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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.
Annemarie
- Thread starter Annemarie
- Start date
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Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hi @Annemarie , Welcome to the forum .
If their is anything regarding Diabetes we can help with, please feel free to ask , we have many knowledgeable people on here with several hundred yrs experience between them.
If their is anything regarding Diabetes we can help with, please feel free to ask , we have many knowledgeable people on here with several hundred yrs experience between them.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome.
How long have you been diagnosed and how did that come about?
Are you using MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) or a pump and which insulin(s).
Lots of tips and advice here so feel free to ask about anything you are having difficulty with.
How long have you been diagnosed and how did that come about?
Are you using MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) or a pump and which insulin(s).
Lots of tips and advice here so feel free to ask about anything you are having difficulty with.
How do I reply/make contact with others
I’m struggling to use this site, I’m not sure how to send messages
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Your doing just fine.
If you want to reply to a particular person and alert them , without any space type @ then the persons name.
You will then get a drop down list of names, just click on the one you want, and then type your post.
You can also click on reply next to the like tab and it will do this
Or you can just type your post as you did in your first post on here .
I hope this helps
If you want to reply to a particular person and alert them , without any space type @ then the persons name.
You will then get a drop down list of names, just click on the one you want, and then type your post.
You can also click on reply next to the like tab and it will do this
Or you can just type your post as you did in your first post on here .
I hope this helps
@Ljc thank you for your help. I’m so keen to get into this. As I may have already said, the only other diabetic that I know is my neighbour’s dog and lovely as he is he hasn’t any news, views, tips or suggestions to make
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
We get alerts when the thread is updated so we can see that you have replied and read your reply.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Being able to exchange thoughts and ideas and ask questions of other diabetics who face the same challenges is such a huge benefit. It has been a sanity saver for me over the past 18months since diagnosis. I hope you find it equally beneficial.
I was first diagnosed in January 19 after incorrectly assessed by my GP. I felt SO I’ll but was told to see the Optician and then join a balance clinic. Fortunately another Dr saw me and I was taken to hospital with a blood score of 168. It’s been a hard year particularly since breaking my ankle then getting MRSA in one of the op sites. Blood sugar is extremely erratic, my immobility doesn’t help, it’s a struggle although I’m helped with a Libra Sensor.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Wow! I think that is the highest HbA1c reading I have ever seen. You must have felt extremely ill.
Unfortunately it is all too common for GPs to assume we are Type 2 for those of us who develop diabetes later in life, but there are a lot of us late developers here on the forum.
Sorry to hear that you have had other health issues. Being immobilised with a broken ankle must be making things a lot more difficult and the MRSA will have been a real worry! Hope you are on the med now.
Great that you have the Libre. It is a wonderful bit of kit. Which insulins do you have? I am guessing support from the diabetes clinic has been patchy at best with the pandemic causing appointments to be cancelled. Have you had any carb counting courses or are you on fixed doses of insulin?
Unfortunately it is all too common for GPs to assume we are Type 2 for those of us who develop diabetes later in life, but there are a lot of us late developers here on the forum.
Sorry to hear that you have had other health issues. Being immobilised with a broken ankle must be making things a lot more difficult and the MRSA will have been a real worry! Hope you are on the med now.
Great that you have the Libre. It is a wonderful bit of kit. Which insulins do you have? I am guessing support from the diabetes clinic has been patchy at best with the pandemic causing appointments to be cancelled. Have you had any carb counting courses or are you on fixed doses of insulin?
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Omg 168 that is eye wateringly high. Thank heaven the second doc was switched on.
You must have felt really dreadful, I was up in the 100s at diagnosis but nowhere near your levels, strangely I never had any symptoms.
I trust you are starting to feel more like your old self now. Has your vision returned to normal yet.
Poor dog, dogs are pretty hot on the hugs and wet kisses (can you tell I am a dog lover), they are not so good on the hints ant tips .
