Hello!!

[heyitisbecca]

Hi guys. 🙂

My name's Rebecca, I'm 25 years old and have had Type 1 Diabetes for 10 years. I was diagnosed during my final year of secondary school and as a result I didn't do all that well on my GCSEs (I failed every subject ) but I later got my C in English at college so the blow became a little softer in the end!

I've been on Novorapid since my diagnosis ans have been on Tresiba since January this year. I also started using the Freestyle Libre in January after 9 years of finger pricks; I have to say, it's really made a difference to not only my life but the way I manage my blood sugar levels. I only wish I'd been out on the Libre sooner!

Anyway, that's me! Very much looking forward to chatting to you all.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Rebecca and welcome.

Must have been really tough being diagnosed at such a critical time in your young life not just with schooling but just having to cope with being a teenager as well as getting your head around diabetes, but well done for catching up a bit by attending college and getting your English qualification.

Quite surprised that you have only just had Libre since January gone, but yes it is an amazing bit of kit... a real game changer both practically and mentally I think although sometimes the data can feel a bit overwhelming. I used to have a break from it occasionally as when things were not going so well it felt like it was spying on me and even though I was trying hard to balance things it was showing (and potentially my consultant 🙄 ) that I was not having success. (failing) In reality I wasn't, but that was how it felt so I would have a week or 2 of finger pricking 8+ times a day and after a week or so, I really appreciated Libre so much more again and I was so happy to have it back. It is a long time since I felt like I need a break now so I guess I have found the right balance with it now.

How are you managing with Tresiba? Was there a particular reason why they swapped you onto it and what did you use before?

Have you had a DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) Course or whatever local equivalent your area offer. It is a week long intensive education course on insulin usage designed to teach you how to keep yourself safe with insulin in a whole range of everyday situations like food and exercise and alcohol and illness etc and it is a great way to meet other Type 1 diabetics in person. In fact that was the highlight of the course for me as we learned so much from each other. Some people who are diagnosed as children/teens seem to miss out on being offered the course, but it is open to all Type 1s, so if you haven't done it and think you might like to do it, ask your DSN to put you forward. Some places run it as a straight week of 9-5s and other places do it 1 day a week for several weeks. During the pandemic, there were online options but if you can get onto a face to face course I would certainly recommend that.

Is there anything particular which has encouraged you to join the forum or were you just wanting to compare notes with others who face similar challenges. Feel free to ask any questions that you have.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Hi Rebecca, welcome. I've been on NR and Tresiba for well over a year now and it suits me. Were you given any advice about how to get the best from Tresiba?

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum Rebecca. Very pleased that you have found us.

I am pleased that you are finding the Libre helpful. The data can be such an eye opener for what is going on between meals, and give us the opportunity to make adjustments to portions/diet if necessary. It can also help us to find appropriate pre-bolus timing. The arrows help to head off hypos and hypers.

Was there a reason that you switched to Teresiba, and which insulin were you using prior to this. It is good to have the variety of options open to us and there will be others on here using the same insulins so can help with any questions that you might have.

I look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @heyitisbecca

Glad you have found us!

We have all sorts of T1s here, diagnosed at different times of life, and all muddling through, trying to get their BGs to behave while still living life to the full.

Ugh! What a terrible time for T1 to have come barging into your life! Mine arrived in the final year of my degree course - which was as convenient as it sounds.

Good to hear you are finding Libre helpful. Is there anything that you are finding particularly tricky or annoying about your diabetes at the moment?