Hi Everyone!

[Jacen017]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Jacen, 34 year old guy.

I've been lurking here for about a week working up the nerve to say hello.

I was taken into hospital and diagnosed with diabetes on Christmas Eve but was given very little information other than that and to take 24 units Humulin in the morning and 18 units at night and to limit carbs.

I don't know what type I have as it takes 6 weeks for an antibodies test to come back. I haven't been given a HbA1C number but the number on the finger prick was 27.9, not sure how that measures up?

That's come down to an average of 9.8.

There's a couple of things I'm struggling with and wondered if anyone had any advice;

*I'm absolutely terrified of needles and have roughly 30% chance I'll pass out when I have to have an injection. I've done that a few times over the last week with the needle still in my stomach. It takes me upwards of an hour and a half to do my injection or finger prick which is literally taking up my whole day .

*I'm really confused about how many carbs I should be aiming for? I'm getting to the point where I'd rather not eat then risk having to many.

Sorry for the wall of text.

 

[Lily123]

As you have been put on Humulin I would assume they believe you to be Type 1 as it is very uncommon for a Type 2 to be put straight onto insulin but you never know. What were your symptoms before diagnosis? Everyone is different in there insulin needs (as in insulin to carb ratio) A finger prick test of 27.9 is very high but the HbA1C is a test of the average BG over the last 3 months. You could see if you can get needles that are covered and once you do the injection a cover is placed over the needle from the actual needle so you can’t see it.These needles are called Autoshield (I can’t remember the make)

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

No need to pluck up courage to say "Hello". You must have hopefully realised we are a friendly bunch from reading other posts.

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis and particularly that you are finding injecting so very difficult. Is there anyone you live with who can help you with that until you find a better solution. Is it the actual needle which is the problem or is it puncturing your skin with it? As @Lily123 mentions, there are devices which can help with that. As well as the one mentioned, there is also something called an iport which is inserted every few days and then you just inject into the port instead of into your skin. There is also something called the Tickle Flex which is supposed to help if you are shaky as well as to distract from any sensation. You really need to speak to someone on the diabetes helpline at your local clinic and explain the problem and ask for support to help you through this as passing out when you inject is not good at all let alone the stress of psyching yourself up to do it. All credit to you that you are managing to inject when you have such a strong reaction. Please always make sure you are somewhere safe, ie seated or lying down when you inject if you are prone to fainting. If you haven't got the helpline number then if you ring the hospital switchboard, they should be able to put you through to it. It is usually an answering machine where you leave your name and contact telephone number and a brief description of your problem and someone will ring you back.

The Humulin insulin you have is that Humulin I ? I think that is a kind of intermediate insulin perhaps to tide you over until they know what Type you are. If your symptoms came on quite suddenly then it is more likely that you are Type 1. Did they test you for Ketones and do you know the result of that test? Have you lost weight unexpectedly? Those things would all suggest Type 1 is more likely.

An average of 9.8 is very good for only a week and a bit after diagnosis, so you are doing brilliantly and I would suggest that you continue eating sensibly until you have your next appointment. It is best not to drop your levels too quickly as that can put a strain on the very fine blood vessels in the eyes, so maybe even have a few more carbs if you would like some. Hopefully someone will be checking up on you regularly to adjust your doses as necessary. Obviously you picked a rather difficult time to get diagnosed with the festive period and all the bank holidays on top of the pandemic, so support may not have been as good as it would ordinarily have been during this early satge of your diagnosis.

Just want you to know you are not alone and we are here to support you in any way we can or just to listen. As I said, really admire your bravery in tackling the needle issue but you need some help and perhaps special devices to improve that situation. You could do some online searching about the products we have mentioned but really you need to speak to a Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) at the hospital clinic because they will know what is available that will help you.

Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

These needles are called Autoshield (I can’t remember the make)

It's apparently BD: https://www.bd.com/en-uk/products/diabetes/diabetes-products/pen-needles/autoshield-duo-pen-needle

 

[Lily123]

It's apparently BD: https://www.bd.com/en-uk/products/diabetes/diabetes-products/pen-needles/autoshield-duo-pen-needle

I even use these needles (at school) but still don’t remember!

 

[Jacen017]

Thanks so much for your advice on the needles, I'll definitely look into all of those. I'm speaking with the Diabetes Nurse on Wednesday.

I'm not really sure what it is about them that scares me so much, I just get myself into such a state and as soon as it's done I always tell myself "That was nothing, remember that for next time!" Haha.

In answer to your questions;

*Yes, it's Humulin I. I just checked.

*They did do a ketone test which was 0.3 I believe.

*Symptoms were exteme thirst, I could never drink enough water! Having to pee all the time. Quite a lot of rapid weight loss. Feeling exhausted all the time.

*I'm not sure if they came on suddenly or not, I think I lived with them for about a year before I looked all them up and went to the doctors to ask for a blood test. I did a urine test at the same time and within an hour the doctor was on the phone in a panic telling me I had to get to the hospital right away because of the urine test results.

J

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I'm not really sure what it is about them that scares me so much, I just get myself into such a state and as soon as it's done I always tell myself "That was nothing, remember that for next time!" Haha.

Might be you'll get used to it (presuming you end up needing to inject). It is weird injecting yourself. (Though today's 4mm 32G needles are way nicer than the ones we used to use. Even so, it's still weird.)