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Unexpected benefits?

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everydayupsanddowns

everydayupsanddowns

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We’ve had a few new members joining, and other more established members posting that the peculiar times we are living in have actually given them an unusual and unexpected opportunity to refocus on their diabetes management, perhaps to do one of the online courses, or to use the forced time at home to conduct food experiments to improve post-meal levels.

Others have found the change of routine a bit more challenging.

What have been your experiences? What have you learned about yourself and your diabetes since the pandemic started?
 
When this kicked off in earnest here, it made me realise I’d become lazy and complacent in my diabetes management. Although I generally had a daily 2.5 mile wood walk as a minimum, for the rest of the time I was fairly soporific - and my diet, whilst being reasonably balanced during the day, veered off-piste in the evening all too regularly. My blood-glucose levels were in the target range most of the time (I keep a spreadsheet - as you do) but there were far too many exceptions.

So, what’s changed? Whilst, it seems, my diabetes doesn’t make me any more susceptible to getting Covid-19, it may add to the risk of things getting out of hand, so I set out to give myself the best chance of facing any challenge which may arise. My daily walk has moved to the break of dawn and I’ve built in other exercise throughout the day using our mini-home gym. I’ve also smoothed out some of the peaks in my diet (though not entirely - we still have occasional treat nights). This has led to a slight, but positive refinement to my blood-glucose range and the loss of 12lbs in weight. So, generally good.

Sadly, I had a recurrence of a - non-diabetes related - tummy issue last week which saw me (eventually and reluctantly) literally crawling up to the entrance door of our local Hospital A&E for a couple of nights of ‘all you can intravenous’ care and support. I’m now back home and looking to get my stuff back together - however, in reflecting on the way ahead I am mindful my tummy issue (itself a very serious condition) can arise when I overdo things, so I need to find the right balance.

Phil
 
Sounds like you’ve made some positive changes @PMUK - well done!

Sorry to hear about your tummy problems though - sounds really frightening. Hope you are on the mend now. Do you know what triggered it?
 
Personally I‘ve probably taken rather too long to notice that some basics of basal and ratios needed adjusting with the change in routine (eg one daily dog walk in the middle of the day rather than one early morning and one late afternoon).

Im also feeling a bit restless and out of sorts, and finding it harder to resist snacking.

Hoping to make a few more tweaks this week though, and to begin to get my Time In Range back in line again.
 
I have had a mixed responses to the lockdown.

The first week levels were absolutely bonkers, and had to up my insulin massively. I fell so I think it was in response to the pain and lower level of activity. Then a week of lovely levels followed by Easter! Too many unusual factors to develop any pattern so far.

Normally my levels are reasonable with a time in range I am very happy with. I am not managing that as well at present but everything is so different. The weather has meant that we are doing a lot more gardening and those days var greatly in levels of activity.

I am looking on it as similar to holidays, just do the best I can, as I am not convinced I want to start doing basal rate testing etc for this as I don’t know how long it will go on for. One advantage of this time is that carb counts are much more accurate as there is no eating out!
 
SB2015 said:
Then a week of lovely levels followed by Easter!
Click to expand...

Baha! Yes. I chanced a few Hot Cross Buns with, um... interesting results 😱
 
Just read your post Mike
I forgot those snacks that have appeared too often here too.
I think that may have resulted in my summer clothes shrinking in the wardrobe!!
 
PMUK said:
When this kicked off in earnest here, it made me realise I’d become lazy and complacent in my diabetes management. Although I generally had a daily 2.5 mile wood walk as a minimum, for the rest of the time I was fairly soporific - and my diet, whilst being reasonably balanced during the day, veered off-piste in the evening all too regularly. My blood-glucose levels were in the target range most of the time (I keep a spreadsheet - as you do) but there were far too many exceptions.

So, what’s changed? Whilst, it seems, my diabetes doesn’t make me any more susceptible to getting Covid-19, it may add to the risk of things getting out of hand, so I set out to give myself the best chance of facing any challenge which may arise. My daily walk has moved to the break of dawn and I’ve built in other exercise throughout the day using our mini-home gym. I’ve also smoothed out some of the peaks in my diet (though not entirely - we still have occasional treat nights). This has led to a slight, but positive refinement to my blood-glucose range and the loss of 12lbs in weight. So, generally good.

Sadly, I had a recurrence of a - non-diabetes related - tummy issue last week which saw me (eventually and reluctantly) literally crawling up to the entrance door of our local Hospital A&E for a couple of nights of ‘all you can intravenous’ care and support. I’m now back home and looking to get my stuff back together - however, in reflecting on the way ahead I am mindful my tummy issue (itself a very serious condition) can arise when I overdo things, so I need to find the right balance.

Phil
Click to expand...
I hope that you continue to feel better and find an appropriate balance for yourself.
 
