Newbie here, Newly-diagnosed Type 1.

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BenjaminRWT

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Hello, I was pointed toward this site after an appointment at the hospital, noticed there was a forum and felt it would be a good idea to sign up.

As my subject title says, I'm Newly-diagnosed as having type 1. Last month I went to the hospital for an operation. They measured my blood glucose and blood pressure. Both were high so the operation didn't go ahead, because the high blood pressure meant I could have a stroke under anaesthetic. So there were various tests they did and had me do, and they prescribed me some metformin for the time being. Turns out that wouldn't have done much of anything.

Last week I had a phone call where they told me I had type 1 diabetes and would need to be taking insulin for the rest of my life. I started doing so a few days ago. Only them "background" insulin, they're going to determine the dose of novorapid I'll need to be taking soon.

As you can imagine, this is all something I'm still getting to grips with. I don't even feel as though I can. EVERYTHING I've been doing until this seems wrong, even things I've tried to do aren't good enough. Maybe I was expecting changes to happen quicker than they are or something.

Anyway, once again hello! I hope to find thisnplace helpful as I become familiar and get to know you!
 
Welcome @BenjaminRWT and sorry you’ve had to join the Type 1 Club. It’s all very overwhelming to start with, but it will gradually get easier. If you’re only on a basal (background) insulin, your blood sugars will probably not be properly controlled at the moment so don’t worry unless they’re very high. Do you have a means of testing for ketones?
 
Also, there are a couple of great books about Type 1:

Think Like a Pancreas’ by Gary Scheiner.

And Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas (ignore the title - it’s great for adults too).

You’ll notice the title of that first book - that’s basically what we have to do: be our own pancreas. We eat relatively normally and adjust our insulin as needed. An important thing to say is that it’s a very hard job mimicking a pancreas. Do not expect perfection! That way madness lies!
 
Welcome to the forum
 
Welcome to the forum @BenjaminRWT . Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but pleased that you were advised to join us on here. Whatever ages you are diagnosed it is a shock, and takes some getting used to. But IT DOES GET EASIER.

Just try to work with your team as they work with you to find the right doses of insulin and to bring your levels down gradually, which is better in the long run.

A book that I found very helpful is Type 1 diabetes in Children, Adolescents and young adults. Ignore the age reference(I was 53 at diagnosis) and maybe miss out the chapter on starting school. It is clearly explained and well indexed for quick reference.

There is also plenty of experience to tap into on here. No questions are silly. Just ask.
 
Inka said:
Welcome @BenjaminRWT and sorry you’ve had to join the Type 1 Club. It’s all very overwhelming to start with, but it will gradually get easier. If you’re only on a basal (background) insulin, your blood sugars will probably not be properly controlled at the moment so don’t worry unless they’re very high. Do you have a means of testing for ketones?
Click to expand...

Yes, the monitor I got from the hospital a few days ago to start taking readings also does ketones testing using different strips - I actually had to do that last night, made a massive post about it elsewhere. I ended up panicking a bit and rang 111 over it - I probably overreacted.

I have some appointments coming up, I would think they will be determining the dose of novorapid I need to take and adjust my basal insulin if needed.
 
BenjaminRWT said:
Yes, the monitor I got from the hospital a few days ago to start taking readings also does ketones testing using different strips - I actually had to do that last night, made a massive post about it elsewhere. I ended up panicking a bit and rang 111 over it - I probably overreacted.

I have some appointments coming up, I would think they will be determining the dose of novorapid I need to take and adjust my basal insulin if needed.
Click to expand...
It is early days so don't ever think you are over reacting, it is far better to be safe.
 
Totally understandable that you rang 111 @BenjaminRWT Type 1 can be scary to start with, and it’s always best to err on the side of caution.

Getting your Novorapid right could take a little while. This is the thing I found hard about Type 1. With most other conditions, they tell you to take X amount of meds and you’re done, but with diabetes it’s much harder. Firstly, there are no set doses, only starting estimates that will need to be tweaked; secondly, you might still be making a small amount of insulin yourself erratically which can confuse things; and thirdly, things change. I’ve had Type 1 almost 30 years and I have to change my basal dose and/or meal ratios a number of times through the year. That’s normal, so don’t be freaked out by having to do lots of tweaks. That’s what our own pancreas did, and we just have to approximate that.
 
Pleased to meet you and welcome to the club nobody ever wanted to join! Still now you're here please feel absolutely free to ask any and all questions that occur to you along the way - us lot have literally hundreds of years experience of living with diabetes, even though we may only have had it for 50+ years so we've managed to survive with it so far anyway.

You could do a lot worse whilst you are waiting for this that or the other from the NHS, or books from Amazon or wherever, to sign up to the Diabetes UK 'Learning Zone' (see dark orange tab along the top 'menu' on every page of this forum) but, much like learning to do anything as a nipper, don't expect to immediately know everything. I still learn stuff every day practically even though I've had to fit in the learning in between living a normal life, holding down a job, trying to help family when wanted - and also enjoying myself.

It does truly get easier as time passes, honest! Such a lot of it becomes habit and hopefully we can help steer you towards things becoming good habits.

Good luck with it all!
 
Welcome to the forum @BenjaminRWT
BenjaminRWT said:
As you can imagine, this is all something I'm still getting to grips with. I don't even feel as though I can. EVERYTHING I've been doing until this seems wrong, even things I've tried to do aren't good enough. Maybe I was expecting changes to happen quicker than they are or something.
Click to expand...

Be kind to yourself. A diagnosis with diabetes can be a bit of a whirlwind, and really quite overwhelming. Gove yourself time to adjust.

Just keep plugging away at it, be inquisitive, be experimental, keep trying out different strategies and approaches and see what works for you (at that time - your diabetes will probably change the rules as soon as you think you are getting sorted!)

You might find this thread helpful where people shared hints and tips they wish they’d known earlier on

forum.diabetes.org.uk

5 Top Tips for Better Diabetesing

Just found myself absently wondering what I would say to myself if I could go back in time ‘Bill and Ted’ style and offer newly-diagnosed-me some hints and tips for better diabetes management, and a better relationship with my diabetes from future-me. What 5 hints and tips I might offer myself...
forum.diabetes.org.uk forum.diabetes.org.uk
 
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