First time being unwell since diagnosed T1

[LittleSunflower]

Hello all,

I started to feel a bit funny last night after dinner with a headache, eye pain when I moved them and a slight sickness feeling. I checked for Ketones before bed with blood which were 0.1.
I had been running a bit high (12mmol blood glucose levels) since dinner yesterday but I think I may have food poisoning today.
I tried something completely new for me, had a bit of doubt when I first tasted it but continued to finish the food anyway. It was a Macaroni Cheese Crispbake from Aldi.
I woke up in the middle of the night with stomach cramping and feeling very nauseous. My blood glucose levels have been on the lower side than normal for me but still within range all morning/afternoon so far. (I did drop to a 4.5, had the shakes with hot/cold fever).
I feel very sick but haven’t been sick.
TMI, I have it the other end.
I have sipped on some orange juice and water, had a breadstick and a cracker.
I still took my 3 units of Levemir this morning but no Novorapid as I can’t stomach anything more than 15g at the moment.
I’ve taken a paracetamol for the cramping and headache, also have a hot water bottle which has helped.
I’ve run out of blood ketone testing strips and the urine ones didn’t show any ketones.
My body temp is 98.5F.
I am convinced it’s the food I ate but obviously am worried about my health as this is the first time I’ve felt super unwell since my diagnosis and possibly the first time I’ve experienced any kind of food poisoning.
Is there anything else I need to be doing at the moment, other than keeping a check on my levels and resting?

Thanks, Little Sunflower x

 

[helli]

Sorry to read that you are unwell.

It sounds as if you are doing all the right things.
The main one being to test your blood sugars more often than normal.
Often, illness is another reason for our livers to dump sugar so, whilst your levels are lower at the moment, they may rise.

My only other advice would be to do a covid test if possible (most pharmacies are giving out testing kits for free if you can get someone to pick one up for you).
The symptoms seem to vary a lot but fever is a key one and I have heard of some people experiencing dodgy tums.
It is probably not covid but good to check.

Apart from that, rest and try not to stress.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

Sorry to hear you feel unwell. Surprising that your levels are on the low side as illness usually causes them to rise but we are all different.
It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Drinking plenty of fluids at a rate of at least 100ml per hour is suggested and the OJ to get a few carbs into you is a good idea. A basal increase is recommended if need be, but if your levels are running low, then obviously not the thing to do.
The urine testing strips should be fine for now providing they are not out of date, but if your BG levels are low then there should be little concern about ketones. The headache and fever and nausea and diarrhoea sounds a lot like the migraines I used to get. As @helli suggests, it would be a good idea to do a Covid test just to rule that out. If it is food poisoning then all you can do is ride it out and seek medical assistance if you become worse. If you cooked it well it is extremely unlikely to be food poisoning though.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[Inka]

Sorry you’re not well @LittleSunflower Tummy bigs and food poisoning are horrible and a particular worry if you have Type 1. Test lots as your blood sugar could change quickly. I often find I struggle to stop lows initially then shoot up high and have to fight highs. So assume nothing and keep testing.

I find full sugar Coke ideal for tummy problems. Sip little amounts. It really helps.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Oh no! How horrid for you @LittleSunflower

Hope you bounce back promptly. Keep taking your basal insulin, and maybe consider dosing after you have eaten in case you can’t finish things.

You may find that your BGs begin to rise as your body fights the bug.

Have your clinic given you any sick day rules? If not then this from Leicester Diabetes Centre might be useful

Sickday rules pdf

Sick day rules flowchart from Leicester diabetes centre. Particularly useful for people with Type 1 Diabetes during the Coronavirus outbreak.

www.t1resources.uk

 

[Ljc]

Oh nooooo, sorry to hear that you may have food poisoning.
I’ve had it 3 times all due to food I’ve eaten out , so I know how rough it c@n make you feel.
It can take a few days before you start to feel human again
(((HUG)))

You are doing all the right things and have been given lots of good advise so I won’t repeat it.
If you have someone who can pop to a chemist , you could ask them to get some rehydration salts
thingies as well as the Corvid test ones .