Hmm Mike, that made me think. I started to make a list of the positives and am quite surprised at how long it is!
Here is some of the list:

Having more time to plan and cook sensible meals
Shopping on-line so no temptations of grabbing spontaneous, and usually unsuitable, items off the shelves, and with infrequent deliveries thinking much further ahead with food planning.
No eating out, or grabbing food on the go - which isn't usually that suitable
No visits to my daughter's house where 'carb city' reigns with temptation.

Learning to deal with technology and getting used to 'virtual' meet ups
More time in the garden and having a go at grow-your-own veg

A better understanding of how much anxiety and 'feeling down' affects my blood sugars - so found time to read more about mindfulness and living in the moment, and finding contentment just in the day.

Overall, although there are a few ups and downs, this has resulted in better blood sugar morning readings than I have had for some time. I even reached the magic 5.2 for the first time.

So although I am longing for that wonderful day, when we can go out into the big wide world again, I hope that I will have learnt some useful lessons to carry forward.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sounds like you’ve made some positive changes @PMUK - well done!

Sorry to hear about your tummy problems though - sounds really frightening. Hope you are on the mend now. Do you know what triggered it?
Click to expand...

Hi, It's complicated (to put it mildly), but I have an underlying condition which can result in a complete blockage of my tummy, leading to a rapid and unavoidable downward spiral which then requires urgent medical support. Triggers can include stress, de-hydration, and certain foods (such as nuts, potato skins, corn and fruit pith). If I can recognise the initial symptoms early enough (a couple of days before) I can sometimes switch to a liquid/ low residue diet and ride it out.

I'm feeling a little better with each passing day thank you (it usually takes a week, or two, to get back to full normality).

Phil
 
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Having one longer walk per day has meant I’ve had to reduce my basal for an hour before,during and after by 50% plus I’ve lost half a stone from walking longer so had to tweak insulin down generally. My neck and shoulder muscles really aren’t appreciating long walks on crutches 😱

I hadn’t realised how much having regular follow up appointments for my legs/feet and sight complications gave me a sense of safety, I definitely feel more worried and vulnerable with regular clinics cancelled for now.
 
I should perhaps have also mentioned a few other things from my recent experiences -

Firstly, despite the ongoing Covid-19 issue, which is - understandably - dominating our thoughts, the A&E Department was very much open for normal business (at our local Hospital the Covid-19 and Standard A&E units were completely separated).

Secondly, and I think we all know this, the staff at the A&E and on the ward were so caring and wonderful, despite these being the most demanding of times. (The Covid-19 ward was again separated, with the other wards ring-fenced as 'safe places').

Thirdly, it was also encouraging to see community volunteers supporting the regular staff. I was left humbled by their selfless motivation and their willingness to help those working so hard to help and care for us. Respect.

Finally, parking at the hospital was free for staff and visitors (though no visitors were allowed to enter any of the wards - my wife wasn't allowed to enter the A&E Unit).

Phil
 
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I've proved that it is possible to put on weight eating a raw whole-food plant-based diet, if you eat too many almonds.

Back to nettles and water.
 
It's made me tighten up my testing routine. My control had been slowly unravelling for months, and I'm just ready to get it back together. More keeping an eye on my levels, my snacks. Still a couple of treats (Hotel Chocolat does a lower sugar bar now!) but everything's looking better and I'm feeling better about it.

Oo, thought of a non-diabetes related positive. We've discovered some really lovely local food producers during our scramble to get food during the first couple of weeks, and we're going to stick with them. We've also signed up with a milkman too. Old school :D
 
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Beck S said:
Oo, thought of a non-diabetes related positive. We've discovered some really lovely local food producers during our scramble to get food during the first couple of weeks, and we're going to stick with them. We've also signed up with a milkman too. Old school :D
Click to expand...

Ah that’s great @Beck S 🙂
 
I’m still waging war on the 40 minute hypo. Every time we go for a walk, I hypo after 40 minutes. I think it’s because we are doing shorter walks (our two regular circuits these days are 4-4.5 miles) so we are setting a faster pace than normal, and going out straight after lunch when I’ve still got insulin on board. Reducing lunchtime bolus just means I spike before we go. I think I’m adapting, I’ve taken to carrying a banana with me and having a bite at regular intervals, I was getting a tad fed up with fruit pastilles.
 
Parents of two students with Type 1 contacted school within a couple of hours of each other this morning to say that they would be late completing the online lessons that had been set as they had poor sleep overnight and unusually high levels. My levels have been really good recently, but checking my sensor this morning, they leapt from 6.8 prior to sleep last night to over 13 at 1am and remained high until 4am (7.8 when I woke and scanned).

Weird that 3 people in different households within the same locality all had unexpected highs! Does that one go down as a "wtf..?" reason?
 
I sincerely hope it is a wtf reason, and not any unwanted anything else, Matt.
 
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