The sad irony of a beekeeper with Diabetes!

[rebrascora]

I doubt I am eating enough fat (I was a bit alarmed by the percentages suggested in the Keto diet) but I am certainly eating more than a few weeks ago. I would guess that since my body has been living off it's own fat for the past few weeks, that I have been in Ketosis throughout that time but now that my body fat has been reduced I need to provide fats from an external source to slow down or stop that process..... just had a chunk of cheddar cheese to cap off my lunch of celery and cucumber sticks with a little hummus.

Whilst I am open to different ideas, I am somewhat apprehensive/wary of the Keto diet from the little I have read so far and whilst I can see logic in the principle, it is such a big shift from "conventional" thinking on a healthy diet (healthcare professionals seem to get uneasy as soon as you mention increasing fat/oil consumption), I am dithering about fully embracing it at the moment. I guess I need to do more research on it.
I was hoping to discuss it with the dietician next week but unfortunately I have just had a phone call to say that my appointment has been cancelled and they do not have another appointment to offer me at this time.

Disappointed to find that my BG is up a little today at 9.3 fasting reading. Still not in the region of where it was before I cut out the starchy foods, but makes me wonder if I was too quick to discontinue the Metformin. Going to give it another day or two before I decide to start back on them.

 

[rebrascora]

Well. I'm on a real roller coaster ride with this at the moment and whilst Tuesday I was on a real high, today I have very disappointing news.... my Hba1c has gone up from 112 to 116 despite my best efforts over the past 6 weeks and I have to start on insulin tomorrow. I'm gutted as I really thought I was going to be able to control this with diet and feel awful that I will be such a financial drain on my GPs practice and the NHS in general.
I guess I now have a lot more reading to do about insulin use.

 

[Madeline]

Going onto insulin isn’t failing, lovely. There’s nothing you can do about it.

 

[Ditto]

Don't despair, just keep testing and trying different foods and combinations. You'll get there I'm sure.

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for the feedback. I really do appreciate it.

It is so frustrating when I have cut as much carbohydrate from my diet as is possible and my Hba1c, which was already of great concern, has gone up instead of down. The nurses feel that my pancreas is probably not actually producing any insulin at all and may not have been for some time. She thinks that as a result, we may find that I am very sensitive to it and respond well, so they are starting me on a low dose which I suppose is a slight positive.

I was pretty taken aback today as I really thought I was just going to get my feet checked and touch base with her about my diet and BG readings and discuss possibly adjusting medication, so I didn't really take in a lot of what they were saying but it sounded like there are 2 types of insulin that I will be using and one is a more expensive one that she is going out on a limb to prescribe because she thinks it will be more beneficial for me. I guess I will know more after my appointment tomorrow afternoon when I have the medication and instructions on how to use it.
I'm looking forward to feeling a bit better though as the fatigue is somewhat frustrating. I forget that I can't do very much until I get half way through a job and run out steam and having a full night's sleep without regular pit stops will be nice!

 

[Drummer]

Usually the low carb diet is a powerful BG reducer - if you have not responded like a type two would normally, then you are not the average type two, or you are one of the many other sorts.
At least they seem to be being sensible and starting you at a low dose rather than saying eat loads of carbs after injecting this much insulin which is something I have heard several times.
You will be requiring more supplies, but it is far cheaper than having someone rushed off to hospital to take up a bed there for days at a time, so do not feel that it is some sort of negative result - it is a positive step towards a happier and healthier you, with any luck.

 

[rebrascora]

@Drummer

Thanks for putting it in perspective a bit. They are now thinking that I may be Type 1 or perhaps somewhere between Type ! and Type 2. I don't really understand exactly what the difference is at the moment. There is just such a lot to take in but at least I'm over the shock of this morning and starting to reconcile myself to my new circumstances, Hopefully tomorrow afternoon I will be more switched on and take things in better but thankfully I do now feel that my health care professionals are supporting me much better and we are working together rather than me feeling a bit left to my own devices and frustrated because what I was doing wasn't working.

 

[Ljc]

I must admit I have been wondering if you had another type of diabetes,
Don’t fear insulin , you’ll be taught the basics, as you gain confidence you will learn more !
The injections don’t hurt and you’ll laugh when you see the piddley little needles most of us use.
Those of us that use insulin will be only too happy to help with any questions you will have.

It sounds like she is starting you out on on a Basal (background) Insulin that deals with what your liver puts out to keep your body fuelled up between meals /fasting and a Bolus (rapid) Insulin for mealtimes, it’s a very flexible regime.

