New to diabetes

[DuncanLord]

Hello All,
First post as still discovering where to get help.
I’m a 64 year old male, who discovered I was diabetic at the end of March this year due to a car accident. Blood sugars were through the roof at 29/30. Admitted to hospital where I was assessed and diagnosed with Type 2. Discharged and left to myself, and internet, for a week and a half. (Covid and Easter)
Insulin and Metformin Tablets.
gradually Insulin cut down to 3 units in morning and 2 units evening with 2 (500mg) Metformin AM an PM.
They also did blood test for antigens and I’m type 1.
so far DVLA have revoked my Group 2 licence but have allowed me to keep Car licence on a medical review Have to be off sick from work even though doctors say I’m able to work.
No -one seems to want to answer questions!!!!!
So far my blood glucose levels taken on a meter with memory 6-7 times per day are generally between 5 and 11. One dip below 4 at start when I did a 5 km walk and discovered just before meal time. but generally in correct ball park.
To be honest, I want this to live with me rather than me living with it. I may now be counted as Disabled with diabetes but I’m still an intelligent human being but feel I’m just being discarded.
Duncan Lord

 

[Inka]

Welcome @DuncanLord 🙂 I totally get what you mean. When I was first diagnosed, I hated going to the doctors, I hated the tests and I hated feeling different. There are two things to remember - firstly, you’re exactly the same person as before; and secondly, a diabetes diagnosis is a big shock. You go through a huge range of emotions and it’s normal for it to take some time to get your head round.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Duncan and welcome

A diabetes diagnosis is a shock at the best of times. Coming on top of being in an accident will no doubt be even more overwhelming but good that they have not just assumed you were type 2 without testing as so many of us older Type 1s were assumed to be.

Which insulins have they started you on?
Generally being diabetic shouldn't stop you from doing whatever you want in life, even at a more advanced age, but you do need to take time to understand how your body works and become the "expert" in your diabetes. The forum here will help you to fit the pieces of the jigsaw together to figure out how to "tame the beast", but once you have the basics and a bit of experience then it shouldn't stop you doing anything you fancy (apart from eating excessive quantities of carbohydrate rich foods or becoming an astronaut!) Everything else just involves a bit more thought and planning.

I found the best way to learn more was to be open to experimenting and testing lots..... not just the 4 or 5 recommended finger pricks. If you can get a Freestyle Libre sensor it will enable you to see much more closely what your levels are doing in response to food and exercise etc and give you a much greater understanding because it samples your levels every few minutes day and night and produces a graph but you can scan to get readings as many times a day as you like and that will help you to make better decisions about food and exercise and how much insulin to use etc. It is a very elaborate balancing mechanism but being able to see what is going on helps you to finesse your skill at balancing it.

 

[DuncanLord]

Thank you
I forgot to mention I’ve also got High cholesterol but on statins to bring that down.
Insulin is still Humulin M3 as that was given at start.
iI know I can “tame the beast” as mother was Type 1 from 1927 till she died at age of 55 in the 70’s.
Freestyle Libre meters do not work for DVLA as they want readings stored on a glucose meter to show for 3 months plus. They even revoked my professional licence as they didn’t have 3 months readings. ( how could they have that amount of readings when only diagnosed 2 months ago).
All I want is a normal life and conversations with people making the decisions.
Duncan Lord

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome. 🙂

 

[DuncanLord]

Hello
I’m a type 1 diabetic diagnosed with diabetes 2 months ago. I’m 64 years young and was originally diagnosed type 2 in hospital.
still on the same meds for Type 2 Humalin M3 and Metformin tablets 500mg.
but doses have been changed.
started on 12 units in morning and 6 in evening with 1 tablet am and pm. As I had to keep eating to avoid Hypos this was cut to 6 units and 2 Metformin in morning and 4 units and 2 Metformin in evening.
Another cut down to 3 units in am and 2 units in evening followed.
Also as mother had been long standing diabetic Type 1 they did blood test for type 1 antigens although the diabetic team convinced I was type 2.
this result came back definitely Type 1.
So repeated BG tests per day and extra before driving private car. (DVLA have let me keep car license but revoked my class 2 as not enough results. YET.
Test Before breakfast. 2 Hours after breakfast. Before Lunch. 2 hours after lunch. Before tea. 2 hours after tea and before bed. Plus extra if driving.
Results for last 3 days in mmol/l
6.6 9.9 4.7 6.8. 7.0. 6.7 6.7 6.7
6.3. 10.5. 7.5. 6.2 9.5 8.8 5.8 5.5
6.1 10.5 7.6. 7.6. 6.8 7.2 and waiting for bedtime

