Brand new type 1 diabetic here...

[toffee]

...hello, I was diagnosed with type 1 (DKA) on Thursday after a visit to the doctors and a urine test ended up with me on five drips and having a whole host of new words thrown at me in hospital.
I'd been having the usual symptoms for months and a previous visit to a blood clinic last October resulted in them "losing" my samples so I never heard back from the doctor and presumed I was just ill with something less worrying than diabetes.
Anyway, after my visit last week to the doctors I have had a couple of overwhelming days being poked and prodded, and I'm now back home without a clue of how I'm going to adapt...but adapt I will.

I feel daft asking this because I may have been told but can't recall, the little Lancet things that prick your fingers...I was given ten in a small bag, I'll run out by tomorrow at the rate I'm checking...should I have been given more or do you use the same one multiple times?

Thanks in advance

 

[merrymunky]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I’ve only been here a few weeks myself but there is endless support from very experienced members.

Everything I have read on medical websites say to change it after every single finger prick. I started blood testing this week and my nurse said it can be used for the whole day so I actually only change it once per day. Apparently they can warp or get blunt to it is suggested to change it so it reduces pain of the prick itself.

I think there are some people who don’t even change theirs daily.

 

[SB2015]

Hi @toffee and welcome to the forum. I am glad that you have found us.

There is a lot to take in very quickly at the start and it is no wonder that you will not have remembered everything you were told. No problem, just ask any questions that you have, and someone will come along with an answer.

As for the lancets for the finger pricks, they say that we should use them once but I certainly don’t change mine more than once a week, and only thenif it is hurting by then. Not good practice, but as you are running short you could use them more than once rather than run out. For the test strips on which you put your blood there is no choice as they will only work once.

What insulin’s regime have they put you on? I know that it seems hard to believe at present but all that we have to do will just become part of you ur new ‘normal’ life, and I liken it to learning to drive. I remember at the start it seemed complicated to look in the mirror, change gear, ... Now all that is just automatic. And so it will be for your Diabetes management.

No questions are considered silly on here so just ask.

 

[trophywench]

Get yourself back to your GP in the morning to get your future supplies organised - the lancets for finger bodging are supplied in boxes of either 100 or a lot of brands are in 200s now. Make sure you take your new meter with you so the GP can prescribe the correct lancets and strips, plus whatever insulin you've been put on, plus pen needles. The surgery also has to apply for your medical Prescription Exemption card - otherwise if you don't do this when you find you are in dire need of further supplies and ask for a scrip - you'll have to pay for every ruddy item and I don't think you can claim it back these days if that happens, so don't let it!

Yes - everything is exceedingly confusing at the moment - cos it just is - but good for you telling yourself you WILL cope! The truth is - you will - but it takes a while to get your head round it, because it's a) ruddy complicated and b) it's a right smack in the gob, frankly. Hence - if or rather, when you suddenly find yourself in floods of tears even though you know that can't help the facts and isn't going to change anything - in fact you are being completely normal - cos we all did it. Fact is - being diagnosed with a chronic condition is comparable to a bereavement - and absolutely nobody would think you were odd doing that if you'd had an actual bereavement, would they?

A couple more things can be of great help to you - both need reading. First is advice on the best way to bodge your fingers to avoid unnecessary damage - http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/painless-pricks.html
Second is a book you can order from Amazon, entitled 'Type 1 diabetes in babies, children and teenagers' by Ragnar Hanas. In fact it's very useful for any type 1 of whatever age. Make sure you get the latest edition as it has been revised several times and the cheaper second hand versions could well be an outdated version.

Good luck!

 

[toffee]

Thank you so much for your prompt replies, it's much appreciated.
I used my lancet six times this morning before I managed a decent "stab" of my finger so at least I know I can re-use them now, thank you Merrymonkey.
SB - They gave me two pen things, one called LANTUS which I stick in myself once in the morning, thats 10 units, and another on called NovoRapid I use 4 times a day with a shot of 4 units each time. It's all so overwhelming at the moment, hopefully because I have generaaly had a good diet regime I will be able to cope....scary stuff though to take in all at once.
Trophywench, thank you, book ordered plus a couple of others. I did feel a little alone yesterday, I actually live by myself apart from my three kids who I see when work/life dictates so finding this site was great, I will probably be asking a few more questions in the coming days, it's reassuring to know I have a resource like this to call upon.

