So I’m sort of in your club - having been diagnosed T1D at 37+ around 10 months ago (now 38). I spent a lot of time trawling the internet and there’s a world of information out there… but sifting for the relevant and reliable stuff is exhausting - so I would suggest reading one (or both of the following):
Take Control of Type 1 Diabetes - Dr David Cavan
think like a pancreas - Gary Scheiner
Beyond reliable information about T1D, the other thing that really helped me was getting a freestyle Libre, (there are other options of CGM/FlashGM available) - these devices provide granularity and monitoring not available with finger prick tests ( plus, finger prick tests suck!). My Libre enabled me to better understand and to really “know” the effect of insulin and food - to better analyse my data. Importantly the Libre gave me the ability and confidence to adjust my doses - to go for a run, to feel “normal” - (the libre 3 will no doubt be even better whenever it arrives!). 100% recommended.
Also. Food is a classic worry - my advise is to carb count - start early - and adjust you Bolus accordingly. But don’t stress too much I cut out all carbs and then re introduced them individually to understand their effects.
Exercise is also important- I can’t speak for anyone else, but if I sit around doing nothing my insulin demands increase - so even something as small as a couple of miles walking makes my body more sensitive to insulin- and lowers how much I need to dose…. All that said - you can only really make adjustments to your dosing when you have the necessary granularity and can understand the input /output. Knowledge is power- read up, get a libre and/or talk to your DN before adjusting your dose.
The only other thing I can offer, as someone a few months ahead, is that you are currently on a journey - you will have ups and downs both with regards to you sugars and with regards to your emotions - it is a rollercoaster! Grieve, analyse your feelings to the change in your world - you are not the you of before- know it and own it.
And just as important as acknowledging that you are now different, you have to accept that you won’t always get it right - your levels will not always be perfect. It’s an emotional rollercoaster! It is genuinely horrible when you get an inexplicable high after having weeks of “control” - accept you will be frustrated, that you will be angry and remember your “sick day rules”. And when you get really frustrated with the works know that we are here for you in those moments when it’s all crazy!
My final thought is that T1D is now central to your existence- live it and own it! It’s your diagnosis and your diabetes - but we are here to help.
Take Control of Type 1 Diabetes - Dr David Cavan
think like a pancreas - Gary Scheiner
Beyond reliable information about T1D, the other thing that really helped me was getting a freestyle Libre, (there are other options of CGM/FlashGM available) - these devices provide granularity and monitoring not available with finger prick tests ( plus, finger prick tests suck!). My Libre enabled me to better understand and to really “know” the effect of insulin and food - to better analyse my data. Importantly the Libre gave me the ability and confidence to adjust my doses - to go for a run, to feel “normal” - (the libre 3 will no doubt be even better whenever it arrives!). 100% recommended.
Also. Food is a classic worry - my advise is to carb count - start early - and adjust you Bolus accordingly. But don’t stress too much I cut out all carbs and then re introduced them individually to understand their effects.
Exercise is also important- I can’t speak for anyone else, but if I sit around doing nothing my insulin demands increase - so even something as small as a couple of miles walking makes my body more sensitive to insulin- and lowers how much I need to dose…. All that said - you can only really make adjustments to your dosing when you have the necessary granularity and can understand the input /output. Knowledge is power- read up, get a libre and/or talk to your DN before adjusting your dose.
The only other thing I can offer, as someone a few months ahead, is that you are currently on a journey - you will have ups and downs both with regards to you sugars and with regards to your emotions - it is a rollercoaster! Grieve, analyse your feelings to the change in your world - you are not the you of before- know it and own it.
And just as important as acknowledging that you are now different, you have to accept that you won’t always get it right - your levels will not always be perfect. It’s an emotional rollercoaster! It is genuinely horrible when you get an inexplicable high after having weeks of “control” - accept you will be frustrated, that you will be angry and remember your “sick day rules”. And when you get really frustrated with the works know that we are here for you in those moments when it’s all crazy!
My final thought is that T1D is now central to your existence- live it and own it! It’s your diagnosis and your diabetes - but we are here to help.
