to your baby.

With regard to your diabetes, we know that diabetes can cause problems during pregnancy, so again, it would be important for you to discuss how to best manage your diabetes with your care provider before becoming pregnant.