New Type 1 - Have no idea.

[Bruce Stephens]

Can I also ask how long it should take for my eyes to adjust back to normal again? They have been a bit blurry, particularly at night. The DSN said they should adjust back in time.

I'm not sure. If it takes more than a few days, might be worth asking an optician and seeing if they know. (Though they might not, I guess. But they'd probably know where to look to find the info.) (My vision can change the same day (so within hours), but that's probably different.)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Yeah I think I was told 5, just wanted to double check.

Actually by the looks of it they have about 4g sugar each (4.6 total carbohydrate). So 5 is fine, but for 15g I'd have been closer saying 4 than 5 or 6.

(Finding out carbohydrate is so much easier now than it was 35 years ago!)

 

[Lizzy78]

I can only imagine how difficult it was 35 years ago!

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I can only imagine how difficult it was 35 years ago!

It was different. Harder in some ways, but in some ways it's harder now (we're trying to get better control so we use more injections, more testing (and blood tests rather than urine), so it's all more complex than with mostly fixed two injections a day, though the fixed things forced fairly fixed eating times which was annoying).

But in most respects it is better now: the insulins are much better (much more stable, much more predictable), we have lots more useful gadgetry (including things like Frio pouches which likely you'll want for the summer). And nowadays nobody recommends diabetic chocolate.

 

[SB2015]

Hi SB2015 and thank you for the welcome.

Of course I would rather not be here but that's been taken out of my control.

I am definitely going to invest in the book, will order it tomorrow. It's good to hear that things will get a bit easier with time.

Jelly Babies are also going to be my choice of hypo treatment. I'm dreading the first one to be honest. If my sugar dropped under 4 while walking, how many jelly babies should I take?

My work will be reasonable with adjustments I reckon. I have been off for nearly 3 weeks now (hospital admission included) and feel nervous about going back to the hectic schedule of doing a school run before I even get to work..But I know I can't keep putting it off.

One tip for the school run. We need to be ‘5 to drive’. I have got caught out on occasions, and tested when I got in the car only to find I was then too low. I now try to test about 45 min before I need to drive, then if hypo I still have time to sort it. I Also then test when I covet in the car. If the kids are late for school it will not be the end of the world.

At present if you are below 4 I think I would go for the full 3 JBs. Much later on you can refine this as you get to know your own body reactions to food and JBS. If I am in a rush I will go for a fruit juice as this is even quicker than JBs. I just don’t want to have to carry round cartons when away from home, although there is always one in the car, and a pack of JBs, and a pack of biscuits, ....

 

[SB2015]

I'm not sure. If it takes more than a few days, might be worth asking an optician and seeing if they know. (Though they might not, I guess. But they'd probably know where to look to find the info.) (My vision can change the same day (so within hours), but that's probably different.)

My optician told me to wait six weeks before they would test me again for new glasses. It will sort itself once your levels come down @Lizzy78 .

 

[trophywench]

Took mine (my eyes) 6 weeks in total from the day I was diagnosed and had my first insulin jab to get back to near normal which meant I could get back to work, since I was a clerk so I needed em in full working order to read and write - of which I was mighty glad cos I was bored out of my brain by then - no way had I been able to read, knit, sew or even concentrate on TV for very long although that wouldn't have helped as there was nowt on TV during the day in 1972 and no kids so not even that to take up my time, and no money and frightened to walk the 2 miles into town to the shops on my own 'in case' as adults weren't told about the usefulness of a couple of jelly babies back then since with the insulins available your choices were limited really to 'proper' food.

Try and keep stuff as simple as you can for now - once you're used to dealing with the ordinary things, then start gradually getting more adventurous. If you do that - take it slow enough - impossible though it seems all this new and different stuff will just become 'normal' for you - honest !

Ask ask ask ask - we - and your hospital clinic DSNs and consultant - would rather be asked 10 times and explain it again, until you're confident you understand it.

 

[Lizzy78]

It was different. Harder in some ways, but in some ways it's harder now (we're trying to get better control so we use more injections, more testing (and blood tests rather than urine), so it's all more complex than with mostly fixed two injections a day, though the fixed things forced fairly fixed eating times which was annoying).

But in most respects it is better now: the insulins are much better (much more stable, much more predictable), we have lots more useful gadgetry (including things like Frio pouches which likely you'll want for the summer). And nowadays nobody recommends diabetic chocolate.

It's good to hear that things have developed and moved on. It's good that there is more flexibility around each individuals lifestyle too, as we are all different.

 

[Lizzy78]

Took mine (my eyes) 6 weeks in total from the day I was diagnosed and had my first insulin jab to get back to near normal which meant I could get back to work, since I was a clerk so I needed em in full working order to read and write - of which I was mighty glad cos I was bored out of my brain by then - no way had I been able to read, knit, sew or even concentrate on TV for very long although that wouldn't have helped as there was nowt on TV during the day in 1972 and no kids so not even that to take up my time, and no money and frightened to walk the 2 miles into town to the shops on my own 'in case' as adults weren't told about the usefulness of a couple of jelly babies back then since with the insulins available your choices were limited really to 'proper' food.

Try and keep stuff as simple as you can for now - once you're used to dealing with the ordinary things, then start gradually getting more adventurous. If you do that - take it slow enough - impossible though it seems all this new and different stuff will just become 'normal' for you - honest !

Ask ask ask ask - we - and your hospital clinic DSNs and consultant - would rather be asked 10 times and explain it again, until you're confident you understand it.

Hi Trophywench.

A lot of what you said there hit a chord. It's been 3 weeks since my diagnosis so hopefully my eyes will settle down. The concentration thing is definitely an issue for me just now. Just feel like I'm in brain overload and struggling to sit and even listen to something on the telly. You're right about just concentrating on the basics first and trying not to look too far ahead at the moment. I just want to get a hold of things but I realise this is going to take time.