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Hi all - T1 diagnosed 2 days ago...

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Well, 1st day experiment with 1st dose of rapid. I suppose I have to admit it's a denial thing that I haven't used it before.
My levels have been pretty good (average 7.1 over the last 14 days) but I have been ultra cautious about what I'm eating, and in my heart of hearts I know I can't go on like this forever.
So... now will test every half hour for the next 3 hours or so, just so I can put my own mind at ease.
 
I found the rapid more nerve wracking but it's actually the basal (Lantus in your case) that gets me every time, the rapid is very well behaved in me. Keep an eye on it and you'll be fine 🙂 What ratios are you starting on?
 
I thought I'd start in at the deep end, have been behaving myself so "treated" myself to a mcdonalds with the family... while they were enjoying theirs I was simply thinking "I hope I've done the right thing..." over and over again.
I guessed at 1u per 20g carbs to start off with, and according to mcd website my meal had 80g carbs, so 4 u was duly injected just before I started.
Readings so far:
18:50 4.7 just before meal (a bit low for me anyway but lunch was a long time ago)
19:29 5.2
20:22 5.1
21:00 7.1
So from those readings do I guess that I've done something right? Jelly babies still on standby though as not sure what the next couple of hours will bring.
Am I right that while I did know the carb content there was also a fairly hefty fat content so this could / will also affect the rate the carbs are converted?
 
Absolutely correct! - it isn't an 'everyday' meal though so don't be swayed by what happens after the MaccyD's when gauging anything 'ordinary' LOL
 
The fat will slow down the carbs, so it's quite good to have some fat with your carbs generally, though perhaps not usually in McD's quantities!
 
Ok ok so maybe McD wasn't the best thing to use as a guinea pig meal LOL But as my first foray into bolus I think it went fairly well... I definitely feel more confident about it - I didn't have a hypo, didn't feel any different or have any weird side effects so I hope I have now "lost my bolus cherry" 🙂

I know I have got a long way to go with learning about carb counting & also how my bolus doses add up throughout the day. No-one has given me any real guidance on this yet. At my last DSN appt we spoke alot about sick day rules (oh joy I am really looking forward to keeping eating while ill!) and corrections, but not really much about "normal" boluses. I guess I could still be honeymooning a bit at the moment but I know that if I am it won't last.
Have got my next DSN appt in about 3 weeks time so will ask for some guidance.

@ KookyCat: The basal seems to keep me well and truly levelled out and hasn't caused me any problems at all (so far!), but it's the bolus that has scared me, almost like it's a direct admission that my body can't tolerate food any more. It's a very strange feeling.

Thanks to you all on here, it makes a real difference to me to be able to waffle on about this to people who actually understand what I'm going through.
 
How you're feeling is completely normal, we've all felt like that at the beginning I think, especially if diagnosed in adulthood. Someone went and changed all the rules on you, so not being a bit freaked out would be weird. Glad to hear the basal keeps you steady, that's what's supposed to happen so that will make experiments with bolus insulin easier 🙂. I was quite nervous of the rapid insulin until I worked out how it affected me (I'm using understatement there I was basically petrified 😉), but I jab with relative abandon now. The anxious feeling that distracts from the enjoyment of food fades too, it's a bit like being a teenager again, trying to work out how this whole new world of stuff works, but without the fun! Anyway looks like that first bolus experiment went well, so get your white coat on and start experimenting, fill your boots with the food you like to eat and jab away, youll be an old hand in no time.
 
Thanks for the encouragement!
Have just booked my place on the London event for 30+ type 1s this Saturday.
Hopefully will pick up some useful information and hints and tips.
If you're going I'll see you there...
Be gentle with me - it's all still very new.
 
KookyCat said:
not being a bit freaked out would be weird.
Click to expand...

I'm weird 😉 The only thing that bothered me was the needles, and once I got covered ones I was a freak-free zone.

But yes, I think most people do have trouble coping with the whole idea at first - it was probably easier for me because I'd been ill with other things for so long, diabetes didn't seem a big deal. It soon becomes second nature working out all the carbs & things though, even if it does come as a shock at first. Oh, and there's no problem with your first bolus meal being a McDs, @zx10pilot, or indeed with having the occasional McDs generally - I hope it didn't sound as though anyone meant that. One of the pluses of being on insulin is that although it's good to eat healthily most of the time, if you do want an unhealthy treat you can eat anything you like :D
 
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