Try it once

[Life sentence]

Hello all,

I’m still unsure whether joining this will help, but thought I’d at least try.

I’ve been living with diabetes type one, for 15 years and if I’m being honest, it’s only now I’m trying to take it seriously.

I was also diagnosed with ‘diabulmia’ and had to attend an eating disorder clinic for a while, but, I’m happy to say I’ve been discharged.

My main aim to join this group, was for support on carb counting, work life balance and to gain a better understanding of the condition - rather than burying my head.

So, fingers crossed, this might help.

 

[Northerner]

Hi, LS, welcome to the forum - glad you decided to join 🙂 What insulin are you on? I'm a wee bit behind you - diagnosed 12 years ago - thankfully didn't have to contend with what you had to, well done for overcoming the diabulimia, that must have been tough 🙂

There's a huge amount of knowledge and experience here, so we should be able to help with any questions or concerns you may have, plus it's just nice to chat with people who 'get it', so don't be shy at jumping in, everyone is very friendly and helpful 🙂

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Life sentence, and welcome to the forum.
There are many years of experience on here about living with diabetes, and I hope we can help you.
If you have a browse around the forum you will see the variety of links and topics that are going on.
A useful place to start is useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes. This includes some information on carbs.

Work life balance, is something that can be difficult to achieve. Are there particular difficulties that you are facing with this ay present? I think that strangely, being diagnosed with diabetes was one of the things that helped me get a better balance, as it made me realise that giving time to me and having a healthier lifestyle had to come up the priority list.

As you read through the forum and inter-act on posting I am sure that you will get a better understanding of diabetes and the various issues there are and ways of coping with them. There is also some good general information on the main Diabetes UK website.
Best wishes and I hope you find the forum useful

 

[Life sentence]

Hi, LS, welcome to the forum - glad you decided to join 🙂 What insulin are you on? I'm a wee bit behind you - diagnosed 12 years ago - thankfully didn't have to contend with what you had to, well done for overcoming the diabulimia, that must have been tough 🙂

There's a huge amount of knowledge and experience here, so we should be able to help with any questions or concerns you may have, plus it's just nice to chat with people who 'get it', so don't be shy at jumping in, everyone is very friendly and helpful 🙂

Hello, thank you for reaching out so quick.

People experience things differently, it doesn’t make one harder than the other, so well done to you too

I think you hit the nail on the head by saying people who ‘get it’, I know there’s loads of people with this condition, but, I’ve never spoken or met someone. So, hopefully this will help.

I’m on Novarapid and Degludec and extremely fortunate to be trialing out the Free Style Libre which (not to sound dramatic), has changed my life, so I’m extremely lucky to be given this chance.

What insulin are you on?

Thanks

 

[Life sentence]

Hello @Life sentence, and welcome to the forum.
There are many years of experience on here about living with diabetes, and I hope we can help you.
If you have a browse around the forum you will see the variety of links and topics that are going on.
A useful place to start is useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes. This includes some information on carbs.

Work life balance, is something that can be difficult to achieve. Are there particular difficulties that you are facing with this ay present? I think that strangely, being diagnosed with diabetes was one of the things that helped me get a better balance, as it made me realise that giving time to me and having a healthier lifestyle had to come up the priority list.

As you read through the forum and inter-act on posting I am sure that you will get a better understanding of diabetes and the various issues there are and ways of coping with them. There is also some good general information on the main Diabetes UK website.
Best wishes and I hope you find the forum useful

Hi,

Thank you for all of the useful links etc and for sharing your experience.

Hats off to people who share your attitude, I’m hoping in time I will express a similar one.

My main struggles with work life balance are;

The lack of understanding of the condition with managers, colleagues etc. My manager compares being vegetarian to diabetes which hurt, if I’m being honest.

The other is trying to hit a healthy A1C, without constantly hypoing. I also travel quite far to get to my work place, so it’s vital that I have less hypos to avoid being late, or even more tired.

Like I mentioned in my post, ‘controlling’ my diabetes is a new thing for me, so any advice would be useful.

Thanks

 

[Northerner]

Hello, thank you for reaching out so quick.

People experience things differently, it doesn’t make one harder than the other, so well done to you too

I think you hit the nail on the head by saying people who ‘get it’, I know there’s loads of people with this condition, but, I’ve never spoken or met someone. So, hopefully this will help.

I’m on Novarapid and Degludec and extremely fortunate to be trialing out the Free Style Libre which (not to sound dramatic), has changed my life, so I’m extremely lucky to be given this chance.

