Hello, hello....

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Cressida

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Type 1
Hello folks,

I was diagnosed as type 1 last Wednesday when I was admitted to hospital as a result of being in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. I'm 33 and it came as a bit of a shock! I've been doing some reading on the website but I was able to go home on 10units twice a day until my consultant and clinic appt at Leicester General this morning.

Clearly I have a lot to learn over the coming months and its been encouraging to read some of the posts on here - thank you.

I just had a quick query though; I do have a list of questions but I wanted to ask the forum if there was anything you think I should ask which may not be so obvious?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Many thanks,
Cressida
 
Hi Cressida, welcome to the forum 🙂 Getting diagnosed with Type 1 can be a bit of a jolt because everything comes on so suddenly 😱 I was due to fly out and run a marathon the week I was diagnosed, so it was a total shocker!

The main thing I would ask about is an insulin regime called 'MDI (Multiple Daily Injections), also known as 'basal/bolus'. Sounds a bit scary, but it's not really, it just involves injecting a 'background' insulin once or twice a day (usually levemir or lantus) and injecting a fast-acting insulin before you eat. This gives you the flexibility to eat what you want (within moderation!) and when you want.

I would highly recommend getting a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas - yes, you are a young adult, the book is relevant to ALL ages, and is an excellent reference guide, a bit pricey, but well worth it!

Let us know how you get on with your appointment - hope it goes well, and if you have any questions or anything needs clarifying for you let us know 🙂
 
Cressida said:
Hello folks,

I was diagnosed as type 1 last Wednesday when I was admitted to hospital as a result of being in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. I'm 33 and it came as a bit of a shock! I've been doing some reading on the website but I was able to go home on 10units twice a day until my consultant and clinic appt at Leicester General this morning.

Clearly I have a lot to learn over the coming months and its been encouraging to read some of the posts on here - thank you.

I just had a quick query though; I do have a list of questions but I wanted to ask the forum if there was anything you think I should ask which may not be so obvious?

Any thoughts appreciated.


Many thanks,
Cressida
Click to expand...

Good morning Cressenda and welcome to our merry band.
Not surprised you are shell shocked.
With diabetes it's best to take each day as it comes don't stress over it you have it so make it behave and do as it's told. 🙄
Take a pen and paper with you and write things down to help you remember. Things will be overwelming to start with so you wont always remember what you are told.
Do get a form from your GP though for free prescriptions. (That's the bonus for having diabetes).
 
Hi Cressida

Welcome to the Club nobody wants to join!

Hopefully by now you'll be quite a bit wiser than what you were first thing this morning.

The really great thing about forums is this - NO question is regarded as 'silly'. You can ask whatever you want, whenever you want and usually someone will either know the exact answer or at least be able to shed some light on the subject pdq. Otherwise you do tend to forget whatever it was because of medical appts being 'sporadic'. And sometimes things that don't seem all that important overall to you at the time, can turn out to be rather essential.

(As a result of once having been told off in no uncertain terms for not mentioning a certain symptom in connection with a non-diabetic little prob, I now tend to report every blooming symptom to whoever will listen! LOL)

Onwards and upwards.

What insulins have they decided on for you? And what's your meter telling you today?
 
my 10 pence worth

Hi

not a question as such

for several months I kept a diary and made sure that I noted everything I ate or drank down --- then made sure I had it when I spoke to the Dr nurse or dietician, I also had an issue with changing eye sight you just have to take in the information and keep going -- Regards Andrew




Cressida said:
Hello folks,

I was diagnosed as type 1 last Wednesday when I was admitted to hospital as a result of being in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. I'm 33 and it came as a bit of a shock! I've been doing some reading on the website but I was able to go home on 10units twice a day until my consultant and clinic appt at Leicester General this morning.

Clearly I have a lot to learn over the coming months and its been encouraging to read some of the posts on here - thank you.

I just had a quick query though; I do have a list of questions but I wanted to ask the forum if there was anything you think I should ask which may not be so obvious?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Many thanks,
Cressida
Click to expand...
 
Welcome to the forum Cressida 🙂
 
Hello everyone, thank you for responding.

So, this morning went OK. I don't think I am an awful lot wiser and as I am still feeling grotty, I don't think that I have taken everything in. However, I have ordered the recommended book above (thanks!) and I can only go one step at a time.

In order to get me out of hospital and keep me safe, I was sent home on 10 units of Insuman Basal twice a day with a subcutaneous syringe and a vial of the pen dispensed insuman to draw from. No blood sugar testing etc until I my appointment at the clinic today. I have now received three different pens - one loaded with the insuman, one with 'Apidra' for the fridge just in case as I am not currently using this. I was also given the blood glucose monitoring kit. I have to say the pen seems complicated compared to the syringes I have been using but I realise it's more discreet.

As I don't have a structured lifestyle (in any way!) the Dr and Nurse mentioned the week long course (begins with D I think, it escapes me at the moment) and the mixed type of insulin. I was glad I was aware of that beforehand and that they mentioned it before I had to ask - so thanks for the heads up.

My blood glucose was 14.8mmol so the nurse said to increase the insulin by 2 units tomorrow night and the following night etc until I get to 10 and then I should start feeling better. I've got to email her on Monday and let her know where I am at. I've got some ketone testing strips too to make sure that continues to go down.

So, I guess it kind of starts here.

I'm a little bewildered and overwhelmed but I will get there.

C
 
Thanks....

I have downloaded the app and have been using that - I found the talking points bit really helpful. It was my sight that started this all off.... definitely monitoring that...!

C
 
Hi Cressida, it is strange that there doesn't seem to be any standard approach to initial treatments, I have read all sorts on here and I am still reading of new approaches! Be careful not to confuse the 'mixed' insulins with the 'MDI' I mentioned earlier. The former is two types of insulin mixed in the same injection, some fast-acting and some slow, whereas MDI is two separate insulins and is the one you need if you have an unpredictable lifestyle (just wanted to clarify that).

It's very early days yet and it will take a while for things to settle into some sort of pattern, so try and be patient. Take things one step at a time, do the basics as advised by your nurse/doctor and try not to overload yourself too much. Hopefully you have been advised what to do if your levels fall too low (below 4.0 on your meter and called a 'hypo') - the normal thing to do is to eat or drink 15g of fast-acting carbs (jelly babies, glucose/dextrose tablets/full sugar coke etc.) then wait 5 mins and check that your levels have risen above 4.0.


I found (and am still finding 5 years on) that this is something that you refine over time - it's a marathon not a sprint. The course (probably DAFNE - Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating) will help you enormously - not least because you will get to meet others in the same boat and this is invaluable.

Any questions you have, please ask as they occur and someone will be able to help, so don't worry if you think it might be a bit 'silly' or ought to be obvious, just ask 🙂
 
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