Sorry folks this is tmi .One thing I will add is just in case your top end comes out in sympathy with your lower end , this is from personal experience, whatever end has you running to the loo
The other end will joint in. So I would be prepared just in case and have a suitable container to hand when your ensconced on the throne .

I hope you feel very much better soon.

 

[LittleSunflower]

Morning all, thanks for all the well wishes.

I had to ring 111 yesterday evening as I was at one point, curled in a ball on the floor due to the stomach cramping!
My body temp went up to 38c but came back down to a 37c after being advised I needed to keep taking paracetamol.
It could’ve been a dodgy tasting Chinese I had on Friday evening come to think of it but the nurse thinks it’s Gastroenteritis.
She prescribed an emergency script for blood ketone testing strips last night.
My ketones currently sit at 0.8.

I will be taking a covid test just to rule it out later on today.

@Ljc good point, I’ve always kept a ‘sick bowl’ with me just in case.

Surprisingly, I got my first ever 100% with my libre yesterday.. a bit of a non diabetes day which is very strange to me. I managed to stomach a slice of plain toast before bed which stopped me from dropping to the 4s. (See attached photo).

@everydayupsanddowns yes, I have been following the sick day rules in a leaflet the hospital gave me.

Thanks again, let’s hope this doesn’t last too much longer.

 

[Ljc]

The nurse might well be right about the gastroenteritis.
I am impressed with your BGs
I am also pleased that your diabetes seems to have forgotten that it normally behaves very badly when it’s owner is ill

 

[Inka]

Very sensible phoning 111 @LittleSunflower I hope your tummy pain improves today. It’s good you managed to eat the toast. Here’s to a gradual improvement over the next couple of days. X

 

[LittleSunflower]

My ketones have risen to 1.1 this morning (blood ketone strip).
Is this from lack of carbs/insulin and dehydration?
The urine ketone sticks gave me a fright with a darker pink colour.. the first time I’ve experienced this!
My blood sugars are around a 10mmol after I ate a slice of toast, no Novorapid as it wasn’t enough carbs for my dose.
I am calling 111 to get further advice.

 

[Inka]

@LittleSunflower They’re probably starvation ketones because you haven’t been eating properly. I’ve had them before, both in illness and in labour. If you can keep eating/sipping Coke and injecting as needed, they should go. Obviously keep hydrated too.

I was scared the first time I got them, but it’s ok, and they should reduce.

 

[LittleSunflower]

The clinician at 111 made an emergency telephone appointment with a paramedic at my doctors surgery around lunch time.
Also had a call from the diabetes clinic at the hospital, just to follow sick day rules of which I have been doing and a check up phone call again tomorrow.
I’ve had one sachet of Dioralyte, a jelly baby, sips of orange juice, some crackers and plenty of water today along with the slice of plain toast this morning. Feeling much better after taking another paracetamol too.
My ketones are now Lo which is reassuring. Hopefully I’m over the worst as I’m getting my appetite back.
Thank you again for all of the support and advice, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone when times are tough x

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The clinician at 111 made an emergency telephone appointment with a paramedic at my doctors surgery around lunch time.
Also had a call from the diabetes clinic at the hospital, just to follow sick day rules of which I have been doing and a check up phone call again tomorrow.
I’ve had one sachet of Dioralyte, a jelly baby, sips of orange juice, some crackers and plenty of water today along with the slice of plain toast this morning. Feeling much better after taking another paracetamol too.
My ketones are now Lo which is reassuring. Hopefully I’m over the worst as I’m getting my appetite back.
Thank you again for all of the support and advice, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone when times are tough x

Well done for keeping on top of things @LittleSunflower

Hope you are quickly on the mend. Glad to hear your appetite is returning and your ketones have gone.