 

[SueEK]

Hello toffee and welcome to this great site. As a type 2 and not 1 I cannot give you any advice but want to say that you seem to have a great attitude to your new diagnosis and the forum will be such a benefit to you. There are so many experienced people on here who were once in your exact position so they will really help you. I wish you well in your new journey xx

 

[toffee]

Thanks Sue - It's a whole new way to travel, I'm all ears so to speak even if my little pea brain is struggling to comprehend it all 🙂

 

[stephknits]

Welcome toffee, it certainly is a shock and a lot to take in, but we are all here for you 🙂

 

[KARNAK]

Welcome to the forum @toffee.🙂 You certainly have the right attitude well done, lots of knowledge to gain but gain it you will.🙂 Do as TW says off to Doc`s tomorrow and get meds/lancets sorted, come back anytime there`s always someone up and about.

 

[SueEK]

Thanks Sue - It's a whole new way to travel, I'm all ears so to speak even if my little pea brain is struggling to comprehend it all 🙂

I was only diagnosed 8 wks ago as type 2 and that was confusing and scary, there is a lot to learn and change. Already I have learnt loads and have accepted that I need to change lots. You will have more to learn and change but everything is possible. Keep us updated of your progress, we are all rooting for you x

 

[toffee]

Thanks everyone, feel better already...latest reading was 25.6 though and a little icon appeared (KET). Took the NovoRapid 4 units and will check again in a bit.

 

[ukjohn]

Welcome Toffee
sometimes we get so much information thrown at us at the start that it can sometimes be confusing trying to take it all in at once, take it slowly one day at a time and it will all fit into place as you progress.
You have some great support here from many members ready to answer your questions
Good luck
John.​

 

[trophywench]

The icon KET means 'check for ketones' Toffee - meaning your BG is too high for comfort if it stays there for very long.

If it doesn't come down to a more manageable level in 90 minutes time - get on the phone to your diabetes nurse PDQ.

And drink plenty of plain water to try and flush some ketones out of your bloodstream into your pee to eliminate them.

Was it lower than that when you tested it first thing? What about immediately before bed last night?

 

[toffee]

Thanks John.

 

[toffee]

It was 11.1 before my breakfast Trophy, I had hot cross buns, small bowl of cornflakes and a coffee.

 

[toffee]

....oh, and I don't have a diabetes nurse yet, probably happen in the next few weeks I assume?

 

[Flower]

Hello and welcome @toffee, glad you've found us sorry you had to find us!

It is a huge shock to be given the running of your own insulin supply but little by little things do start to fit back together into a new normal.

There's a wealth of experience and support on this forum so please let us know how things go for you. Best Wishes 🙂

 

[Robin]

It was 11.1 before my breakfast Trophy, I had hot cross buns, small bowl of cornflakes and a coffee.

Ah, what probably happened was that the carbohydrates in your cornflakes and buns, being easily absorbed, turned to glucose in your bloodstream before the insulin could get there to mop it up. When you take your Novorapid, it lasts about four hours, starting gradually, then reaching a peak of activity around the two hour mark, because it was designed to cope with a general 'meat and two veg' meal, which your body digests more slowly.
No worries, your blood sugar should start to fall as the insulin kicks in, and later on you’ll be sent on a course to teach you how to work out doses of insulin to match the carb content of what you’re eating, and timings of injections, to keep your readings steadier.
Welcome to the club, btw, I was 51 at diagnosis, there are quite a few of us 'late developers' on here!

 

[toffee]

Thank you Robin, thats made me feel a lot better x

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Hello and welcome 🙂
It's an absolute head wreck when you're first diagnosed, especially as (generally) you've been feeling so ill and you need time to recover from that alone. You will get there, it will take time. You need to ring your hospital specialist diabetes nurse team tomorrow and insist they assign you someone. All the best.