How do people remember?

[Thechosenl]

Hi guys, I'm a 22 year old type one who got diagnosed at around 19 I'd say and I've always been very bad at control. I forgot to take insulin after I eat and this happens a hell of a lot, I'd say I'm still not used to it because of lack of attention I've actually had towards it.

I'd just like to know what you guys do to remember more often because i want to get better control (never put on weight due to missed injections also almost died at christmas due to dka so that was kind of an awakening) any help would be much appriciated thanks!

 

[Ljc]

Hi Welcome. Hope you don't mind me asking. Why do you inject afterwards.
If you tend to eat at the same times you could try setting an alarm on say, your phone. I'm sure others will be along soon with more ideas.

 

[Thechosenl]

I got told to inject afterwards due to never knowing how much I was going to eat to avoid hypos, I always seem to forget about it a lot I dont eat at set meal times and have always been really bad at it to the point the doctors think I'm in denial.
I'm really trying to get better at remebering its just needing to inject after literally everything I eat (I snack quite a bit) seems to make me forget quite a bit to the point i'm getting readings of (my last reading 20.0 mmol/l) 15mmol+

 

[Ally beetle]

You could try the timesulin pen caps, they are digital timers that tell you when you have last had your insulin so you can see that you have forgotten and you can correct.I have not used them myself as when I was on pen insulin I had a reusable pen with a digital display that told me when I had had my last insulin but they no longer make those pens.

 

[Thechosenl]

You could try the timesulin pen caps, they are digital timers that tell you when you have last had your insulin so you can see that you have forgotten and you can correct.I have not used them myself as when I was on pen insulin I had a reusable pen with a digital display that told me when I had had my last insulin but they no longer make those pens.

I'll have to look into them, I've always just had the disposable novorapid pens. Maybe somthing that tells me the last time I injected could be a big help

 

[Radders]

I think I would also forget if I did it afterwards! Can't you do it as you are sitting down to eat with the plate in front of you, then you would know what was on it? Then if you eat something else later do the same again?

 

[khskel]

You can get a Novopen echo 5 for novo rapid. It doesn't tell the actual time but shows hours since your last injection and how much it was.
Can you set an alarm on your meter when you take your pre meal reading?

 

[Thechosenl]

You can get a Novopen echo 5 for novo rapid. It doesn't tell the actual time but shows hours since your last injection and how much it was.
Can you set an alarm on your meter when you take your pre meal reading?

I'm currently using an accucheck aviva expert so mabye if i had a look around, i know it has one if i have a low reminding me to check again after a certain amount of time so it may have somthing like that. Not sure though as it was set up for me by the diebetic team

 

[Thechosenl]

I think I would also forget if I did it afterwards! Can't you do it as you are sitting down to eat with the plate in front of you, then you would know what was on it? Then if you eat something else later do the same again?

This is looking like it could be the best thing, I'll start trying and make it a habbit to do so before hand, I just got told to do it after due to the randomness of my eating and just kinda went with it

 

[trophywench]

Ever thought that being random might not be the best plan? LOL

eg I hate and loathe thinking about food soon after I surface from my bed - ie breakfast. However having been at this game for 45 years I also have to admit that my body likes it better if I do eat 3 meals a day - this is just from my BG results observed over the years - not a specific write everything down thing involving any effort.

So - I now eat brekkie most days, around the 20g carb mark eg one Weetabix and milk, one slice of brioche with a bit of jam - nothing again that requires any effort - and hardly any washing up either. A bowl and a spoon, or a knife.

Sometimes I can't even be bothered to do that - but then I'm high before lunch and probably before dinner too - so I always pay for it!

 

[Kaylz]

It's not even a case of remembering for me, after 10 months it's become instinct, I get up, go to the loo, test and inject, could you not set an alarm on your phone if you cant figure out how to do it on your meter? the only time I would inject after is if I was sitting on the low side and I'd set a reminder on my phone straight away so I remembered x

 

[Flower]

How about using an app such as mySugr? It won't remind you to inject but if you use it to enter your blood sugar before you eat it gives you the option to enter carbs and insulin taken plus the time you had the insulin. It's a good way to get into recording results and insulin doses and to see whats going on with your control.

It only takes a few minutes of organising to get into a good habit with injecting for food. It will pay massive dividends in the overall control you achieve. Starting to see better results really does spur you on 🙂.