You must have felt really dreadful, I was up in the 100s at diagnosis but nowhere near your levels, strangely I never had any symptoms.
I trust you are starting to feel more like your old self now. Has your vision returned to normal yet.
Poor dog, dogs are pretty hot on the hugs and wet kisses (can you tell I am a dog lover), they are not so good on the hints ant tips .
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
l love that comment from you! When I was first diagnosed a chap at work told me his dog was diabetic and Charlie (the man - dunno dog's name) said he bet my dad didn't have to chase me round the lawn in a morning to catch some of my wee in a saucer to test. True. Brings a whole unexpected perspective to diabetes - these days when we prick our fingers to test our blood - how the hell do you test a dog's BG now then? Heave a paw up and prick a pad? Only the front paws or any?
Shedloads of GPs still don't know it's possible to suddenly get Type 1 diabetes at any age, you don't only have to be a child - but the forum has any number of people who were well into adulthood (way past my age at diagnosis, which was 22) when they were diagnosed too, so you're in good company here and none of us bite - even if we've still got all our own teeth. I'm the same age as you now - but I still remember pretty clearly what it was like being diagnosed and just unsure about everything. I jokingly always call it, 'Feeling lost, alone and unloved' - which actually is the truth, such a horrible feeling to have even when logic tells you that you aren't the last one, you still feel the first two.
Anything we can help you with, we WILL try to help you all we can.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @Annemarie . I am glad that you have found us.
Sorry to hear the difficulties you had in a late diagnosis, but I am glad that the other doctor was on the ball. What insulins are you using now? I was diagnosed with T1 at 53 and it is a big shock, but I have learnt loads from others on here about the practicalities of living with Diabetes.
The Libre sensor shows so much and can help us to make adjustments to our diets, insulin doses and levels of activity.
Do fire away with any questions that occur. Nothing is considered silly on here.
Just ask.
Sorry to hear the difficulties you had in a late diagnosis, but I am glad that the other doctor was on the ball. What insulins are you using now? I was diagnosed with T1 at 53 and it is a big shock, but I have learnt loads from others on here about the practicalities of living with Diabetes.
The Libre sensor shows so much and can help us to make adjustments to our diets, insulin doses and levels of activity.
Do fire away with any questions that occur. Nothing is considered silly on here.
Just ask.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
And welcome from me @Annemarie, one of the moderators. Your best way in is to simply to ask a few questions as you have been doing. That way you will get replies from different members passing on their experiences and you can be quite sure that they will be more informative than your neighbours dog.
Your blood score of 168, which I assume was an HbA1c reading, is well up into the red zone - don't know if it is forum record but it will be up there. No wonder you were feeling ill. One of the problems with diabetes is that with some GP's the idea of developing T1 as an adult is not on their radar, so thank goodness for the second Doctor you saw.
I am sure some of our experienced T1's, especially those diagnose recently as adults like @rebrascora, will be along tomorrow with questions and ideas. I am also sure that they will help you get on track. Oops, some have arrived whilst I have been typing!
Your blood score of 168, which I assume was an HbA1c reading, is well up into the red zone - don't know if it is forum record but it will be up there. No wonder you were feeling ill. One of the problems with diabetes is that with some GP's the idea of developing T1 as an adult is not on their radar, so thank goodness for the second Doctor you saw.
I am sure some of our experienced T1's, especially those diagnose recently as adults like @rebrascora, will be along tomorrow with questions and ideas. I am also sure that they will help you get on track. Oops, some have arrived whilst I have been typing!
What’s a carb counting course? I’ve never heard of it. I bought the sensors for several months as it allowed me to go out, walk our dog, shop etc without worrying. I use Nova Rapid during the day and Lantus at night, my sensors are now on the nhs as the hospital diabetic nurse agreed. My last hospital review with the doctor was May ‘19. I did have a telephone number to ring a nurse for support but since the lockdown I haven’t had any contact. I can stay in the green zone (5 - 8) for a week then, on the same diet I vary between 10 and 15, it can even be 17. May I ask how you manage?
