Diagnosed just over 2 weeks ago

[rebrascora]

You can do BERTIE online which is a DAFNE equivalent and I think you can just self refer free of charge to that, but a big part of the benefit of DAFNE is actually spending 5 days with other Type 1 diabetics and learning from them as much as the course content itself, although the course is very much geared around sharing results and learning to problem solve each others' issues because you yourself might face those issues in the future. It really is fascinating to find how different we all are even though we all have the same condition. The course tutors are highly qualified DSNs or diabetes dieticians so you get the bonus of having some a DSN go over your results every day for a week and ID problems and suggest solutions and they also may advocate for you with the consultant if they feel that a change of insulin is appropriate or some new tech may benefit you. So even if you do BERTIE online, still get your name down for a DAFNE as I am sure you will benefit from it.

2 weeks is still very early days and totally normal to be anxious. I will be honest that my first few hypos were pretty scary, presumably because my body was used to my levels having been much higher and also no doubt because I feared them. Now I average a very minor one most days and I can just throw a couple of jelly babies into my mouth and give them a good chew and carry on with whatever I was doing with very minimal disruption. I still sense them very well though.
A member here was given the suggestion of self imposing a minor hypo at a time and place when they had support and plenty of time to deal with it in the comfort of their own home, by injecting a unit of insulin when they were already in range. I think there is merit to doing that in a controlled environment and learning what to look out for, how you feel and how to treat it...... Not sure if you have been told the 15 rule, but the advice is 15g quick acting carbs, wait 15 minutes and then retest with a finger prick. If you are still below 4 then repeat. 15g carbs is about 3 jelly babies or 4 Dextrose tablets. I have them portioned up so that I am not temped to take too many as once the hypo hunger hits, it is hard to stop at a sensible amount because you may feel ravenous! If you take too much you end up too high and on a BG rollercoaster.
Anyway, as soon as your levels come up above 4 you then have 10-15g slower acting carbs, like a digestive biscuit or a slice of wholemeal toast to stabilize things. I now know that sometimes I just need 1 or 2 jelly babies and I don't need any slower releasing carbs otherwise I go too high, but you only learn how your body responds through experience, so you follow the 15 rule until you are confident to change your hypo treatment plan to what works better for you.

 

[Laura24]

You can do BERTIE online which is a DAFNE equivalent and I think you can just self refer free of charge to that, but a big part of the benefit of DAFNE is actually spending 5 days with other Type 1 diabetics and learning from them as much as the course content itself, although the course is very much geared around sharing results and learning to problem solve each others' issues because you yourself might face those issues in the future. It really is fascinating to find how different we all are even though we all have the same condition. The course tutors are highly qualified DSNs or diabetes dieticians so you get the bonus of having some a DSN go over your results every day for a week and ID problems and suggest solutions and they also may advocate for you with the consultant if they feel that a change of insulin is appropriate or some new tech may benefit you. So even if you do BERTIE online, still get your name down for a DAFNE as I am sure you will benefit from it.

2 weeks is still very early days and totally normal to be anxious. I will be honest that my first few hypos were pretty scary, presumably because my body was used to my levels having been much higher and also no doubt because I feared them. Now I average a very minor one most days and I can just throw a couple of jelly babies into my mouth and give them a good chew and carry on with whatever I was doing with very minimal disruption. I still sense them very well though.
A member here was given the suggestion of self imposing a minor hypo at a time and place when they had support and plenty of time to deal with it in the comfort of their own home, by injecting a unit of insulin when they were already in range. I think there is merit to doing that in a controlled environment and learning what to look out for, how you feel and how to treat it...... Not sure if you have been told the 15 rule, but the advice is 15g quick acting carbs, wait 15 minutes and then retest with a finger prick. If you are still below 4 then repeat. 15g carbs is about 3 jelly babies or 4 Dextrose tablets. I have them portioned up so that I am not temped to take too many as once the hypo hunger hits, it is hard to stop at a sensible amount because you may feel ravenous! If you take too much you end up too high and on a BG rollercoaster.
Anyway, as soon as your levels come up above 4 you then have 10-15g slower acting carbs, like a digestive biscuit or a slice of wholemeal toast to stabilize things. I now know that sometimes I just need 1 or 2 jelly babies and I don't need any slower releasing carbs otherwise I go too high, but you only learn how your body responds through experience, so you follow the 15 rule until you are confident to change your hypo treatment plan to what works better for you.

Ohh yes I did see that course online today actually. I’m going to try that evenings after work and see how I get on. My dietitian said she will put my name down for the DAFNE course so that is good! The course sounds really and helpful from what you have said up there. I would definitely benefit from it.

Yes, I am really scared to have a hypo as I will probably panic and stress out. I make sure my BG is a bit higher before bed. I’ve been noticing my levels sometimes drop even though I’ve had lunch say but works out I may have been taking my bolus injections too close together like breakfast and lunch. I’m not on a ratio yet either so I’m just taking the same amount of units so I feel I’m constantly making sure I’m eating enough carbs at meals.

