Hello. I was diagnosed last week while on holiday in Portugal with type 1 diabetes. I have only just arrived back and because of the language barrier I am still very clueless as to what I can eat, what units mean what and, basically everything. The doctors and helplines are closed today as it is bank holiday Monday. The hospital in Portugal have given me insulin to inject 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals and the final, fourth one at 10pm (it is a slow release 24hour and the other 3 are quick insulin). Also the measurements aren't uk they're in units of 100. So ideally should be 80-100 but when at the hospital I was 337!! I'm only 24 and scared. I have thyroid disease too and they come hand in hand but didn't expect this sudden life change. Any help would be much appreciated thank you, Jemma.
Hi Jemmalouise, welcome to the forum
🙂 What a time to get diagnosed!
😱 I was actually diagnosed on this Bank Holiday Monday 8 years ago, and had put off seeking help because the surgery was shut - I ended up in A&E
😱
How did the diagnosis come about? What insulin have you been given? As you have a Portuguese meter, you can convert the readings to UK ones by dividing the numbers by 18 - that should help you understand the numbers here better. As for insulin, 'units' are just a convenient way of representing doses of insulin - they are the same here as abroad. The basic idea is that you, with the help of your doctor or nurse, work out how many units of insulin you need for a certain amount of carbohydrates in your food and/or drinks. A simple example would be a sandwich that has 50g of carbs in it - if you need one unit per 10grams of carbs (your personal 'ratio' might be different), then you would inject 5 units of the fast-acting. This is known as 'carb counting' and means you can match the dose of insulin to the food you want to eat ( have a look at this link for more information:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Managing-your-diabetes/Carb-counting/ . You only usually need fast-acting insulin when you eat carbohydrates, but your doctor or nurse will be able to explain more fully. What have you been told to eat and inject? I would try to eat normally until you can speak to the doctor. Have you been testing your blood since you were diagnosed? What numbers are you getting before you eat? Keep something sweet handy and test if you feel odd or funny (shaky, sweating, light-headed). If your numbers are below 72 when you feel like this, have a sweet or a sugary drink (half a can of full sugar coke or a couple of jelly babies) and this will raise your blood sugar levels back above 72.
Do get in touch with your doctor for an emergency appointment tomorrow so you can start to get things sorted out. Unless he has a particular interest in diabetes it is most likely that he will refer you to an endocrinologist (diabetes consultant) who should also be able to help with your thyroid problems. The consultant should also have DSNs (Diabetes Specialist Nurses) in his/her clinic who are usually a brilliant help with any problems or questions you might have
🙂 Your GP should be able to sort out a repeat prescription for all the items you need prescribing - I would recommend asking for a UK meter and plenty of test strips.
There is a lot to learn very quickly, but you will get plenty of support so never be afraid to ask questions if something is confusing or worrying you. I would highly recommend getting a copy of
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas which I am sure you will find immensely helpful
🙂
Let us know if you have any more questions - I'm sure you must have lots! Try not to worry - it is a serious condition, but it can be managed well and the treatments and knowledge are the best they have ever been, so you will be well looked after and do just fine, I am sure
🙂