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Annemarie
There are courses to help us count the number of carbohydrates in the food you eat at each meal. They also teach how to adjust your meal time dose to match the number of carbs. The course I did was called Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE). It enabled me to be far more flexible, and that along with the Libre to help me time my injections before meal effectively so as to reduce the spikes that I was getting after meals.
The Libre does give a lot of informations and I understand what you mean about how it could make you feel guilty. Remember that we cannot get things perfect and we will never manage to keep in range all the time. All you can do is the best that you can. The readings and arrows on the Libre can help to head off lows and highs, once you have been told about doing correction doses.
This can be fuel for your next discussion with your Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN).
There are courses to help us count the number of carbohydrates in the food you eat at each meal. They also teach how to adjust your meal time dose to match the number of carbs. The course I did was called Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE). It enabled me to be far more flexible, and that along with the Libre to help me time my injections before meal effectively so as to reduce the spikes that I was getting after meals.
The Libre does give a lot of informations and I understand what you mean about how it could make you feel guilty. Remember that we cannot get things perfect and we will never manage to keep in range all the time. All you can do is the best that you can. The readings and arrows on the Libre can help to head off lows and highs, once you have been told about doing correction doses.
This can be fuel for your next discussion with your Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN).
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
A carb counting course is a course which teaches you how to count or assess the amount of carbohydrate you are eating and adjust your insulin doses to cope with that amount of carbs.
All the carbohydrates we eat get broken down into glucose by our digestive system and absorbed into the blood stream. Insulin helps that glucose to enter the cells in the muscles and organs where it is used for energy or stored. The body of a non diabetic person knows exactly how much insulin to produce to counteract the carbohydrates we eat and keep our BG steady and in range. As diabetics we need to manually adjust the amount of insulin we need and there are something like 42 factors which have an impact on our BG levels, so it is not just about the food we eat, but stress, infection, the weather, hormones, different seasons.... loads of stuff, so it is incredibly difficult (probably impossible) to manually achieve the balance all the time.... it really makes you appreciate what a clever organ the pancreas is when it no longer works properly and you are trying to do it's job for it, so please do not feel guilty about not getting it right all the time..... because non of us do....Learning and accepting that perfection is impossible when it comes to BG levels is one of the most important lessons with diabetes. We can only do our best and considering that you haven't had a carb counting course, you are doing really well to keep in a narrow range of 4-8 at all. Most of us have our Libre set at 4-10 and I think the DSN said that they are happy if we can keep in range for 65% of the time, but don't worry if you are not achieving that yet because you really need more education to help you achieve that.
All the carbohydrates we eat get broken down into glucose by our digestive system and absorbed into the blood stream. Insulin helps that glucose to enter the cells in the muscles and organs where it is used for energy or stored. The body of a non diabetic person knows exactly how much insulin to produce to counteract the carbohydrates we eat and keep our BG steady and in range. As diabetics we need to manually adjust the amount of insulin we need and there are something like 42 factors which have an impact on our BG levels, so it is not just about the food we eat, but stress, infection, the weather, hormones, different seasons.... loads of stuff, so it is incredibly difficult (probably impossible) to manually achieve the balance all the time.... it really makes you appreciate what a clever organ the pancreas is when it no longer works properly and you are trying to do it's job for it, so please do not feel guilty about not getting it right all the time..... because non of us do....Learning and accepting that perfection is impossible when it comes to BG levels is one of the most important lessons with diabetes. We can only do our best and considering that you haven't had a carb counting course, you are doing really well to keep in a narrow range of 4-8 at all. Most of us have our Libre set at 4-10 and I think the DSN said that they are happy if we can keep in range for 65% of the time, but don't worry if you are not achieving that yet because you really need more education to help you achieve that.
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