Oh yes I know about that 15 rule thanks! Good to be reminded though. I have jelly babies, small cans of coke, small cartons of fruit juice, dextrose etc. not sure what will be best for me. I haven’t done any exercise yet either as I have no idea how that all works! So hopefully in the new year ( when everyone decides to go back to the gym lol for New Years resolutions) I’ll get back to it.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

However during the night at times I’m almost every hour which isn’t good.

Yes, that's not so good. Sleeping is important!

 

[Pat91]

Hello,
I hope you are well. It’s nice to speak to someone who is fairly new and same age. How did you feel at the start ? Right now I’m having more downs than ups. It is the only thing I think about right now. Did you feel the same? Did it just take some time to settle and feel better about it? Sorry still learning how to use this form. Managed to reply but not directly to you!

I felt really overwhelmed for quite a while after my diagnosis and lost a huge amount of weight (8 stone) because I was too scared to eat any substantial sized meals. It has definitely got a lot easier and has become second nature now. It doesn't stop you from the doing things you used to do like nights out and so on you just have to be a bit more careful. I think the main thing I have learned is not to expect perfection as no two days are the same.

 

[Laura24]

I felt really overwhelmed for quite a while after my diagnosis and lost a huge amount of weight (8 stone) because I was too scared to eat any substantial sized meals. It has definitely got a lot easier and has become second nature now. It doesn't stop you from the doing things you used to do like nights out and so on you just have to be a bit more careful. I think the main thing I have learned is not to expect perfection as no two days are the same.

That’s understandable, I am feeling the same although I’m still eating the same foods etc I’m probably eating more than before this. 8 stone is quite a lot, did seeing your team help you with that?
Yeh I haven’t been drinking at all since my diagnosis and not planning on for a while although I do have stuff coming up which I would normally drink at. Right now a night out seems scary and last place I’d wanna go on.

Yeh I seem to be learning from this forum and other people you can’t get perfection. Do you use the libre too?

 

[Pat91]

That’s understandable, I am feeling the same although I’m still eating the same foods etc I’m probably eating more than before this. 8 stone is quite a lot, did seeing your team help you with that?
Yeh I haven’t been drinking at all since my diagnosis and not planning on for a while although I do have stuff coming up which I would normally drink at. Right now a night out seems scary and last place I’d wanna go on.

Yeh I seem to be learning from this forum and other people you can’t get perfection. Do you use the libre too?

I personally have had very little help from the guys at the hospital, wether that's because of the pandemic or not I'm not sure ? It's good that your still on your normal diet as with type1 there is no need to eat any different than someone without diabeties type1.yeah I have had the libre since June and I love it. And so reassuring with the high/low alarms.

 

[Laura24]

I personally have had very little help from the guys at the hospital, wether that's because of the pandemic or not I'm not sure ? It's good that your still on your normal diet as with type1 there is no need to eat any different than someone without diabeties type1.yeah I have had the libre since June and I love it. And so reassuring with the high/low alarms.

Ohh how are you finding it with a lack of help? I’ve had a few appointments so far and it has been helpful however I feel there should be more help for this, even classes that people can go to and ask questions/ meeting people. Did you find you got a lot of hypos? Yeh the libre is good for the alarms but even when they go off I get a fright!

 

[Pat91]

Ohh how are you finding it with a lack of help? I’ve had a few appointments so far and it has been helpful however I feel there should be more help for this, even classes that people can go to and ask questions/ meeting people. Did you find you got a lot of hypos? Yeh the libre is good for the alarms but even when they go off I get a fright!
[/QUOTE

Ohh how are you finding it with a lack of help? I’ve had a few appointments so far and it has been helpful however I feel there should be more help for this, even classes that people can go to and ask questions/ meeting people. Did you find you got a lot of hypos? Yeh the libre is good for the alarms but even when they go off I get a fright!

I personally found it beneficial being thrown in at the deep end as it made me want to learn as much as I could about managing my type1. I don't know anyone else with type1 in my day to day life so It can be a.lonley thing to go through sometimes. Some sort of face to face support group would be great but I haven't come across any.myself in my local area. Early days I was getting threw the jelly babies by the bag full but I'm not having anywhere.near as.mang hypos these days.

 

[Laura24]

I haven’t got my ratio to carbs yet or know anything about correction doses. That all sounds quite scary and confusing to be honest! I’ll definitely need help with that, so being on your own with this must be hard.

 

[Lucyr]

How do you find counting carbs? I sort of have the hang of it but I think it will be hard working out carbs when out at a restaurant. I find the pictures on the carbs and call book quite misleading. I looked at one picture say for example of rice it looked a decent size but actually weighing it out it was far too much for me. Did the counting/ estimating take time?

