Am I being too harsh on myself

[Kaylz]

So the night before I always write down my planned meals for the next day and work the carbs out so it's easier for me when it comes round to the next meal but lately I've found myself limiting myself for example last night I wrote down my breakfast for if I was below 6 and changed it for if I was above 6 - I woke up above 6 btw - but should I just forget that and move on without thinking in this way x

 

[Ljc]

Hi Kaylz. personally I think you are being a bit too strict on yourself, possibly because you are still anxious?
You are relatively new to Diabetes and have come a very long way in a short space of time, it's a bloomin steep learning curve isn't it.
Please don't get me wrong I am not saying you should scoff yourself silly and having to inject silly amounts of insulin.

 

[trophywench]

Yes Kaylz - you are a bit by the sound of it. You knew I'd say that, didn't you? LOL 😉

The thing is - you know how to be strict with yourself, for whenever you need to be strict. But - do you actually NEED to be, just now?

I save it for when I need it when I have recently been far too relaxed about my diet, activity and BG control.

And then put it back in the box at the back of the cupboard, where it lives the rest of the time!

 

[Northerner]

So the night before I always write down my planned meals for the next day and work the carbs out so it's easier for me when it comes round to the next meal but lately I've found myself limiting myself for example last night I wrote down my breakfast for if I was below 6 and changed it for if I was above 6 - I woke up above 6 btw - but should I just forget that and move on without thinking in this way x

I don't change my plans of what to eat, all you need to do if your levels are higher is add in a little extra 'correction' of novorapid 🙂 I'd only add the extra novorapid in if it was at least 3 mmol/l higher than I expected though, so I'd be fine with a 6.5 and carry on as normal, but if I woke to a 9.5 then I'd have a bit of extra novorapid and the same breakfast 🙂 I do change my plans according to my levels for snacks though - if I fancy a snack and my levels are a bit on the high side then I'd just have, say, cheese instead of a biscuit - I try to avoid injecting any extra insulin between meals 🙂

 

[Kaylz]

I just feel like I'm denying myself more than I want or need to but I've not been happy at all with my levels the past 2 days x

 

[Ginny03]

I completely agree with Northerner - very much my kind of control. Kaylz, you need to stop being so hard on yourself. You have to live with diabetes, but if you don't allow yourself any flexibility you are going to make yourself miserable. I also suspect that the stress you're putting yourself under won't help your sugar levels! Have your diabetes team given you a target range to aim for? If you're want your sugars below 6, thats not giving you much leeway, particularly for someone who hasn't long been diagosed.

 

[Kaylz]

Yeah my target range before meals is 4-7 and bedtime is 5-8 yesterday I was in range at breakfast and lunch but was in the 6's and by tea an hour later than I usually have it I was up to 8.1 and down to 7.5 for bed, I had to rely on a ready meal last night as the steaks we got were off and I don't like doing that as they never seem to agree with my levels haha I woke on 5.3 today so hopefully will have a good day, I'm so scares of high numbers though x

 

[Northerner]

Yeah my target range before meals is 4-7 and bedtime is 5-8 yesterday I was in range at breakfast and lunch but was in the 6's and by tea an hour later than I usually have it I was up to 8.1 and down to 7.5 for bed, I had to rely on a ready meal last night as the steaks we got were off and I don't like doing that as they never seem to agree with my levels haha I woke on 5.3 today so hopefully will have a good day, I'm so scares of high numbers though x

You're doing great @Kaylz, all those numbers are perfectly acceptable 🙂 As time goes on you will gain more experience and become less concerned if you are only slightly outside target ranges. Really, in my opinion, it's only when you are more than 5mmol/l outside of what you expect that you need to stop and think 'How did that happen', so you can watch out for it in future - but don't stress about it, the odd spike is almost inevitable and won't do you any harm. 🙂

 

[Greyhound Gal]

Kaylz, those numbers are great. I'd love to be in the 5s. Generally spend my days between 6.5 and 7.5, with the occasional 8 thrown in for good measure. This is still likely to give me an HbaC1 in pre-diabetic range, which is all my consultant wants.
Don't put so much pressure on yourself, diabetes lives with you but don't let it control you🙂

 

[Kaylz]

Really I always feel gutted if I hit an 8, I'm trying to go with gut instinct atm too like this morning being 5.3 I had 25g carbs for breakfast entered it into my meter and it told me to take 2 units but I had a feeling I'd rise a bit if i did that so I took 3 on my own judgement 3 hours later before lunch I just got 5.3 again, did I do the right thing going along with what I thought rather than taking the meters suggested dose, sorry guys x

 

[Greyhound Gal]

Before I had my half unit pen, I did exactly the same. It's fine. If you are concerned about either taking slightly too much or little insulin if your BG are mid way between full units, then would be worth asking your DSN for a half unit pen. Mine is a NovoEcho.

