New diagnosis

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JB14

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Hi. Recently diagnosed with type one although awaiting an antibody blood test result to confirm. Complete shock to me. Not overweight - no family history - keep myself fit. At 75 years of age I never thought I would be diagnosed with this.
 
Hi JB14, don't panic. Diabetics in itself is not an issue the problem is that it can affect all the major organs in your body over a long time period. There are loads of web sites with advice. Mine is eat smaller portions, no snacks limited alcohol, no white bread or rice and only small portions of fruit as they tend have a high GI value. In truth it encourages a healthy diet and a healthy life style. This will reduce your weight that makes excercise easier.
 
JB14 said:
Hi. Recently diagnosed with type one although awaiting an antibody blood test result to confirm. Complete shock to me. Not overweight - no family history - keep myself fit. At 75 years of age I never thought I would be diagnosed with this.
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Hi and welcome. Half of type 1 diagnosis is in adults, so though it’s still thought of as a ‘juvenile’ onset, many members here including myself were diagnosed as adults. While type 2 can be associated with overweight, type 1 is an autoimmune disease and is not weight related. It is a steep learning curve but once you get used to insulin and carb ratios, there is no reason why you can’t eat your usual diet. If you have questions do ask.
 
Welcome @JB14 🙂 A Type 1 diagnosis is always a big shock. Just to be clear, it’s an auto-immune condition and nothing to do with being overweight. Most people diagnosed with Type 1 do not have a close relative with it.

@Alan jones The OP is suspected to have Type 1 not Type 2. They are two very different conditions. Type 1s can eat a normal diet, including bread, rice, fruit, cereal, potatoes, etc etc. ‘All’ we have to do is be our own pancreas and inject the appropriate amount of insulin.
 
Alan jones said:
Hi JB14, don't panic. Diabetics in itself is not an issue the problem is that it can affect all the major organs in your body over a long time period. There are loads of web sites with advice. Mine is eat smaller portions, no snacks limited alcohol, no white bread or rice and only small portions of fruit as they tend have a high GI value. In truth it encourages a healthy diet and a healthy life style. This will reduce your weight that makes excercise easier.
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This may be fine if Type 2 but if Type 1 as the poster is then that condition needs managing totally differently.
/
 
JB14 said:
Hi. Recently diagnosed with type one although awaiting an antibody blood test result to confirm. Complete shock to me. Not overweight - no family history - keep myself fit. At 75 years of age I never thought I would be diagnosed with this.
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A friend was diagnosed at nearly 80 after 2 years of unsuccessful treatment as Type 2 so really age is no indicator. Hopefully you are getting the right treatment at an early stage.
 
Hi and welcome from me too. There are lots of us late starters with Type 1 here on the forum. So pleased that your medical professionals were open to the possibility of it being Type 1 as many people have had to battle a Type 2 misdiagnosis.

Would you like to tell us a bit about how your diagnosis came about. I hope you didn't end up in hospital with Diabetic KetoAcidosis and if you did, that you are now fully recovered.

Which insulins have they started you on and how are you managing? Do you have a sensor to monitor your levels or are you just finger pricking to get readings at the moment?
It can be really overwhelming at first with any diabetes diagnosis, but particularly learning to balance your levels with insulin. I hope you are getting good support, but there is a wealth of practical knowledge and experience here on the forum which found invaluable in the first few years of diagnosis and still pick up helpful tips here and there. Sharing our experiences can be both practically and emotionally beneficial so I am really pleased that you have joined the forum.
 
JB14 said:
Recently diagnosed with type one although awaiting an antibody blood test result to confirm. Complete shock to me. Not overweight - no family history - keep myself fit.
Click to expand...
As others have said, Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, not related to being unfit or overweight. While there's presumably a genetic component it's not even especially heritable.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome from me too. There are lots of us late starters with Type 1 here on the forum. So pleased that your medical professionals were open to the possibility of it being Type 1 as many people have had to battle a Type 2 misdiagnosis.

Would you like to tell us a bit about how your diagnosis came about. I hope you didn't end up in hospital with Diabetic KetoAcidosis and if you did, that you are now fully recovered.