Do you drive .

Let us know how you get on tomorrow

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Well. I'm on a real roller coaster ride with this at the moment and whilst Tuesday I was on a real high, today I have very disappointing news.... my Hba1c has gone up from 112 to 116 despite my best efforts over the past 6 weeks and I have to start on insulin tomorrow. I'm gutted as I really thought I was going to be able to control this with diet and feel awful that I will be such a financial drain on my GPs practice and the NHS in general.
I guess I now have a lot more reading to do about insulin use.

If you are type 1 or 1.5 which is a slow onset type1 then it's an autoimmune condition and no amount of dieting will stop you from needing insulin, end of story.
You wont be a drain on your GP practice either as they get paid extra for people with diabetes 🙂

So forget the guilt trip learn to use your insulin correctly and enjoy life to full.

If you haven't got a medical exemption certificate then make sure the nurse fills in the form for you to be sent off so you can have free prescriptions.

Also you need to inform the DVLA that you are on insulin.

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I'm over the shock of it today and ready to get my head around a new management system for this.

@Ljc
Yes that sounds exactly like what they were suggesting now that you have written it out for me. She did say that if I wasn't going to be eating carbs say for breakfast when I have a mushroom omelette, then I won't need to inject before that and I plan to keep on with a low carb diet, but probably not quite as strict as I have been the past week. Maybe just increase root veg and fruit but keep off the starchy stuff for the time being and I don't want to slip back into my sugar addiction now that I have conquered it, so will be avoiding sweet stuff and don't even really feel like I am denying myself anymore in that regard. I like being able to savour food now.
Yes I drive although not every day and mostly just very short journeys but I will be informing DVLA and my insurance of my new circumstances this afternoon.

@Pumper_Sue

They think I have had quite a fast onset as a year ago my blood sugar readings were in the normal range and literally overnight 9 weeks ago I developed really bad thirst and frequent weeing although I had been suffering from fatigue for longer, but just put it down to menopause/getting older.
I go to see the consultant on 30th April and believe that they will do more testing then to try to establish my diabetes category.

Yes, I have a medical exemption certificate thanks. That was the very first thing the nurse did when she got my first Hba1c reading 6 weeks ago and started me on Metformin. Apparently they want me to continue to take that as it has benefits for the heart, but they are stopping the Gliclazide now that I am starting insulin.

Just out of interest, I have been a blood donor all my life and have given 50 pints over the years and they tell me that my blood is used for children and babies in particular because it has very low levels of antibodies. In the last couple of years I haven't given blood for various reasons and I am curious if there could be any sort of connection firstly in that the regular replacement of blood might have been "cleaning up" my system and secondly that if this is related to an autoimmune response, whether those low antibody levels in my blood might be relevant.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I have a mushroom omelette, then I won't need to inject before that and I plan to keep on with a low carb diet, but probably not quite as strict as I have been the past week. Maybe just increase root veg and fruit but keep off the starchy stuff for the time being and I don't want to slip back into my sugar addiction now that I have conquered it, so will be avoiding sweet stuff and don't even really feel like I am denying myself anymore in that regard. I like being able to savour food now.

Please until you learn how to manage your insulin have what is normal for you. Many people have to inject insulin for just protein and fat meals so don't go complicating things.

You will at some stage be taught how to carb count so always be carb aware.

 

[Ljc]

Like Pumper Sue says It’s best to stick to what is usual for you atm as going on insulin is a bit of a learning curve, not only for you but your nurse too, you see just like everything else about diabetes our insulin needs differ, your nurse has to find out what your insulin ratios are .

 

[rebrascora]

Unfortunately normal for me was 3+ teaspoons of sugar in my coffee, porridge with sugar and fruit, packets of sweets and chocolate and toast, toast and possibly more toast, with a variety of toppings (sweet or savoury) and perhaps a meal with meat and veg and potatoes or pasta on a night or beans or scrambled eggs on toast. Toast would almost always be wholemeal and the same for pasta and there would be an occasional takeaway. Meal times were completely irregular and evening meal could be anywhere from 8pm to 2am.
I have now had 9 weeks finding a more healthy diet and breaking bad dietary habits and feel like I am eating well and enjoying my food now and in control, so whilst I understand what you are saying, and I will be introducing root veg including potatoes and more fruit, I do not want to go back to any of the other stuff, even the bread. I may however reintroduce a little honey as I feel that it has health benefits beyond it's sugar content and it is home produced raw honey.

Edited to add....