 

[Ginny03]

Kaylz, those numbers are absolutely fantastic and those targets are tight for someone newly diagnosed. You are doing amazingly well. I have to say that I wouldn't find 8.1 before a meal at all concerning (I'd just add a +1 correction dose before eating), but then when I was diagnosed I was told that anything in single figures was acceptable - how times have changed! You're working towards an ideal and are clearly hitting that ideal a good proportion of the time. You should be very proud of yourself, not beating yourself up the odd out of range result, particularly if they are only out of range by such a narrow margin.

 

[Kaylz]

Kaylz, those numbers are absolutely fantastic and those targets are tight for someone newly diagnosed. You are doing amazingly well. I have to say that I wouldn't find 8.1 before a meal at all concerning (I'd just add a +1 correction dose before eating), but then when I was diagnosed I was told that anything in single figures was acceptable - how times have changed! You're working towards an ideal and are clearly hitting that ideal a good proportion of the time. You should be very proud of yourself, not beating yourself up the odd out of range result, particularly if they are only out of range by such a narrow margin.

Thanks Ginny03 was 6.0 before tea so today has been a good day so far and you guys have made me feel so much better too 🙂

 

[Kaylz]

So guys even if I have planned a treat with lunch like a kit kat chunky or an eclair or something only happens once a week if that should I take that out if I'm higher than I want to be or just go for it x

 

[Ljc]

So guys even if I have planned a treat with lunch like a kit kat chunky or an eclair or something only happens once a week if that should I take that out if I'm higher than I want to be or just go for it x

At the levels your talking about, Go for it .

 

[PhoebeC]

Wow you sound like you are doing really well. Those levels are really great. I am also pretty happy at anything in the single figures as thats what i was also told. I try to aim for about 5 - 8 but that's me.

I agree with Northerner.

Yes you need good levels, you also need to enjoy life, its about balance. But that will come with more experience, you will know when you can get away with it, or when its worth extra insulin and when its not. Like Christmas for example its nice to have one day a bit naughty if you know the rest of the time you are fine.

I like to save my treat things for when they are running a bit lower than I like, I make sure my hypo snack is something I like, the silver lining to having one.

 

[Kaylz]

Wow you sound like you are doing really well. Those levels are really great. I am also pretty happy at anything in the single figures as thats what i was also told. I try to aim for about 5 - 8 but that's me.

I agree with Northerner.

Yes you need good levels, you also need to enjoy life, its about balance. But that will come with more experience, you will know when you can get away with it, or when its worth extra insulin and when its not. Like Christmas for example its nice to have one day a bit naughty if you know the rest of the time you are fine.

I like to save my treat things for when they are running a bit lower than I like, I make sure my hypo snack is something I like, the silver lining to having one.

Oh Christmas, Boxing day, New Years Day and the 2nd January were naughty days I had pudding :O haha came out the hospital in November on set 6 units started carb counting myself so I could adjust accordingly at the start of December I needed 7 units for my Christmas lunch but only because of the pudding it's not like I do it all the time 🙂 very rarely had pudding before being diagnosed maybe once a month so if I so wish can still do that 🙂 a little rolo mousse is delish but have found a few recipes that are lower carb than that so will be giving them a go 🙂 x

 

[PhoebeC]

My weakness is mince pies, I love them. I'm so glad they are out of the shops. I'm not able to not buy them, and then I only eat them haha!

We bought the terrys chocolate orange yogurts, they were very nice. Worth it!

 

[Kaylz]

My weakness is mince pies, I love them. I'm so glad they are out of the shops. I'm not able to not buy them, and then I only eat them haha!

We bought the terrys chocolate orange yogurts, they were very nice. Worth it!

I haven't tried them might have to give them a go but defo have a look for that low carb molten chocolate cake that I mentioned in the other thread 🙂 x

 

[Bloden]

I just feel like I'm denying myself more than I want or need to but I've not been happy at all with my levels the past 2 days x

You know what, Kayla, I think as diabetic people we're expected to think in terms of "you can't have this, you can't have that" - that's certainly the way my DSN explained my new 'normal', anyway - which can be a really hard way to live. My attitude now is "I can have this, I can have that" but bearing in mind that there ARE foods that are best avoided if I want to stay in range. It's a tiny mental shift that has allowed me to feel that I deal with my diabetes on my terms, and it's stopped the constant guilt-trip (just cos I had a pudding once last week or I fancied a bar of chocolate!). Your levels look brilliant to me - you're right, try not to be so hard on yourself. 🙂