What insulin are you on?

Thanks

I'm a bit weird with my Type 1 as started out on lantus and novorapid, but had to cut out the lantus completely after 4 years because I was dropping so low at night! 😱 So, I have just been on novorapid for the past 8 years - it's unusual, but I have encountered a few others over the years on the forum who have a similar experience 🙂

I'm on the Libre as well, and as you say it is life-transforming! 🙂 I'm just about to put a new sensor on, so wish me luck and hope that it's a good 'un!

Incidentally, this forum was originally set up by a lady who had had Type 1 for over 35 years and never encountered another one, it's relatively rare in the population. Having said that, I've recently moved house and discovered that three of my near neighbours have Type 1 too! 😱 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Kay and welcome to the forum.
It sounds as if you have done very well in helping yourself to overcome ‘diabulmia’ something to be very proud of imho.
Your managers...………… just feel sorry for them as it's not their fault they are so ignorant.
As others have said no one gets it, unless they have the condition themselves so we all know where you are coming from in that dept.
Small steps/changes are the order of the day so to speak. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day 🙂
Also remember no one has perfect control all the time and if anyone says they do then I would suggest some porky telling on their part 🙂
If you continue to have more than your fair share of hypos, would you consider a pump? If so ask your team about one explaining why you want one and what you expect to achieve with it. Some hospitals make you jump through hoops for one but just keep plugging away.

 

[Kaylz]

Hi @Life sentence and welcome to the forum, I'm one that's only been diagnosed just over 3 years but I've had to deal with a few struggles in my short time, a few eye related conditions, an eating disorder too (irrational fear of carbs) that unfortunately I have had to try and overcome myself

I hope you find the forum useful, I don't know where I'd be without the support I've had from some of these guys 🙂
xx

 

[Tee G]

Hi @Life sentence - Welcome, glad to have you here. Its good that you have now recognise the need to make adjustments and improvements to your health. That's a big step right there. well done you.

Life is hard sometimes, and made more so when individuals face particular difficulties too. Baby steps is the answer. You have made your first here. Its a real shame about your manager/colleagues being that ignorant (maybe you can suggest they poke around the internet and educate themselves on the disease, they may glean some understanding! - but i doubt it).

I think you have to get a little selfish and concentrate on you. Make sure never to skip meals. Keep healthy snack on you. Difficult when you're rushing around worrying & trying to juggle too many things at once - but.....breathe.

Loads of threads, info & links on here - all here to help you. Please keep posting - ask anything you like, or just come and chat, theres always someone around here to have a good natter with and let off some steam. All the best.

 

[Felinia]

Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on overcoming your challenges and deciding to take action. I've jumped in here, because although I'm Type 2, I worked with a man who was Type 1 in a small office. Once he had come to grips with his condition, he gathered some of us together and gave us a briefing on his condition. That included telling us what to look out for, where he kept some sweets for hypos, and a couple of emergency phone numbers, including his wife (she was a nurse and did most of his injections). Do you have any less ignorant colleagues who you think could support you in this way - you might care to brief them?
As for carb counting, I joined a website NutraCheck, which does all the hard work for you. They offer a week's free trial so you might like to check them out. I just input my food for the day, the portion size and hey presto - totals! I actually plan a day in advance rather than get a nasty shock at the end of the day. Best wishes

 

[trophywench]

You don't have to pay a penny piece to discover the Carbs in anything, since all the info is freely available on the internet. A pair of kitchen scales is useful for home, cos most of the values are given 'per 100g' (weight) thus you need to know how heavy the one you intend to eat, is. If your maths isn't good, buy a cheapo calculator.

What you do need to find out though, is how much your BG increases when you eat 10g carb, and by how much 1u of fast acting insulin, decreases your BG. Handily for me, I'm a bog standard 10g carb increases my BG by 3.0 and 1u Novorapid reduces it again by 3.0 - hence the maths is simple once I can decide how many grams of carb are on the plate.

Eyeballing food that I haven't cooked myself and getting the correct answer is still a bit hit and miss! However, this doesn't happen constantly, so getting it wrong sometimes won't be a disaster. None of us is perfect!

 

[Life sentence]

@Northerner

I’ve never even thought that would be possible, only using Novarapid. Has it helped?

I’m glad the Free Style Libre is fully appreciated by you too aha! Touch wood, I’ve haven’t had an issue with a sensor yet, occasionally get a rash where one has been, but, I’m guessing that’s normal.