Essentially, my body was running largely on carbs and in particular sugar for far too long. I felt a bit like a car that was running very nicely on petrol until someone put a tank full of diesel in by mistake. I now feel like I have been cleaned out and converted to run on diesel and it feels better.

 

[Ljc]

Oops I should have put , your new normal 🙂. It’s amazing how ones taste can change isn’t it.
Oh yes honey slurp. I used to have a honey sarnie till I discovered peanut butter, banana and honey sarnies 😱 this was years before diabetes, I’d find them too sweet now let alone the amount of insulin I would need .

How about starting a thread about bees and beekeeping

 

[rebrascora]

How about starting a thread about bees and beekeeping

Not sure how appropriate that would be on a diabetes website...won't I get kicked out?? That said, I keep my bees more for the joy of it than honey production. I'm very much a "natural" beekeeper and I encourage my bees to live as normal a life cycle as possible, allowing them to swarm at will and overwinter on their own honey rather than rob them and then feed them syrup as a poor substitute. As a result of swarming (which is kind of their equivalent of giving birth), I don't get much honey from each hive and there are always plenty of willing recipients for it within my circle of friends and family. I supply the swarms to new local beekeepers free of charge to help them get started and mentor some of them..... maybe you are tight and I should see if there is any interest for a beekeeping thread, especially as we are just approaching beekeeping season. It is a fascinating and magical hobby and doesn't need to be nearly as expensive as the conventional beekeepers would have you believe. It can easily be done on a shoestring as a hobby, particularly if your interest is more in supporting the bees and perhaps getting a little honey rather than intensively farming them for maximum production..

 

[rebrascora]

Anyway, back to my diabetes.... I have been given Levemir (6 units) to be used on a night before bed and NovoRapid. (4units) to be used before a meal containing carbs, so I don't need it when I have my mushroom omelette and green salad brunch. Monitoring before meals and 2 hrs after and a fasting reading on a morning. I had a practise run with a water injector and it all seems incredibly simple and painless and I'm back to feeling confident and positive again. The nurse has given me lots of info and advice and will ring me on Tues to see how I am getting on but I feel much happier about the whole situation. You guys have all been amazing with your guidance and support. I can't thank you enough.

 

[Madeline]

MrMadeline would love some bees, but is waiting until we’ve decided whether we are moving, or not. Meanwhile I am going to make some flowerpot bumblebee houses, and we have lots of bee friendly plants in the garden.

 

[Drummer]

There were wild bees in the garden at the previous house, and if I think of Summer days in the garden I always envisage the row of lemon balm I planted for the bees and the buzz as one emerged from the hole in the wall and flew over to the row, then the busy visiting of the tiny flowers and then the buzz back home again - hundreds of times all the long day.

 

[Madeline]

There were wild bees in the garden at the previous house, and if I think of Summer days in the garden I always envisage the row of lemon balm I planted for the bees and the buzz as one emerged from the hole in the wall and flew over to the row, then the busy visiting of the tiny flowers and then the buzz back home again - hundreds of times all the long day.

That sounds so lovely. We have lots of lavender for them, but I think I might put some lemon balm in if they like that too.

 

[Ljc]

You need to test

Not sure how appropriate that would be on a diabetes website...won't I get kicked out?? That said, I keep my bees more for the joy of it than honey production. I'm very much a "natural" beekeeper and I encourage my bees to live as normal a life cycle as possible, allowing them to swarm at will and overwinter on their own honey rather than rob them and then feed them syrup as a poor substitute. As a result of swarming (which is kind of their equivalent of giving birth), I don't get much honey from each hive and there are always plenty of willing recipients for it within my circle of friends and family. I supply the swarms to new local beekeepers free of charge to help them get started and mentor some of them..... maybe you are tight and I should see if there is any interest for a beekeeping thread, especially as we are just approaching beekeeping season. It is a fascinating and magical hobby and doesn't need to be nearly as expensive as the conventional beekeepers would have you believe. It can easily be done on a shoestring as a hobby, particularly if your interest is more in supporting the bees and perhaps getting a little honey rather than intensively farming them for maximum production..

Before bed too, thisis to ensure you are at a safe level to go to sleep on. Did the nurse advise you on what your bedtime level should be
I would be very interested to learn more. Personally I don’t see a problem with starting a bee keeping thread so long as it is in the , Off the subject forum. If you are interested in this contact Northener just to be sure.

Last year sowed a wild patch in our garden, we had quite a few bumble bees and other insects and the birdies had some extra protein , some seeds have started sprouting already.