Hello!

[AnnieM]

Hello! Following acute pancreatitis in September 2019 I woke up in intensive care to find that at 57 years of age I was now type 1. Finding the whole situation hard to come to terms with. My readings are all over the place. Feel I will never be able to manage!

 

[trophywench]

So what insulins are you on and what help have your hospital team been since then Annette?

It's true it's hard to live with since it's never welcome and the overwhelming majority of us never did anything we could realistically take the blame for, but we simply all have to make whatever adjustments we need to make to our lives including food and activity, to accommodate the new challenge as best we can. The important thing to do is treat the future as a new chapter in our personal book of life - ie don't dwell on what happened in the past but do our best to discover the best way of living with our constant companion cos if you keep it happy it'll be quiet and contented instead of acting like a mardy toddler in their 'Terrible Twos' - and nobody that's ever met one would wish one of them on their worst enemy really.

You haven't really got T1, by the way cos that is caused by the immune system turning against insulin producing cells in the pancreas which can happen whether you are aged 7 or aged 70 - and yours definitely wasn't so it isn't actually medically designated T1, but Type 3(c) instead.

Do you need to take Creon also?

We have several 3(c)s as members but their own personal challenges are all different cos of course every single person in the world is different and so are the individual internal workings of their bodies just as yours is - but if you answer my couple of questions it should hopefully help some of them more of a clue to what things might be useful to you that they've already found out the hard way.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @AnnieM.

Sorry to hear your diagnosis, but glad that you have found us. It is a lot to take in at first, and there is a lot to learn very quickly. I was 53 at diagnosis, so a similar age to you. After a while all that you have to do just becomes the new ‘normality’. I like the analogy to learning to drive. At first it feels like there is so much to concentrate on, but then it just becomes automatic, and you are just watching out for the obstacles on route. It will get to be automatic, but in the meantime there is plenty of support and advice available on here.

Initially your levels will be all over the place, but you should have a Diabetes Specialist Nurse working with you to help you adjust you doses of insulin to sort your needs.As @trophywench said yours is a different reason for suddenly needing insulin, so I will take @eggyg who was in the same situation. She will be able to reflect on how things are likely to be at the start for you.

Let us know what insulins they have put you on and how you are getting on

 

[Toucan]

Hello @AnnieM
Welcome and so good that you have joined the forum. As you will see from the replies you already have there is a great deal of knowledge and help here.
The shock of such a diagnosis is difficult to come to terms with, but ne assured with help and support there will be a way through for you.

 

[AnnieM]

So what insulins are you on and what help have your hospital team been since then Annette?

It's true it's hard to live with since it's never welcome and the overwhelming majority of us never did anything we could realistically take the blame for, but we simply all have to make whatever adjustments we need to make to our lives including food and activity, to accommodate the new challenge as best we can. The important thing to do is treat the future as a new chapter in our personal book of life - ie don't dwell on what happened in the past but do our best to discover the best way of living with our constant companion cos if you keep it happy it'll be quiet and contented instead of acting like a mardy toddler in their 'Terrible Twos' - and nobody that's ever met one would wish one of them on their worst enemy really.

You haven't really got T1, by the way cos that is caused by the immune system turning against insulin producing cells in the pancreas which can happen whether you are aged 7 or aged 70 - and yours definitely wasn't so it isn't actually medically designated T1, but Type 3(c) instead.

Do you need to take Creon also?

We have several 3(c)s as members but their own personal challenges are all different cos of course every single person in the world is different and so are the individual internal workings of their bodies just as yours is - but if you answer my couple of questions it should hopefully help some of them more of a clue to what things might be useful to you that they've already found out the hard way.

Thank you so much for your reply! It has certainly made me feel more positive about things!
I have great support from the hospital and the next step is to have my gall bladder out as well as a stent to be removed which was put in to drain a pseudo cyst. The specialist diabetic nurse sees me or more recently rings me and is very supportive. Originally when I left hospital I was told it was type 1 then I was told by a diabetic nurse it was secondary diabetes which is treated the same as type 1. You are the first person that has mentioned type 3(c) which makes more sense.
I do take Creon as well as Apixaban as I had a clot on my spleen when I was admitted to hospital.
I take Humulin I in the morning ( 10units)and the evening (6 units)as well as Nova Rapid before each meal and before bed.
At the moment the diabetic nurse has put me on 2 units (5.0-12)
5 units( 12.1-18)
8 units (above 18.1)
I am due to go on a DAFNE course but quite understandably it is on hold at the moment.
It is frustrating because after being so poorly I am feeling so much better and am ready to face the world again but am so unconfident and anxious managing the diabetes.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.
I was another late diagnosed Type 1 at 55yrs old last year and just about getting to grips with it now..... it takes time and experimentation to figure out what works for you and with your added complications of needing creon and gall bladder needing removed, it will be more difficult so don't expect too much of yourself in these early stages.... Diabetes is a lifelong marathon, not a sprint. Slowly, day by day, week by week and month my month you will get the hang of it and just when you think you have it figured out the Diabetes Fairy (DF) will come along when you are not looking and move the goal posts..... and don't think that if you "Don't believe in fairies" she won't come..... no such luck!