@Pumper_Sue @Tee G @trophywench @Felinia

Thank you for all of your messages, it’s much appreciated. I’m still trying to get used to the forum, but I hope this means you all get a notification!

I have never wanted the pump, if I’m being honest - due to it constantly being I’m attached. However, as my attitudes have changed dramatically recently, I’d be keen to know what it’s like etc.

@Kaylz Thank you for reaching out, and I’m sorry for what you’ve been through - must be difficult. I’m not sure if I’d be able to assist you at all, but, if I can please reach out! X

 

[Matchless]

You have now accepted that you are a diabetic for life that is the big step even after your 15 years ,what you get out of diabetes is what you put in,its a long road just keep at it, i was wary of the pump just like you but when i eventually got one i wish i had got one years ago you get so much better control and you forget you have one on .

 

[Kaylz]

@Kaylz Thank you for reaching out, and I’m sorry for what you’ve been through - must be difficult. I’m not sure if I’d be able to assist you at all, but, if I can please reach out! X

Thank you, means a lot 🙂 I sure will, I know I've only been diagnosed a short time compared to the others but I've learnt quite a lot in that time so same applies for you 🙂 xx

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I have never wanted the pump, if I’m being honest - due to it constantly being I’m attached. However, as my attitudes have changed dramatically recently, I’d be keen to know what it’s like etc.

There are tubeless pumps so just like your sensor.
As to the tubing I went on a pump after about 42 years on insulin and after less than half a day I had to keep checking to make sure the pump was still there 🙂

 

[trophywench]

….. and I was terrified on Day 2 when I removed it to have a shower and forgot to reconnect it for about an hour until daughter said she didn't think that was likely to cause me any major problems knowing her mate used to leave hers off and she wasn't dead yet! LOL

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.
I am very much a newbie to Type 1. I was diagnosed a year ago at the age of 55. My consultant has just sanctioned the Freestyle Libre for me and I am so excited about getting it as I know it will help enormously. I follow a low carb higher fat way of eating to make carb counting easier and reduce the risk of serious hypos.
This forum had been a total game changer for me as the people here are so knowledgeable and supportive. I hope you find it equally beneficial.
Out of curiosity, have you never been referred for a carb counting course or a DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) course or the local equivalent? Meeting other Type 1s and sharing experiences and tips and perhaps forging friendships or networks is one of the biggest benefits of such courses. Ask your DSN what is available locally. Two of the ladies on my DAFNE course have now gone on to get pumps and are thrilled with them. I do wonder if people who proactively seek to gain knowledge and improve their diabetes management through such courses etc are more likely to be offered these new technologies.

 

[Northerner]

@Northerner

I’ve never even thought that would be possible, only using Novarapid. Has it helped?

Yes, it does help a lot - I no longer have to worry about night hypos and my levels stay as flat as a pancake (we call that a Libre 'flatfish' here, mainly because someone's phone auto-corrected 'flatline' to that, but also because it looks like it is skimming the ocean bottom ) and nicely in range throughout the night, so I feel very lucky 🙂 I need about 20 units of novorapid a day with my food 🙂

A 'flatfish'

 

[stephknits]

Welcome to the forum, glad you found us! Just to say, I have one of the tubeless pumps that were mentioned and am happy to answer any questions if you are ever interested.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Life sentence

So glad you have found us and connected. We spend so few hours a year in contact with healthcare professionals (isn’t it something like 99.997% of the year that we are ‘on our own’?!) that it really helps to have peers and fellow pancreatically-challenged types around you to bounce ideas off, or just for a good rant and moan at how fickle and annoying diabetes can be.

Huge congratulations on overcoming Diabulimia and in your renewed efforts to try to improve your diabetes management. One of the good things(!) about diabetes, is that even small improvements that you make can have a significant impact in terms of reducing risk of developing diabetes nasties down the line. So you don’t have to panic or aim for perfection straight away, you can try to move gently and consistently towards better and better levels and more ‘time in
range’.

The current recommended A1c that T1s are advised to aim for (*aim for* not beat themselves up if they can’t achieve!) is a real challenge. But there are many members here who manage to hit it, or come close to it.

I wrote this post a while back with my thoughts on habits and pieces of the puzzle that helped me https://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/2015/01/65-a1c-target-reply-comment-that-got.html

I’d particularly recommend spending some time getting your basal insulin adjusted correctly (this will change through the year, but getting it there or thereabouts is a big help with meal doses and corrections). There’s a suggestion of how to do that here: http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120

Above all... keep asking questions!