Honestly, when I eat out I tend to sort of just compare it to my carb portions at home. I know roughly what size meal at home would be say 40 carbs (standard meal for me, nothing heavy on carbs), 60 carbs (more like when I’m having a meal based on carbs but not going too overboard) or say 80 carbs (carb heavy meal, likely has more than one carby item eg pasta and garlic bread or something). When I eat out I tend to compare the meal to that rough idea of the content of what I eat at home and have a guess then test afterwards.

 

[Laura24]

Honestly, when I eat out I tend to sort of just compare it to my carb portions at home. I know roughly what size meal at home would be say 40 carbs (standard meal for me, nothing heavy on carbs), 60 carbs (more like when I’m having a meal based on carbs but not going too overboard) or say 80 carbs (carb heavy meal, likely has more than one carby item eg pasta and garlic bread or something). When I eat out I tend to compare the meal to that rough idea of the content of what I eat at home and have a guess then test afterwards

Ah right ok thanks! Im struggling what to eat as I’m having quite a lot of carbs right now. I was told to have starchy carbs with all three meals. I take it you don’t count veg as part of your carbs is my understanding? Any good food recipes are welcome 🙂.

 

[Inka]

Ah right ok thanks! Im struggling what to eat as I’m having quite a lot of carbs right now. I was told to have starchy carbs with all three meals. I take it you don’t count veg as part of your carbs is my understanding? Any good food recipes are welcome 🙂.

Carbs are absolutely fine 🙂 Once your insulin is sorted, you’ll just eat your normal diet basically. You’ll eat your normal food having calculated the carbs and applied your meal time ratio to work out your insulin. Do note that @Lucyr is Type 2 on insulin, and that her needs might be different. Some Type 2s want to lose weight, some have insulin resistance. It’s a very different condition to Type 1.

I don’t count green veg 🙂

The diet recommended for Type 1s is the same diet recommended for everyone else (there was a poster from Diabetes U.K. years ago that stressed that). The only thing I was told to avoid was full-sugar Coke - except if I was treating a hypo or to have before or during exercise.

 

[Laura24]

Carbs are absolutely fine 🙂 Once your insulin is sorted, you’ll just eat your normal diet basically. You’ll eat your normal food having calculated the carbs and applied your meal time ratio to work out your insulin. Do note that @Lucyr is Type 2 on insulin, and that her needs might be different. Some Type 2s want to lose weight, some have insulin resistance. It’s a very different condition to Type 1.

I don’t count green veg 🙂

The diet recommended for Type 1s is the same diet recommended for everyone else (there was a poster from Diabetes U.K. years ago that stressed that). The only thing I was told to avoid was full-sugar Coke - except if I was treating a hypo or to have before or during exercise.

Apologies I didn’t realise Lucy was type 2. Ohh ok I haven’t counted any veg as I was told no insulin is needed for veg. I guess some information might be different depending on who tells you what. Yup I was told to avoid full fat sugary drinks, fruit juice and sweeties. I loved sweets too and irn bru. Been told I can drink diet or those zero drinks like Coke Zero which to be fair tastes alright!

 

[Lucyr]

Whilst my diagnosis is T2 I wouldn’t consider myself a typical T2 as I was diagnosed aged 20, on insulin most of that time, and treat more like a T1 using MDI, count the carbs, get DKA if I skip insulin, which is why I reply to T1 threads not just T2 ones.

 

[rebrascora]

It is fine to have the odd sweet, like an occasional chocolate or a humbug or wine gum or whatever. The thing is that you need to be disciplined and just have one or 2 at the most and probably best just after a meal, unless you want to inject insulin for it and at this stage when you are on fixed doses it complicates things adding more injections for snacks, but you certainly can do that in the future once you get the hang of carb counting. My days of eating a whole packet of Tangfastics are over, but no reason why I can't have one occasionally if I wanted one and knew I could leave it at that.

 

[Laura24]

It is fine to have the odd sweet, like an occasional chocolate or a humbug or wine gum or whatever. The thing is that you need to be disciplined and just have one or 2 at the most and probably best just after a meal, unless you want to inject insulin for it and at this stage when you are on fixed doses it complicates things adding more injections for snacks, but you certainly can do that in the future once you get the hang of carb counting. My days of eating a whole packet of Tangfastics are over, but no reason why I can't have one occasionally if I wanted one and knew I could leave it at that.

Ohh I never knew that. However I have had like small bit of dark chocolate now and again after dinner like 9g of carbs it worked out at so not too bad. Yeh I haven’t been taking extra insulin for snacks I didn’t want to complicate things. Ohh yes I loved tangfastics too, could easily in the past eat a full bag! Eating only one would be hard so probably not worth it for me.

 

[rebrascora]

Good to hear you are treating yourself to a little bit of something. I rather like to have a spoonful of crunchy peanut butter with half a square of dark chocolate. It makes it a bit more satisfying and takes some of the bitterness off the chocolate.

If you wanted a Mars Bar etc occasionally once you are more adept at carb counting and insulin dosing, then that is not off limits for the future, so don't think you will never be able to have such things again.