Which insulins have they started you on and how are you managing? Do you have a sensor to monitor your levels or are you just finger pricking to get readings at the moment?
It can be really overwhelming at first with any diabetes diagnosis, but particularly learning to balance your levels with insulin. I hope you are getting good support, but there is a wealth of practical knowledge and experience here on the forum which found invaluable in the first few years of diagnosis and still pick up helpful tips here and there. Sharing our experiences can be both practically and emotionally beneficial so I am really pleased that you have joined the forum.
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Was diagnosed after a blood test- GP rang to say go straight to A and E as your blood sugar is extremely high. Was kept in for three days hooked up to insulin drip - then came home with humulin insulin to use twice a day and yeh I’m finger pricking three times daily and recording for the diabetic nurses. People keep asking if I feel better but I felt absolutely fine pre diagnosis. Had a dry mouth and very thirsty - but that was only for three weeks prior to diagnosis. It’s just such a shock tbh.
 
As others have said there are plenty of late starters in here (I was 53).
It is a lot to get used to but then it becomes part of your ‘new normal’

You mention that you are using Humulin twice a day. If you want a more flexible approach, which enables you to eat what you want when you want, it would be worth talking to your DSN about a Basal/Bolus regime. It does involve more injections but a lot easier to manage meals.

Any questions that arise just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.
 
Thanks you all for the info. I’m speaking to the diabetic nurse this pm so I’m going to ask if a three times a day regime would be better for me.
 
JB14 said:
Thanks you all for the info. I’m speaking to the diabetic nurse this pm so I’m going to ask if a three times a day regime would be better for me.
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I agree that Basal/Bolus is much more flexible. However, it is likely to be more than 3 times a day.
Basically, it is Bolus (fast acting) every time you eat carbs and basal (slow acting) once or twice a day depending upon how your day/night needs vary: the basal "mops up" the glucose dripped from your liver and some people find their liver is more "leaky" during the day so need two injections of a basal which lasts about 12 hours rather than one injection of a basal that lasts 24 hours or more.
 
JB14 said:
It’s M3
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Ok @JB14 so that’s mainly a slow insulin with a smaller proportion of fast insulin. You’ll probably find that changing to a basal/bolus regime allows you more flexibility with eating. The trouble with M3 and other mixed insulins is that you can’t increase one part of the mix without also increasing the other. I was started on mixed insulin at diagnosis but it soon became apparent the mix proportions were all wrong for me.

There are various insulins that can be used in a basal/bolus regime, including different types of Humulin, if you like that brand. Have a think about any problems you’re having with your blood sugar, eg are you going low overnight? Too high before lunch? Etc etc. That will help get an insulin regime that suits you best. Bear in mind it will be a work in progress. Sadly with Type 1, there’s no calculation where you just take X amount and that sorts it. There are frequent tweaks to be done.
 
Alan jones said:
Hi JB14, don't panic. Diabetics in itself is not an issue the problem is that it can affect all the major organs in your body over a long time period. There are loads of web sites with advice. Mine is eat smaller portions, no snacks limited alcohol, no white bread or rice and only small portions of fruit as they tend have a high GI value. In truth it encourages a healthy diet and a healthy life style. This will reduce your weight that makes excercise easier.
Click to expand...
Alan - that advice is suitable for Type 2 diabetes but I'm afraid - NOT for Type 1 which requires treatment with insulin jabs, not pills, and you've assumed there's a weight issue - Type 1 isn't usually.
 
Inka said:
Welcome @JB14 🙂 A Type 1 diagnosis is always a big shock. Just to be clear, it’s an auto-immune condition and nothing to do with being overweight. Most people diagnosed with Type 1 do not have a close relative with it.

@Alan jones The OP is suspected to have Type 1 not Type 2. They are two very different conditions. Type 1s can eat a normal diet, including bread, rice, fruit, cereal, potatoes, etc etc. ‘All’ we have to do is be our own pancreas and inject the appropriate amount of insulin.
Click to expand...
Yes apologies. Type 1 not 2
 
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