-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
All starting to get to me.
- Thread starter rayray119
- Start date
- Status
Hi @rayray119
Yes, everybody feels the same way when fist diagnosed. It takes time and experience in order to gain some control over Diabetes, especially Type 1.
Have you been on a Diabetes course (even virtually) yet ?
Yes, everybody feels the same way when fist diagnosed. It takes time and experience in order to gain some control over Diabetes, especially Type 1.
Have you been on a Diabetes course (even virtually) yet ?
Hi @rayray119 sorry to read that you are struggling.
Your anxiety is completely understandable considering the fright you had. You are not alone - others have been through DKA and come out the other end. It does get easier but that is probably little help today.
Your diabetes teams should be there for you to lean on. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance with your mental health as well as your physical health.
Your anxiety is completely understandable considering the fright you had. You are not alone - others have been through DKA and come out the other end. It does get easier but that is probably little help today.
Your diabetes teams should be there for you to lean on. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance with your mental health as well as your physical health.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It really is hard to start with @rayray119 I promise is does gradually get easier though. You’ll slowly learn what routine works for you, what your results mean, how to best do your injections, when you might need a snack, the best way to deal with exercise….
See - there’s a lot to get used to, and it is a big change initially. Get all the advice and reassurance you need from your team, and know that the mental pressure of it all will gradually ease.
Yeah once I'm traught how to inject insulin depending on what I eat it might be easier and help avoiding lows which I getting at the moment
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Yes, carb counting and adjusting your own bolus/meal insulin should make you feel better and probably help your control too. It’s also good because it means you can live a more normal life food-wise.
Lows are an annoying feature of the honeymoon period. Often your own insulin will kick in erratically. Test lots and keep hypo treatments near. You might also find you need a small top-up of carbs between meals. I found my own insulin could send me low about 3hrs or so after eating, so I simply had a small snack to tide me over.
It is hard - I remember only too well. Be kind to yourself and give yourself time.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Yes - we call them False Hypos. Because your body has been running with higher blood glucose levels for a time - it has got used to the higher numbers and therefore your brain sends you a warning signal when it gets lower than the higher number it has got used to. Your body and brain WILL honestly get used to having 'normal' levels again - but - it takes time! so I'm afraid you just have to test with a fingerprick, and if it isn't truly low just try either doing something else using your brain, to take its mind off your blood glucose, and fool it a bit by eating eg ONE jelly baby!
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Yes, false hypos are unpleasant. Even if you test 3 times and are sure your blood sugar is fine, it still doesn’t make the feeling go away. I tend to have a tiny nibble of something and a few sips of water. The false hypos should reduce as your blood sugar becomes more stable. If in doubt, always test.
Yeah I had to buy by one box of test strips yesterday because when I previously run out really quickly my doctor's were anoyed it's because it can sometimes take me a full goes but apparently they think I can get libre partlly because I suffer from anxiety.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
How many test strips a month do you get prescribed? Perhaps you need a few more? Access to Libre varies a lot depending on where you are in the country. I qualify but can’t get it due to my local authority putting in extra barriers 🙄 You shouldn’t have to buy strips. If your surgery aren’t being helpful, maybe your DSN could email them?
It was because I managed to get though 100 in 3 days partlly due to it sometimes taking alot of goes.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It is absolutely no comfort to you whatsoever to know that we all remember being where you are with this, just now. It wouldn't have been much comfort to me either - plus the long list of awful complications you can possibly get was actually trotted out more frequently by all and sundry, 50-ish years ago. Yet here I still am and didn't appear to have lost any limbs, gone blind or killed either of my kidneys yet. I conclude from that, that I must have been doing at least some things right, even though I also know very well by now that I'm far from perfect.
Be 100% assured that it does get easier to cope with, day by day.
I was doing things last week which kept me occupied in totally different ways and though I never totally ignored my D (bit difficult to do that, naked with your insulin pump on a lanyard round your neck!* - so I did get some questions - always polite 'Do you mind if I ask what that is?' No prob, insulin pump, just keeps me alive!) - some days I found I hadn't either tested my BG or scanned my Libre for many hours, because I was just busy with other stuff. What with lockdown et al it's been over 2 years since my husband and I have been involved in this way for such a long time and though some of it is hard work sometimes, if it wasn't enjoyable we wouldn't have been there.
* have to remember to keep moving it from place to place when you stay still for any length of time to stop it ever getting too hot and of course achieving an even tan! ROFL
Be 100% assured that it does get easier to cope with, day by day.
I was doing things last week which kept me occupied in totally different ways and though I never totally ignored my D (bit difficult to do that, naked with your insulin pump on a lanyard round your neck!* - so I did get some questions - always polite 'Do you mind if I ask what that is?' No prob, insulin pump, just keeps me alive!) - some days I found I hadn't either tested my BG or scanned my Libre for many hours, because I was just busy with other stuff. What with lockdown et al it's been over 2 years since my husband and I have been involved in this way for such a long time and though some of it is hard work sometimes, if it wasn't enjoyable we wouldn't have been there.
* have to remember to keep moving it from place to place when you stay still for any length of time to stop it ever getting too hot and of course achieving an even tan! ROFL
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
@rayray119 - you may find this helpful!
loraldiabetes.blogspot.com
Painless Pricks
Managing blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. Learning how to achieve long term control by testing and diet.
loraldiabetes.blogspot.com
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Ah, ok. Which meter and pricker do you have? Some are a lot better than others. My fingers must just be full of holes now so I don’t really have a problem, but early after diagnosis it was more tricky. Having warm hands helps get the blood out. You can also shake them or rub them. Having your finger-pricker set at the right depth, using the right fingers, and testing in the right position helps too - ie some meters lift to the finger, others work best by putting the finger to the meter.
The right meter and pricker can make a huge difference.
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
And almost everyone will say the right finger pricker is the Accu-Chek FastClix. If you end up getting an Accu-Chek meter it'll probably come with one, but you can also buy the FastClix separately. (And as always, Boots and other pharmacies quite often have promotions on them.)
Elizabethe
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
I am now 9 weeks type 1 LADA, and it is difficult, relentless and as everyone says no days off. I would try and argue a case for the Libre as this would ease your anxiety, like you I ended up purchasing two test strips, £17 each, as I was testing all day. I raised a complaint with my MP, and quickly received my Libre, I was initially informed there was a waiting list. I also was getting hypo’s after getting advice from this forum I started taking my insulin after my meals and for me this has been perfect. I also had a telephone call from the dietitian who then sent me the Cals/Carbs book, I find this useful. It does get better, much better, I have become less anxious , it is a steep learning curve, at the beginning I was very needy but have now calmed down. I wish you well on your journey, use the forum and your diabetic team, sending hugs
my meter is gulco men areo sensor im dyspaxicso that doesnt help
i do take the insulin just after my meals
also i'm on fix doses at the moment hoping to move away from that system fairlly quilky because it will make things so much easier
- Status