Hobbies and interests

[TheClockworkDodo]

I find when I'm out walking for any more than 15-20 minutes my blood sugars slowly but surely start to drop down.

Oh yes, walking is a biscuit event for me too. Last year we walked round the National Botanical Garden of Wales, which is quite a lot of walking for me, and I had about 3 hypos while I was there, and (after treating them and getting back into normal range) I then consumed a large slice of raspberry shortbread with no need for insulin.

You'd need to ask your diabetes specialist nurse about the Libre. As you're testing more than 8 times a day you should qualify, though they may want to wait a bit and see if you can get your blood sugar a bit more under control first, as you're so newly diagnosed. They don't have an alarm (only CGMs do that, and you'll not get one of those on the NHS), but I think with a bit more tech know-how than I have you can set them up with a smartphone and make that alarm when you're hypo - @Benny G is the one to ask about that. But even without that they are indeed very useful for monitoring overnight - no getting up to test, just swipe your arm, and you can swipe as many times as you want without wasting test strips.

 

[SB2015]

My main interest is weaving. Starting this was soon after my diagnosis, mainly because I left teaching soon after for promotion out of the classroom (not because of the diabetes). Now retired weaving takes up a large part of my week. But I also fit in singing in two choirs, singing lessons, playing in a steel band, playing in an in Unphilarmonic Orchestra (dusting off a long ignored flute) and lots of Pilates and walking.

Diabetes doesn’t stop me doing anything, she (Deidre my Diabetes) just makes a nuisance of herself, especially if I don't plan ahead or ‘just because she wants a bit more attention sometimes’.

What will you try? One thing I realised when trying new things is that I no longer have to be good at things to enjoy them. I used to be very competitive when doing sport so was always training hard to do better. Now I just enjoy whatever I do.

 

[JoeJOns]

Oh yes, walking is a biscuit event for me too. Last year we walked round the National Botanical Garden of Wales, which is quite a lot of walking for me, and I had about 3 hypos while I was there, and (after treating them and getting back into normal range) I then consumed a large slice of raspberry shortbread with no need for insulin.

You'd need to ask your diabetes specialist nurse about the Libre. As you're testing more than 8 times a day you should qualify, though they may want to wait a bit and see if you can get your blood sugar a bit more under control first, as you're so newly diagnosed. They don't have an alarm (only CGMs do that, and you'll not get one of those on the NHS), but I think with a bit more tech know-how than I have you can set them up with a smartphone and make that alarm when you're hypo - @Benny G is the one to ask about that. But even without that they are indeed very useful for monitoring overnight - no getting up to test, just swipe your arm, and you can swipe as many times as you want without wasting test strips.

I've been having a few biscuit events recently too! I was speaking to my girlfriend earlier and it almost turned into a biscuit event! What was the lowest hypo you have had to date if you don't mind me asking? Mine was 2.8.

Ah a CGM is what I have been looking into a little bit. I like the idea of being woken up in the middle of the night just for a bit of security! Although I'm hoping to have my insulin dosage sorted soon enough so I don't get many hypos at night.

 

[Ditto]

This is a cracking thread. Very interesting and informative, not to mention extremely funny in parts, 'Deirdre' and 'daft lads.'

 

[SB2015]

I had never heard of Toxophily before today.
Thanks for this thread.

 

[Ditto]

I had never heard of Toxophily before today.
Thanks for this thread.

I thought it was the study of poisons! 😱

 

[trophywench]

None of my hobbies has ever been aerobic! I used to sew, knit and crochet a lot, I still read though less than I used to, I've always done crosswords, spent my working life volunteering onto committees both for my employer and in my leisure time and now we're retired we both still do the latter being as we're both trustees of a local prostate cancer charity. Our hobby was and still is, taking part in naturist activities these days using our motorhome, and we're both on the committee that runs the UK's largest such touring club.

Goodness only knows how we ever had the time to attend work so very regularly for 40-odd years!

 

[Uller]

I'm looking for some inspiration here in a way! How did you get involved in toxophily in the beginning? Was it before or after you were diagnosed with Diabetes?

I tried it at a local club when I was 14 or so, then being 14 or so got in the way and I stopped for about 10 years or so.
I then spotted a tiny column in the local free paper (once I was married and moved) offering beginners classes again at the local club. I thought I quite enjoyed it when I was 14, so joined up again. That was quite a while ago and I’ve not stopped since, even through the horrible pre diagnosis bit!
One of the reasons I’ve been shooting for so long is because my better half, Mrs Uller, started shooting too. We’re now both archery leaders, and both held national records in the same year!
If you can find an activity you can do with your significant other, it makes it easier to start and maintain.

Uller.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I've been having a few biscuit events recently too! I was speaking to my girlfriend earlier and it almost turned into a biscuit event! What was the lowest hypo you have had to date if you don't mind me asking? Mine was 2.8.

Ah a CGM is what I have been looking into a little bit. I like the idea of being woken up in the middle of the night just for a bit of security! Although I'm hoping to have my insulin dosage sorted soon enough so I don't get many hypos at night.

I've had a few "LO"s, which is lower than the meter reads - mine seems to go down to 1.6 so that would be 1.5 or lower. Not recommended, though tbh I find it's the speed of drop which is often more important than how low the reading is in terms of how bad the hypo is - I can spend all evening going gradually from 4 to LO and feel fine, but I can also spend twenty minutes plummeting from 10 to 3 and feel absolutely rubbish.

I hope you get your doses sorted soon. I remember waking up hypo every night when I was first diagnosed, before they drastically cut my basal - the hypos themselves didn't bother me much, but I wouldn't have wanted it to go on, it would have been very disruptive to good sleeping patterns! I hardly ever hypo in the night now, and on the rare occasion I do it tends to be a very gradual slope down to the high 3s and back up again by morning.

 

[Deleted member 25429]

I would say it can be difficult juggling other conditions along with the diabetes! I find when I'm out walking for any more than 15-20 minutes my blood sugars slowly but surely start to drop down. Although I still manage to spend days out! I just have some glucose tabs with me just in case. They sound like interesting hobbies! I would love to be able to do some photography but I don't have a great camera at the moment unfortunately😎

I have a dog to walk , so I don’t take the fast acting insulin with breakfast as the walk keeps my blood sugar levels steady

 

[Lisa66]

Well this is an interesting thread.

Upholstery is my main hobby. I’ve been doing a leisure course for 5 or 6 years now, I really enjoy it. It’s very interesting, also a bit yukky, taking apart an old chair/sofa/stool and realising how much work has gone in to making it, then hopefully doing it justice and bringing it back to life. I am hopefully starting a City & Guilds course in the New Year....fingers crossed. This will no doubt send my levels up...meeting new people, course work, exams...yikes!

I like to keep fit, although gone a little awry this year. Walking is something my husband and I like to do...even if it’s just for an hour. Always come back from any walk feeling more energised and up beat. Travelling and going to live music are also interests.

The fitness stuff obviously can affect levels. Funnily I often find I can be a bit higher when I get to my class...this will be down to rushing to get everything in car (I’m not very organised) and slightly fretting about getting to class on time... but the Libre helps so much with this.

What do you like or would you like to do?