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Hello all - type 1 for 6 weeks now..

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CJWills

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello everyone

Diagnosed T1 about 6 weeks ago at age 39 after experiencing all the classic symptoms - lost weight, constantly thirsty etc. Looked like a skeleton (usually pretty sporty). Put it down to lockdown weirdness at first and probably should have gone to the doctors sooner, but now feel much better since diagnosis, weight is back on and adjusting to life with t1 diabetes.

I am on Lantus long-acting insulin (12u) and Novo-Rapid fast-acting. I've had a freestyle libre since diagnosis - what a game changer this must have been vs endless finger stick tests! I've been able to fairly quickly work out what works for me. I've always done a lot of exercise and found that combined with low carb diet i can be in the green range (3.9-10) on the libre 90%+ of the time, with many days at 100%. Usually 2units of novorapid before meals, sometimes none if I've exercised and never more than 6 (4 is usually the most). I find that low carb means less margin for error when trying to balance the carbs with the right amount of insulin. Low carb breakfast especially important as it means you can get at least half the day in range if you've gone to bed in range (and have the right long-acting dose).

Its a lot to take in at first and in some ways I think its harder on the family as they have the worry and questions but without the ability to do anything about it. But with their support, from friends too and obviously the amazing NHS its been about as good as it could have been. Look forward to learning and sharing more experiences.

Chris
 
Welcome to the forum Chris, glad you found us. I'm another late developer, diagnosed 7 yes ago at 42. You are right, the libre made a huge difference. I have had it for coming up for a year and feel very lucky. Not so much the finger pricks,but the extra info it gives me.
 
I've had a freestyle libre since diagnosis - what a game changer this must have been vs endless finger stick tests!

Yes! There have been CGMs for a while. The Libre is a bit simpler and cheaper (and their website made it really easy to order). And it's just cheap enough that it was possible to get the NHS to fund it. Though only for a minority of people with T1 (a little over 30% at present).

It gives information that we can't practically get with test strips. Overnight values, for one, and direction of change; it's way easier to control things when you know more than just the current number.
 
Welcome to the forum @CJWills , from another late starter (53 years young).
There are a fair few of us on here. It sounds as if you have got to grips with things.
If you have any questions just ask. No one minds.
 
Welcome to the forum @CJWills

Congratulations on a great start. glad you have found a system that works for you 🙂
 
Hi Chris and welcome. I was also diagnosed a year and a half ago about the same age as yourself. It seems more common now that people are given libre at diagnosis - you've been lucky in that at least (though it may not feel like it)- many T1s still don't have one. Congrats on getting to grips with everything so quickly, and I agree low carb breakfast in particular is hugely helpful in my experience to keep TIR. Do bear in mind that you are probably honeymooning and it's possible/likely your insulin need will increase. That doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, just that your pancreas has finally packed up - basically your body needs whatever level of insulin it needs. If you have questions, ask away.
Thanks. Hopefully it's a long honeymoon!
 
LOL - you will have to start to re-learn stuff you thought you knew - carb counting and dose adjustment, basal testing, what happens when you're not well with anything other than D, etc. Then of course when you get sick of jabs and everyone wants you to use a pump, do it all again cos driving an insulin pump successfully is entirely different to using jabs even though it's doing the same thing on the face of it!

Welcome to the Club no-one wanted to join - and absolutely never stop asking questions.
 
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