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Newbie but oldie

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Lisamw

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Type 1
Hi all
I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago following a routine blood test resulting in a couple of nights in hospital and straight onto insulin. Suspected LADA but yet to be confirmed. Struggling to come to terms with such a sudden change in lifestyle at the grand old age of 54. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions so good to have a place to get some practical support.
 
Just wanted to welcome you to the forum and reassure you that many have been diagnosed as Type 1 or LADA at an older age than you, it sounds as if the hospital team were on the ball at recognising the possibility and starting insulin straight away, some have had to fight to be given insulin.
There are quite a few others here who are LADA, so will I'm sure be able to answer any questions you have but it would help if you were willing to give some information about what insulins and regime to have been started on and what dietary advice you have been given. What was your HbA1C if you know it would be helpful also.
It is early days for you and I hope you have been given advice about dealing with any Hypos and always have hypo treatment to hand.
Have you been offered any technology for monitoring your blood glucose level or just a blood glucose monitor and test strips.
 
Welcome to the forum @Lisamw

Hopefully you will get comfirmation of your diagnosis soon, which should help you access appropriate treatment amd technology options.

We have members who have been diagnosed with diabetes at a wide range of ages, including several like @SB2015 @Robin and @Pattidevans who developed diabetes at a similar life stage to you.
 
Thanks both. It's been a bit of a whirlwind so great to know I'm not alone. HbA1c was 128 when I was in hospital. I was lucky that on call consultant was a diabetic specialist and the NHS support since my diagnosis has been fantastic. Just had my first sensor fitted this morning which I am so excited about. The finger pricking was the thing which was really getting me down.
 
Hi @Lisamw and welcome to the forum 🙂

A sudden change of lifestyle can be difficult to come to terms with but ask as many questions as you like, the forum is a great place to ask questions and share experiences

Glad to hear that you have had your sensor fitted this morning!
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

I was also a later starter with Type 1 about the same age but feel like an old hand at it now nearly 4 years later.

Soo pleased they have given you a sensor and hopefully it will go on your repeat prescription. Have they expiained that there are times when you still need to finger prick and not to totally rely on the results it gives you, particularly around hypos (ie below 4 readings) There is a lot of information on the Abbott Laboratories website.... assuming it is a Libre you have been given. You can enroll free on the Libre Academy and work through the modules, so that you get a better understanding of how it works.

If you have any questions or queries, do feel free to ask. There is a huge amount to learn and understand i the beginning and if you are anything like me, your head will be in a spin and half of what they told me went in one ear and out the other. It was really reassuring to come here to the forum and ask questions so that I could fill in the gaps.
 
Hi @Lisamw and welcome to the forums! I was initially diagnosed T2 when I was 42, and only just correctly diagnosed as T1 at age 62. Mind you it didn’t make any real difference as within a very short space of time I was solely on insulin and on basal-bolus soon after that, so treated as a T1.

After my change of diagnosis this year I was put on the Libre 2 which is an absolute game changer. I’m glad you have this, especially as finger pricking was getting you down. It’s a brilliant tool that can help you so much in making decisions about insulin doses and ultimately improve your HbA1c.

There are lots of folks on here with practical experience of the Libre as well as all other aspects of life with diabetes, so I’m sure any questions you may have will be answered by someone. Also if you just want to vent about anything then we will get it and understand.

You may like to join in on the “Group 7-day Waking Average” thread on the General Message Board, people say what their waking reading is (the 7 day average part is no longer done) and often chat a bit about what’s going on in their lives. It’s like a daily chat with friends, so if you want to take part in something social every so often then drop in and say hello.
 
Eternal422 said:
Hi @Lisamw and welcome to the forums! I was initially diagnosed T2 when I was 42, and only just correctly diagnosed as T1 at age 62. Mind you it didn’t make any real difference as within a very short space of time I was solely on insulin and on basal-bolus soon after that, so treated as a T1.

After my change of diagnosis this year I was put on the Libre 2 which is an absolute game changer. I’m glad you have this, especially as finger pricking was getting you down. It’s a brilliant tool that can help you so much in making decisions about insulin doses and ultimately improve your HbA1c.

There are lots of folks on here with practical experience of the Libre as well as all other aspects of life with diabetes, so I’m sure any questions you may have will be answered by someone. Also if you just want to vent about anything then we will get it and understand.

You may like to join in on the “Group 7-day Waking Average” thread on the General Message Board, people say what their waking reading is (the 7 day average part is no longer done) and often chat a bit about what’s going on in their lives. It’s like a daily chat with friends, so if you want to take part in something social every so often then drop in and say hello.
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Thanks @Eternal422 I might just venture onto the group you suggest. Thanks for your kind words.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome from me too.