Are these good bad or indifferent?
Also never quite sure what to eat before bed so it won’t drop too low overnight.

many thanks

 

[miguel81]

@DuncanLord - a very warm welcome to the forum

 

[HenryBennett]

A welcome too from me @DuncanLord.

 

[Inka]

Hello
I’m a type 1 diabetic diagnosed with diabetes 2 months ago. I’m 64 years young and was originally diagnosed type 2 in hospital.
still on the same meds for Type 2 Humalin M3 and Metformin tablets 500mg.
but doses have been changed.
started on 12 units in morning and 6 in evening with 1 tablet am and pm. As I had to keep eating to avoid Hypos this was cut to 6 units and 2 Metformin in morning and 4 units and 2 Metformin in evening.
Another cut down to 3 units in am and 2 units in evening followed.
Also as mother had been long standing diabetic Type 1 they did blood test for type 1 antigens although the diabetic team convinced I was type 2.
this result came back definitely Type 1.
So repeated BG tests per day and extra before driving private car. (DVLA have let me keep car license but revoked my class 2 as not enough results. YET.
Test Before breakfast. 2 Hours after breakfast. Before Lunch. 2 hours after lunch. Before tea. 2 hours after tea and before bed. Plus extra if driving.
Results for last 3 days in mmol/l
6.6 9.9 4.7 6.8. 7.0. 6.7 6.7 6.7
6.3. 10.5. 7.5. 6.2 9.5 8.8 5.8 5.5
6.1 10.5 7.6. 7.6. 6.8 7.2 and waiting for bedtime

Are these good bad or indifferent?
Also never quite sure what to eat before bed so it won’t drop too low overnight.

many thanks

@DuncanLord The recommended insulin regime for Type 1s is basal/bolus - that is, not a mixed insulin, but two separate insulins. This would give you a lot more flexibility. It’s more injections, but it means you can adjust each element separately. You could still take your Metformin with this.

 

[Robin]

@DuncanLord , welcome to the forum from another who was misdiagnosed with Type 2 initially. Your results look as if you’re keeping a lid on things, none of them are unduly high. It’s often difficult to sort out an insulin regime in the early days, when your pancreas may be spurting out dribs and drabs of your own insulin, but not consistently. Things will settle down.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @DuncanLord

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad they have quite quickly determined that you are T1 rather than T2.

Hopefully you can be switched to a more flexible basal:bolus system which should allow you to adjust doses to match the content of your meals so that you don‘t have to ‘feed’ the insulin to prevent hypos.

Your individual BG targets should be agreed with your clinic, but in general terms they are likely to be something like:

5-7 on waking
4-7 before meals
9 or lower by 2 hours after eating.

Don’t panic unduly if you don’t meet these every time. It is better to aim for gentler BG wobbles which are less erratic than to lurch from low levels to high levels and back again because you are trying too hard to hit the tiny targets in the middle.

You can have almost 25% of time above 10mmol/L and still have an ‘on target’ HbA1c.

 

[DuncanLord]

Thanks @everydayupsanddowns for your answer.
I think I’m keeping cheerful and upbeat about the diagnosis, as with family history, it appears that my lifestyle choices did not make any difference to getting Type 1. Just surprised it took me 60 odd years, but coming from a medical family we always medically do stupid things. ( Until age of 21 my GP father had tested me regularly)
My main concern at the moment is getting my Bus and Coach license back so that I can return to work. Doctors say I’m fit to work but Large coach firm say no due to DVLA.
I do like your blog.
The only problem which I’m really trying to tackle is balancing the BG with food, keeping levels in control for the DVLA and trying to loose weight as yes started at over 17 stones but now down to 16 sone 6 lb.