Hello, Fellow Members

[MishapMagnet]

I hope you don't mind me only using my website nickname since I wanna keep it discrete, for people here where I live survive off sticking their noses into people's lives, so better safe than sorry 🙂

I made my account specifically to learn more about what's going on with my body and how to control my illness and being newly diagnosed with type 1 is definitely something that hit me hard when I discovered about it. The doctor who got on with the task to regulate and stabilize my blood sugar levels during my stay at the hospital was incredibly kind and helpful, but I don't feel like bothering her all the time about potentially dumb questions or stuff that I'm supposed to know. Not that I'll be inundating you with queries all the time, but I'll try to switch it up and keep it as plain and simple as I can, so that we can communicate efficiently.

Also mind you, I'm not a scientist or a person with a solid scientific background, so I may have some hard time posting formulas, measures, drug names or anything that might help you with answering my inquiries. That, at least until I acquire more knowledge regarding my condition and potentially becoming confident and smart enough to help others that are in my/our shoes.

Now about a question I have. I take human insulin(white solution with some transparent liquid mixed in it too) - 16 marks at around 10 in the evening. My doctor told my that I need to tip the pen over and over, about 20 times until the mixture starts to look homogeneous and then do the injecting.
That said, with everything that I've got on my mind for the past month or so, I forgot to do that and frankly I'm a bit worried. The mixture looked well mixed in before I punctured myself but that doesn't make me any less worried about whether I irreversibly changed the concentration of the insulin in my cartridge.
So, guys, should I continue using the same cartridge or should I buy a new one/open one that's still sealed?

Thank you in advance,

MishapMagnet

 

[Felinia]

Hi and seasons greetings.
The initial diagnosis is overwhelming and there's no way you can be expected to know anything until you've been trained. And no way you will have taken in everything you've been told. This is where the Forum and website helps. If you are UK based and under a GP/local hospital you will be offered all sorts of help, from training, dietary advice and annual monitoring for life, but it takes a bit of time to all come together, particularly at this time of year.
I can't help with your specific query as I'm Type 2, but there are loads of Type 1 on the Forum who I'm sure will be along soon to help you - maybe even Christmas Day. But to help them along can you please post some more information, as that will help them target their replies. The questions are not meant to invade your privacy.
Where are you from ie USA, UK - no need to be more specific but medications and practises vary?
What medications are you on (the names should be on the containers, along with the dosage) - you'll see mine below?
What was your last HbA1c?
Do you monitor your blood glucose regularly ie rising, before and 2 hours after eating, before bed, during the night?
I wish you all the best.

 

[Ljc]

Hello @MishapMagnet ,welcome to the forum and to the club that no one wants to join. I like many here do not use my real name , it’s safer that way when online.
How are you now.

Don’t worry about technical terms though we do have medics, nurses and the odd scientist on the forum most of us are dead ordinary.

We do tend to use some abbreviations and for a time we will automatically explain them, but if your unsure just ask ok.

As for not bothering the doctor with too many questions, that is exactly what they are there for. If you are in the uk you should have been assigned to a diabetes clinic at a hospital and should have been given contact details of your DSN (Diabetes specialist nurse) who you will see far mor than the consultant. Your team/ DSN not only wants you to keep in close contact esp in these early stages the expect you to.

As all the questions you need to about diabetes and we will do our best to help, As you are newly diagnosed their is an awful lot to learn but you will get there , honest .

What insulin’s are you on.

 

[trophywench]

This close to diagnosis - it's most unlikely you'll suffer lasting harm from not mixing the insulin as well as you think you should.

However hopefully this will remind you to do it better in future? We ALL make mistakes and yet are still around to tell the tale. The important thing is to learn from the mistakes!

 

[1oldgal]

Hi, being fairly new to this myself, I agree with trophywench, I made mistakes in the begining and spent many hours fretting that I had done damage but I'm still here and apparently no harm done, you are now on a massive learning curve and all the experience adds up. I'm afraid i have not used that insulin and cannot offer any advice other than keep a close eye on your sugar levels and if you are then still worried or concerned then start a new one.

 

[MishapMagnet]

Thank you so much for the prompt replies, guys! I'm very humbled to know there's such a helpful bunch of you in this forum, even during the Christmas Holidays.
Just as Felinia told me I added some info regarding my disease, current residence and the medications I take, so that it makes it easy for others to answer my questions in the future, if any. Pretty sure they are already in the section of "About Me" on my panel, but I still can't see them displayed under my messages. Maybe it'll take some time before the forum refreshes and puts them on display.

Thank you once again and wish you happy holidays 🙂

 

[SB2015]

Welcome @MishapMagnet

It is worrying at the start and every mistake, and we will all have made them, becomes a big concern.
As others have said you just learn from them and it will stop you doing that one again.
Enjoy your Christmas and manage as best you can at this stage. You will gradually get to grips with it all and be amazed at how much you know in a short amount of time.