I was also a later starter with Type 1 about the same age but feel like an old hand at it now nearly 4 years later.

Soo pleased they have given you a sensor and hopefully it will go on your repeat prescription. Have they expiained that there are times when you still need to finger prick and not to totally rely on the results it gives you, particularly around hypos (ie below 4 readings) There is a lot of information on the Abbott Laboratories website.... assuming it is a Libre you have been given. You can enroll free on the Libre Academy and work through the modules, so that you get a better understanding of how it works.

If you have any questions or queries, do feel free to ask. There is a huge amount to learn and understand i the beginning and if you are anything like me, your head will be in a spin and half of what they told me went in one ear and out the other. It was really reassuring to come here to the forum and ask questions so that I could fill in the gaps.
Click to expand...
Thanks @rebrascora I'll take a look at the libre academy, sounds like it could be really helpful.
 
Lisamw said:
Hi all
I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago following a routine blood test resulting in a couple of nights in hospital and straight onto insulin. Suspected LADA but yet to be confirmed. Struggling to come to terms with such a sudden change in lifestyle at the grand old age of 54. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions so good to have a place to get some practical support.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum from another late starter. I was 53 at diagnosis and as you say it is big change. It is a steep learning curve at the start but much of it becomes automatic after a while and you are just looking out for obstacles and diversions that pop up. Just like learning to drive.

The diagnosis doesn’t need to prevent you from doing most things, it just takes a bit more planning and you need a bigger bag! Jelly babies, test kit, ….

This is an excellent place for questions, and there is a load of experience to tap into. Just ask anything that arises.
 
I was diagosed about a year ago. Good you've a libre already, that will help a lot, but always verify lows with fingerprick before treating. I use dextrose tablets (can get from boots) cis i think they work a bit quicker.
Most off all, remember, it will get easier.
 
Hello @Lisamw - I was also diagnosed T1 3 months ago, and whilst I am a bit younger at 34 I was also worried about how much of a life adjustment it would be. This forum is totally fantastic - if you are ever unsure or would like reassurance, there are so many helpful folks here! I also found the Libre a gamechanger.

I hope it might reassure you to hear that I have found that thinking about my diabetes is taking up less and less of my day the more I am used to things. I recently went on a plane (alone!) and played a gig with my band - two things that when I was sat in hospital being pumped full of insulin I would have thought impossible in the near future. It is a lot to learn and there are definitely hard days, but there's lots of support if you need it 🙂
 
StephanieMLW said:
Hello @Lisamw - I was also diagnosed T1 3 months ago, and whilst I am a bit younger at 34 I was also worried about how much of a life adjustment it would be. This forum is totally fantastic - if you are ever unsure or would like reassurance, there are so many helpful folks here! I also found the Libre a gamechanger.

I hope it might reassure you to hear that I have found that thinking about my diabetes is taking up less and less of my day the more I am used to things. I recently went on a plane (alone!) and played a gig with my band - two things that when I was sat in hospital being pumped full of insulin I would have thought impossible in the near future. It is a lot to learn and there are definitely hard days, but there's lots of support if you need it 🙂
Click to expand...
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks so much for the reassuring post. Still learning every day but starting to feel like I can imown it a bit more. The elation of managing to go out for meals and deal with it and surviving my first low blood sugars event without too much drama starts to give you confidence that this doesn't have to put a hold on your life. I do miss my evening Magum though!
 
Lisamw said:
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks so much for the reassuring post. Still learning every day but starting to feel like I can imown it a bit more. The elation of managing to go out for meals and deal with it and surviving my first low blood sugars event without too much drama starts to give you confidence that this doesn't have to put a hold on your life. I do miss my evening Magum though!
Click to expand...
Do you have a confirmed diagnosis yet, you were not sure when you first posted.
What regime are you using at the moment to manage your blood glucose levels, whatever it is there will be some ups and downs in the early days but any questions you have people will try to offer a answer.
The Magnum may well be possible as a treat as part of your meal it all depends on your meds and diet.
 
If you do have type 1, it may well be much more than possible to eat the Magnum whenever you fancy eating it - with the appropriate jab of insulin of course. Just not every day probably - though as far as I recall Christmas does still only happen once a year!
 
Hi and welcome from me too. I was diagnosed T1 at 57. So far I have survived 20 years, still go out dancing and having fun. I'd say learn all you can about it, but make it fit in with your lifestyle at the same time. The best thing I did was to buy "Think Like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner. It made so much sense and really increased my understanding of how to handle it all. Glad you have the Libre... game changer!
 
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