DAFNE is great. The educators are brilliant. They are trained to be open to supporting everyone in their own lifestyle choices and giving us the knowledge and tools to be as safe as possible without being judgemental. We had a range of ages and diabetes experience on our intake from a newly diagnosed teenager and a newly diagnosed 70yr old to someone 50years diabetic who was suffering hypos every night. It was really helpful meeting other Type 1s and discussing our various individual problems and the best way to deal with them.
I hope they are able to get you on a course as soon as this craziness eases. In the meantime I believe there is an online "Expert" course which might help you..... Hopefully someone can post a link or correct me if I have that wrong.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum @AnnieM. 🙂

 

[AnnieM]

Hi and welcome from me too.
I was another late diagnosed Type 1 at 55yrs old last year and just about getting to grips with it now..... it takes time and experimentation to figure out what works for you and with your added complications of needing creon and gall bladder needing removed, it will be more difficult so don't expect too much of yourself in these early stages.... Diabetes is a lifelong marathon, not a sprint. Slowly, day by day, week by week and month my month you will get the hang of it and just when you think you have it figured out the Diabetes Fairy (DF) will come along when you are not looking and move the goal posts..... and don't think that if you "Don't believe in fairies" she won't come..... no such luck!

DAFNE is great. The educators are brilliant. They are trained to be open to supporting everyone in their own lifestyle choices and giving us the knowledge and tools to be as safe as possible without being judgemental. We had a range of ages and diabetes experience on our intake from a newly diagnosed teenager and a newly diagnosed 70yr old to someone 50years diabetic who was suffering hypos every night. It was really helpful meeting other Type 1s and discussing our various individual problems and the best way to deal with them.
I hope they are able to get you on a course as soon as this craziness eases. In the meantime I believe there is an online "Expert" course which might help you..... Hopefully someone can post a link or correct me if I have that wrong.

Thank you! I shall keep an eye out for the fairy!
Anne

 

[trophywench]

Don't bother keeping an eye out, she's right sneaky individual to be truthful, sly but if we don't keep on the right side of her she can just decide to wreak havoc cos she can, and not one of us can ever see her coming to roost chez nous. @Northerner has been known to run marathons dressed as her, in aid of DUK in the past so perhaps he'd like to post one of the relevant photos of his portrayal so you know at least one of her distinctive guises.

The online course is BERTIE online - see https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Hiya Annie from a fellow type 3c Diabetic. Omg my first acute pancreatitis hospital admission was in 1999. I will never forget the immense excruciating pain. I suffer from chronic pancreatitis. Very long story, anyhow dealing with your diabetes and creon intake. At first it is overwhelming and something you feel you won't get to grips with. Well you will. Trial and error is how you slowly find out what works for you. Loads of people who have vast knowledge of our condition on the forum are always willing to help.Don't be afraid to ask. All the best anyway.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @AnnieM

Glas to see you‘ve had some useful information already - having the four, to bounce ideas off (or rage... or frustration... or hilarity...) can be a real help, and it’s great to have a crowd of others to compare notes and experiences with. So feel free to ask any questions you have - it’s a steep learning curve to begin with, and no question will be though of as too obvious or silly.

 

[Northerner]

Thank you! I shall keep an eye out for the fairy!
Anne

She can come in many guises, here's me paying tribute 😱



And in her more familiar guise 😱 Some people say she looks like Peppa Pig, but of course it is actually the other way around 🙂 Here she's relaxing after a long day's mischief 😱



And masquerading as Santa... 😱



If you'd like to read about her experiences with some of our members who have had her over to stay, have a read of her blog Couchsurfing with the Diabetes Fairy

 

[Flower]

Hello and welcome @AnnieM 🙂

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Eek! just caught sight of the Diabetes Fairy above !😱

Here are some of the previous threads/questions about Type 3c/pancreatitis, I hope they are useful to you

Search results for query: pancreatitis#

forum.diabetes.org.uk

 

[AnnieM]

Hello and welcome to the forum @AnnieM. 🙂

Thank you!

Hello and welcome @AnnieM 🙂

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Eek! just caught sight of the Diabetes Fairy above !😱

Here are some of the previous threads/questions about Type 3c/pancreatitis, I hope they are useful to you

Search results for query: pancreatitis#

forum.diabetes.org.uk

Many thanks for your reply .The link to the previous threads/questions are really useful...I had no idea that the Creon would affect my blood sugar readings,