Type 3c - pancreatitis

[Proud to be erratic]

@Megdog, "Knowledge Dispels Fear". This was impressed into me as a young adult and I've leant on that dogma countless times. Acquiring a basic understanding of why something affects something else is always helpful to me. It doesn't make me some sort of expert in everything - almost the reverse. It just provides a mental "handrail" so that I can hold on firmly to something that explains sufficiently to allow that fear or anxiety to be dispersed, or kept in its box.

There is a once daily basal insulin called Tresiba. It could be that your DSN might consider a switch to that, then you have one thing less to remember. But don't be surprised if, first of all, that she needs you to have a longer period on Humulin to help her assess from more data how you are settling down. Try and keep a steady routine of doing things you would normally do; don't change your world just because you have pancreatitis and diabetes UNLESS those changes are fundamentally necessary.

Your Humulin is essential (or at least some insulin is essential); and maybe eating certain foods trigger relapses with your pancreatitis, so avoiding those foods is very necessary. But living a normal life is also necessary. Adjustments now need to be acceptable to your revised new lifestyle, then you can sustain those changes without undue hardship or unacceptable stress.

It's very, very early days for you. Some 6+ weeks since your diagnosis. So much to get your mind around and somehow rationalise it all. Your posts suggest you are doing just that and you should be kind to yourself and pat yourself on the back. That doesn't mean you should stop asking questions nor stop just talking to the Forum; I can find some therapy in just doing that. Do let us know how you get on after your Thursday appointment with your DSN, unless you think of something you'd like to ask before then (to better understand) as part of Thursday's appointment. Consider making a list, it's easy to forget something on the day.

 

[Megdog]

@Megdog, "Knowledge Dispels Fear". This was impressed into me as a young adult and I've leant on that dogma countless times. Acquiring a basic understanding of why something affects something else is always helpful to me. It doesn't make me some sort of expert in everything - almost the reverse. It just provides a mental "handrail" so that I can hold on firmly to something that explains sufficiently to allow that fear or anxiety to be dispersed, or kept in its box.

There is a once daily basal insulin called Tresiba. It could be that your DSN might consider a switch to that, then you have one thing less to remember. But don't be surprised if, first of all, that she needs you to have a longer period on Humulin to help her assess from more data how you are settling down. Try and keep a steady routine of doing things you would normally do; don't change your world just because you have pancreatitis and diabetes UNLESS those changes are fundamentally necessary.

Your Humulin is essential (or at least some insulin is essential); and maybe eating certain foods trigger relapses with your pancreatitis, so avoiding those foods is very necessary. But living a normal life is also necessary. Adjustments now need to be acceptable to your revised new lifestyle, then you can sustain those changes without undue hardship or unacceptable stress.

It's very, very early days for you. Some 6+ weeks since your diagnosis. So much to get your mind around and somehow rationalise it all. Your posts suggest you are doing just that and you should be kind to yourself and pat yourself on the back. That doesn't mean you should stop asking questions nor stop just talking to the Forum; I can find some therapy in just doing that. Do let us know how you get on after your Thursday appointment with your DSN, unless you think of something you'd like to ask before then (to better understand) as part of Thursday's appointment. Consider making a list, it's easy to forget something on the day.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, and your advice and guidance. My life is ruled by lists as my emotional health causes severe problems with short-term memory - events from 30 or 40 years ago, no problem, but remembering day to day basics, including injecting my insulin at the right time, can be challenging. So, have now set the alarms on my phone as a reminder! In some ways, I guess it also explains the obsession of checking my blood sugar so often, if I didn't I might simply forget. Thank you again.

 

[debs248]

My life is ruled by lists as my emotional health causes severe problems with short-term memory - events from 30 or 40 years ago, no problem, but remembering day to day basics, including injecting my insulin at the right time, can be challenging. So, have now set the alarms on my phone as a reminder! In some ways, I guess it also explains the obsession of checking my blood sugar so often, if I didn't I might simply forget. Thank you again.

Nothing wrong with lists and alarms, my mum and I swear by them. Annoys the hell out of my dad and husband, but it's vital for our health so tough.

 

[rebrascora]

I inject my basal insulin before I get out of bed on a morning and when I go to bed. An hour or two difference if I want a lie in is no big deal and in some respects that works better than taking it at the same time every day because my liver releases glucose in response to what I am doing, not the hour the clock hands indicate. The doses don't have to be taken exactly 12 hours apart either, but that seems to be what health care professionals get hung up on. Finding a time and dose that suits the individual is key to good management, but early days for you yet and you are clearly getting good results with your current regime so if an alarm helps you to stick with it, all well and good.
I would struggle desperately to remember to inject at 10am and 10 pm too and that wouldn't suit my body's needs either.

 

[Megdog]

I inject my basal insulin before I get out of bed on a morning and when I go to bed. An hour or two difference if I want a lie in is no big deal and in some respects that works better than taking it at the same time every day because my liver releases glucose in response to what I am doing, not the hour the clock hands indicate. The doses don't have to be taken exactly 12 hours apart either, but that seems to be what health care professionals get hung up on. Finding a time and dose that suits the individual is key to good management, but early days for you yet and you are clearly getting good results with your current regime so if an alarm helps you to stick with it, all well and good.
I would struggle desperately to remember to inject at 10am and 10 pm too and that wouldn't suit my body's needs either.

It was my diabetes nurse who told me to 'take' it at 10am and 10pm, possibly because she thought it would be easier for me to remember - especially as my initial dosage was 10 at each of those times - now 16 at 10am and 14 at 10pm. On my hospital discharge letter, it actually advised 8am (pre-breakfast) and 10pm (before bed) but since I only ever sleep 3 or 4 hours a night, a bedtime close to 10pm (when it's still daylight for at least another hour in the summer in Scotland) was wildly optimistic! But I am sure I could change the timings if I wanted to, especially as there appears to be no issue taking it earlier or later by up to two hours. But ultimately, for me, whatever the time, it's still twice a day, and I have to try to remember to inject myself, the best I can, hence now using the alarm on my phone. Thank you for sharing your experience with me, it really does help.