Don’t worry about whether to ask a questions. Just do it. Whatever is bothering you just ask on here. Someone will be along with advice.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

So Actrapid and Insulatard. Insulatard being the cloudy one. I doubt that not mixing it once won't be significant. It may change the mix a bit, but surely not enough to matter.
Curious they used those slightly older insulins (they're what I was on a few years ago), but maybe they're the usual treatment in your country (or maybe the usual initial treatment).

 

[Robin]

Thank you so much for the prompt replies, guys! I'm very humbled to know there's such a helpful bunch of you in this forum, even during the Christmas Holidays.
Just as Felinia told me I added some info regarding my disease, current residence and the medications I take, so that it makes it easy for others to answer my questions in the future, if any. Pretty sure they are already in the section of "About Me" on my panel, but I still can't see them displayed under my messages. Maybe it'll take some time before the forum refreshes and puts them on display.

Thank you once again and wish you happy holidays 🙂

I think, (I may be wrong) that you have to fill in your info on the bit of your account called 'signature' if you want it to display under your posts. I looked up your profile, and yes, the info is all there under 'information' but I don’t think it automatically displays it unless you specifically put it in as a signature.

 

[Felinia]

Thank you so much for the prompt replies, guys! I'm very humbled to know there's such a helpful bunch of you in this forum, even during the Christmas Holidays.
Just as Felinia told me I added some info regarding my disease, current residence and the medications I take, so that it makes it easy for others to answer my questions in the future, if any. Pretty sure they are already in the section of "About Me" on my panel, but I still can't see them displayed under my messages. Maybe it'll take some time before the forum refreshes and puts them on display.

Thank you once again and wish you happy holidays 🙂

I found this on your Profile. If you enter it on your signature, it will appear with each post. Top right hand corner, blue bar, click on your Internet name. Your personal details will come up an on the left hand side you'll see Settings, and Signature is under there.

Gender:Male
Birthday:1993 (Age: 26)
Relationship to Diabetes:Type 1
Place of residence - on the territory of The European Union - Southeastern Region
HbA1c - 11.5% This is equivalent to the UK of 102 mmol/mol ; Pretty sure at some point before my hospitalization it was a lot higher, probably between 28 and 31. You're right - it is high!
3 times a day - actrapid - 8 marks
Once each evening - insulatard 16 marks

 

[Felinia]

So, not the UK. You are going to need to ask lots of questions to find out how your country treats and monitors you. Suggest you compile a list of questions as you go along to ask your doctor - one must be how you will be monitored and when is your next appointment. And you can Google your country and diabetes to try and get a better understanding of their system. But in the meantime I suggest you use the Diabetes UK training section of their website, and slowly work your way through that for Type 1. I took it slowly, one or two sections a day, to give it a chance to go in. Best wishes.

 

[SueEK]

Hi and welcome @MishapMagnet . This is a really good and importantly friendly forum so you must feel free to ask any questions you have. There are so many people on here experienced in their diabetes and although it affects each one of us differently there is always great advice available.
Can’t really help with your specific questions as am type 2 but I have asked and been given great advice this past year without which life would have been much more difficult and isolating. Good luck with your learning and a very Happy Christmas to you. Sue x

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @MishapMagnet

As others have said it’s curious that you’ve been put on those older non-analogue insulins.

Modern ones are clear, so no mixing stresses!

 

[MishapMagnet]

Welcome to the forum @MishapMagnet

As others have said it’s curious that you’ve been put on those older non-analogue insulins.

Modern ones are clear, so no mixing stresses!

Now that you've mentioned it, the doctor who's monitoring me said that those substances are just a temporary thing until I'm being prescribed some analogue insulin which is going to be in about several months from now. I don't know the reason behind prolonging my treatment with those supposedly older substances but I've decided to roll with it for the time being.
And also I was told that I have a small chance of completely removing insulin from my regimen and start taking pills, but that's like let's say 10% chance. Really do hope it happens, because those insulin pens are indeed a hassle. And if it doesn't, I've come to terms with it anyway, so I won't cry a whole lot.

 

[Kaylz]

And also I was told that I have a small chance of completely removing insulin from my regimen and start taking pills, but that's like let's say 10% chance. Really do hope it happens, because those insulin pens are indeed a hassle. And if it doesn't, I've come to terms with it anyway, so I won't cry a whole lot.

Have you definitely been diagnosed as Type 1? If so then you will requite insulin again at some point in your life, Type 1's don't produce their own and there isn't such thing as a tablet form of insulin unfortunately so an insulin free life for a Type 1 just isn't possible
xx

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I don't know the reason behind prolonging my treatment with those supposedly older substances but I've decided to roll with it for the time being

There's a honeymoon period when you're still producing some insulin. During that time I guess the insulin you inject doesn't need to be so precise.