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Inka said:
People start on injections @Mom of Type 1 Some later move onto pumps, but lots of Type 1s don’t use pumps - either because they don’t qualify to have one or because they don’t want one.
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It's probably worth mentioning that the UK is likely to increase provision of pumps (we're a bit low compared to other wealthy countries) in particular in the context of HCL (hybrid closed loops).

Once you have a CGM (like Libre) and a pump, you can combine the two to get some level of automatic control (so the pump reduces insulin when you go low and increases it when you go higher). In England there's a plan to offer HCL to around 70% of people with Type 1 over the next 5 years, and doubtless other parts of the UK will be doing something similar. (The criteria will be reviewed over the rollout and it's expected that the offer will be widened to everyone with Type 1.)
 
What kind of food do you normally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner ? Do you cut out carbs ?
 
Mom of Type 1 said:
What kind of food do you normally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner ? Do you cut out carbs ?
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No! The recommended diet for Type 1 is pretty much the same healthy diet recommended for people without diabetes.

Today so far I’ve had a large bowl of cereal, a few crisps, a sourdough sandwich and an apple, which I’m eating at the moment. This evening I’ll have pasta or fajitas (haven’t decided yet!) then a strawberry dessert with chocolate.

He can eat bread, rice, pasta, etc. The trick with Type 1 isn’t a special diet, it’s the correct use of insulin.
 
Mom of Type 1 said:
What kind of food do you normally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner ? Do you cut out carbs ?
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I do not cut out carbs since I have been given a faster acting insulin to compensate for the carbs I eat. the general philosophy is to eat as normal and take insulin to suit.

However sometimes people recently diagnosed are initially given a mixed insulin, which has got some basal and some bolus in that mix. This creates a contradiction since for a mixed insulin to be most effective the user needs to have very repeatable meals in carb content and eat at very regular times. That means people don't end up eating as normal. Also a secondary consequence is that those newly diagnosed people often read (incorrectly) that because they have diabetes they must eat a low carb diet. This occurs because that is the general premise for Type 2 diabetics (c. 90% of all those with D) but is totally not the premise for those taking extraneous insulin (eg T1s). Then this contradiction results in people who should be eating as normal can even mislead their D Nurse by having artificially low carb meals and getting their insulin doses adjusted, based on their abnormal lifestyles and diets.

Hopefully your son will be started on MDI, ie both basal and bolus.
 
Mom of Type 1 said:
What kind of food do you normally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner ? Do you cut out carbs ?
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Varies. Some people eat a deliberately low-carb diet, and some don't. The recommended diet for people with Type 1 is just that recommended for everyone.

(I think it's quite possible that a lower carb diet will one day be more generally recommended, either to people with Type 1 or for everyone, but that isn't the recommendation yet.)

For the short term, your son should follow whatever recommendations he's received. Eating meals with varying carbohydrate amounts means varying the insulin doses and it's quite likely he won't have been taught how to do that yet.
 
Right now he is still in monitoring mode and we cant seem to find the right combination. Sometimes it spike up. Its frustrating. Will we ever find the right combination ?
 
Proud to be erratic said:
I do not cut out carbs since I have been given a faster acting insulin to compensate for the carbs I eat. the general philosophy is to eat as normal and take insulin to suit.

However sometimes people recently diagnosed are initially given a mixed insulin, which has got some basal and some bolus in that mix. This creates a contradiction since for a mixed insulin to be most effective the user needs to have very repeatable meals in carb content and eat at very regular times. That means people don't end up eating as normal. Also a secondary consequence is that those newly diagnosed people often read (incorrectly) that because they have diabetes they must eat a low carb diet. This occurs because that is the general premise for Type 2 diabetics (c. 90% of all those with D) but is totally not the premise for those taking extraneous insulin (eg T1s). Then this contradiction results in people who should be eating as normal can even mislead their D Nurse by having artificially low carb meals and getting their insulin doses adjusted, based on their abnormal lifestyles and diets.

Hopefully your son will be started on MDI, ie both basal and bolus.
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Yes, right now, it is on the mix solution and I get panic when I see the number goes up
 
Mom of Type 1 said:
Right now he is still in monitoring mode and we cant seem to find the right combination. Sometimes it spike up. Its frustrating. Will we ever find the right combination ?
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Yes 🙂 You/he will find what basal insulin amount works and what mealtime insulin to carbs works. Every week he’ll be learning more. As the months go by, his control and understanding will increase.

However, being a pancreas isn’t an easy job and no-one should expect perfection. More than that, early after diagnosis the failing beta cells can temporarily recover and release some of their own insulin. This is called the Honeymoon Period and adds to the erraticness.
 
Did I mention that Diabetes is Complicated, Confusing and Contradictory .....??

Yes, absolutely. Meanwhile don't panic, accept there is a lot of trial and learning and thus learn from trying. Also Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint; it takes time (=experience) to get the hang of this!
 
Inka said:
What the name of his mixed insulin? Are you in the U.K.? Mixed insulin is rarely used for Type 1 here.
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I did not really gotten the names of the mix. Will get it and post here tomorrow. I am from Malaysia
 
Proud to be erratic said:
Did I mention that Diabetes is Complicated, Confusing and Contradictory .....??

Yes, absolutely. Meanwhile don't panic, accept there is a lot of trial and learning and thus learn from trying. Also Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint; it takes time (=experience) to get the hang of this!
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Aargh, all the C's..i will be strong for my boy !
 
Inka said:
Yes 🙂 You/he will find what basal insulin amount works and what mealtime insulin to carbs works. Every week he’ll be learning more. As the months go by, his control and understanding will increase.

However, being a pancreas isn’t an easy job and no-one should expect perfection. More than that, early after diagnosis the failing beta cells can temporarily recover and release some of their own insulin. This is called the Honeymoon Period and adds to the erraticness.
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Thanks. I need to hold myself back a liitle bit. I am afraid I might stress him out..and that is not good
 
Is there any supplements for Type 1. I heard that vitamin A is good for beta cells..or do you take supplements like bitter melon, etc..
 
Mom of Type 1 said:
Is there any supplements for Type 1. I heard that vitamin A is good for beta cells..or do you take supplements like bitter melon, etc..
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I have absolutely no pancreas (hence my T3c diagnosis). One's pancreas is responsible for your body making vitamins A, D, E and K. How much of those are affected by the autoimmune condition that makes someone T1, I do not know.
 
Inka said:
No! The recommended diet for Type 1 is pretty much the same healthy diet recommended for people without diabetes.

Today so far I’ve had a large bowl of cereal, a few crisps, a sourdough sandwich and an apple, which I’m eating at the moment. This evening I’ll have pasta or fajitas (haven’t decided yet!) then a strawberry dessert with chocolate.

He can eat bread, rice, pasta, etc. The trick with Type 1 isn’t a special diet, it’s the correct use of insulin.
Click to expand...
Wow ! This is good to know. I have been forcing him to cut carbs...oh gosh !
 
Mom of Type 1 said:
Yes, right now, it is on the mix solution and I get panic when I see the number goes up
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I have just reread this thread, admittedly skim reading but what you say here confuses me.
Which insulin's ins your son using. Can you give us the actual name(s) of it (them)..... apologies if I have missed this in my skim reading....

It would be highly unlikely for a new and young Type 1 to be started on a mixed insulin. It is usually two separate insulins, a long acting slow release (basal) insulin which covers the glucose his liver releases day and night and a fast acting meal time (bolus) insulin that you inject usually before each meal.

Do you have 2 different insulins that you use like this. One that is injected once or perhaps twice a day and the other than you inject before each meal?
 
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