I am a rubbish diabetic, all six years since being diagnosed I have had high HBa1c's, dehydrating highs and crashing lows, just over and over again. I feel I am destroying myself piece by piece, it won't be long until I see the effects of this abuse of my body. I just want to go back to basics and start again. Where do I start?? Please help!!
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Destroying me bit by bit
- Thread starter XKDX
- Start date
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Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
welcome - joining here is a good first step
Welcome to the forum, XKDX. What's done is done, but not too late to improve. A good first step is finding this forum - wasn't around 6 years ago.
Main tip I'd suggest would be to get some education - assuming you have one, ask your clinic about DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating for type 1 diabetes) or local equivalent course. If you don't attend a clinic, then ask your GP to refer you.
Welcome to the forum, XKDX. What's done is done, but not too late to improve. A good first step is finding this forum - wasn't around 6 years ago.
Main tip I'd suggest would be to get some education - assuming you have one, ask your clinic about DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating for type 1 diabetes) or local equivalent course. If you don't attend a clinic, then ask your GP to refer you.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi XKDX, welcome to the forum 🙂 You sound passionate and determined to improve, so you've already made a great start by getting yourself motivated! What insulin regime are you on? What sort of highs and lows are you getting, and do they come at any particular time of day?
The best way to start is to keep a diary if you don't already, or get hold of the software for the meter you use. Note down your injections and meals, particularly the carb content. Gradually, you will build up an idea of where improvements can be made.
I would also highly recommend getting hold of a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas - useful reading whatever your age 🙂 It's good for browsing topics or looking up anything specific - knowledge is power.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. No matter how long any of us have been diagnosed, there is always something new we can learn from the experiences of others 🙂
The best way to start is to keep a diary if you don't already, or get hold of the software for the meter you use. Note down your injections and meals, particularly the carb content. Gradually, you will build up an idea of where improvements can be made.
I would also highly recommend getting hold of a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas - useful reading whatever your age 🙂 It's good for browsing topics or looking up anything specific - knowledge is power.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. No matter how long any of us have been diagnosed, there is always something new we can learn from the experiences of others 🙂
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Where to start? Try at the beginning 🙂 Can you tell us what insulin you are on, and do you carb count?
If you are using mdi basal and bolus insulin's start by getting your basal (background right) There's a sticky in the pump forum about basal testing even though aimed at pumpers people on injections can use it as well.
There's a couple of good books you can buy from amazon, called using insulin and also think like a pancreas. Bdec do an online carb counting course just google it.
Last but not least you have all the forum members to help you along the way.
Redkite
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Welcome to the forum XKDX 🙂
There is no such thing as a rubbish diabetic! Draw a line under the past 6 years and start afresh. I too heartily recommend Ragnar Hanas' book - it is full of positive vibes and a can-do approach.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diab...8&qid=1374171995&sr=8-1&keywords=ragnar+hanas
I also recommend the Carbs and Cals book (also available as a smartphone app) to help with carb counting if you don't already do this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carbs-Cals-...qid=1374172062&sr=1-1&keywords=carbs+and+cals
Regular blood glucose testing and keeping a diary for a while of food eaten, insulin taken and BG results will help you build up a picture of where you need to adjust your insulin doses (the Ragnar Hanas book is very helpful with this, but you do need your own data!). I would recommend testing your BG: on waking (before breakfast), mid-morning, before lunch, mid-afternoon, before dinner, and at bedtime, and occasionally one at 2-3am. Testing more frequently helps prevent excessive highs and lows, and if you do happen to be running high you can inject a correction bolus to bring your levels back to target before your next meal, thus spending less time in the day outside your target range.
The thing to remember is that no-one with type 1 gets perfect control all the time, in fact it's a very rare day for my son to spend 24hours all in single figures. But small changes can reap benefits, even one extra BG test a day will be beneficial.
Lastly, if your clinic team hasn't been supportive over the last few years, vote with your feet and find a better consultant at another hospital. This is what we had to do.
There is no such thing as a rubbish diabetic! Draw a line under the past 6 years and start afresh. I too heartily recommend Ragnar Hanas' book - it is full of positive vibes and a can-do approach.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diab...8&qid=1374171995&sr=8-1&keywords=ragnar+hanas
I also recommend the Carbs and Cals book (also available as a smartphone app) to help with carb counting if you don't already do this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carbs-Cals-...qid=1374172062&sr=1-1&keywords=carbs+and+cals
Regular blood glucose testing and keeping a diary for a while of food eaten, insulin taken and BG results will help you build up a picture of where you need to adjust your insulin doses (the Ragnar Hanas book is very helpful with this, but you do need your own data!). I would recommend testing your BG: on waking (before breakfast), mid-morning, before lunch, mid-afternoon, before dinner, and at bedtime, and occasionally one at 2-3am. Testing more frequently helps prevent excessive highs and lows, and if you do happen to be running high you can inject a correction bolus to bring your levels back to target before your next meal, thus spending less time in the day outside your target range.
The thing to remember is that no-one with type 1 gets perfect control all the time, in fact it's a very rare day for my son to spend 24hours all in single figures. But small changes can reap benefits, even one extra BG test a day will be beneficial.
Lastly, if your clinic team hasn't been supportive over the last few years, vote with your feet and find a better consultant at another hospital. This is what we had to do.
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