Newbie says hello :)

[David Caldwell]

Hi All

My name is David and I'm 53 years old and was diagnosed T1 September last year.

Looking forward to picking up a few tips here 🙂

David

 

[Brando77]

Welcome David, you've reached the best place 🙂

 

[David Caldwell]

Hi Brando your HbA1c came down very quickly after being diagnosed and looks very stable now. I was diagnosed Sept 2019 had my first review last week and my HbA1c was 41 consultant still doesn't know what type i'm confused a little!! Feek i can get my HbA1c down a little more.....What is a good target?

 

[rebrascora]

Hi David and welcome
How did your diagnosis come about? Have you had testing for Type 1 ie GAD antibody and C-peptide tests? Which insulins are you on?
I am extremely impressed with your latest HbA1c result. Do you suffer many hypos to achieve such a good reading? I was diagnosed a year ago and I am still a way off getting a reading in the 50s, so you must have hit the ground running!

 

[David Caldwell]

Hi Barbara many thanks for the warm welcome,

The story so far...back in July last year i made a change to my unhealthy eating,,,unknowingly i changed from fats to sugars eating cereals, yogurts, fruit at least a banana every day started drinking fizzy drinks and taking a packet of mints every to work as well!!! Took all the symptoms of T1 went to local pharmacy for a health check-up at the end of August...Everything Ok except blood sugars which were very high at 40 went to hospital BS came down to 20 but ketones 5.0 Doctors messed about for 2 days sending bloods with my up and down everyday. Discharged from hospital with BG 11.5 ketones 0.7 and doctors unsure whether T1 or T2 so sent me home with insulin NovoRapid and Lantus which i now take 20 units lantus in the morning and 8-6-8 off Rapid and correction of 2-6. I have only suffered 2 hypos over 370 test.. I record my reading on a spreadsheet with 4 daily reading Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner & Bedtime all before food taken...My avg daily reading from Nov-Jan was 7.9 so the HbA1c of 41 was a nice surprise. Think i can reduce a little more by carb counting. I will ask diabetic nurse or doctor about GAD antibody and C-peptide tests. You have done well to half your HbA1c from Feb-Sept and i'm sure you will see it reduce next time you have a test 🙂

Many Thanks again

Dave

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks. I hadn't really looked at it like that but to be honest my readings are still pretty erratic and I doubt there will be much improvement in my next test which is just a couple of weeks away. I suffer quite badly from stress and I struggle with following a day/night regular meal times routine both of which impact negatively on my BG control.
You really sound like you have taken it all in your stride and only 2 hypos in that time is absolutely amazing!!
I have an app on my phone where I can record all my readings, food, insulin etc and it plots a graph or gives me my averages etc. I am hoping to try to get a trial of the Freestyle Libre when I see the consultant at the end of this month and see if that will help me improve my control.

 

[Tee G]

Hi David, I cant really help you with you T1 but just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum. Im sure you will find loads of useful info and links on here thru the posts/ topics and, as you have already by asking questions. There are many experienced people on here who can give you advice and stories of their experiences, which im sure you will find helpful and informative and maybe be able to adopt a few of their ideas yourself if they suit you. Hope your journey is a peaceful one. All the best.

 

[David Caldwell]

Hi David, I cant really help you with you T1 but just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum. Im sure you will find loads of useful info and links on here thru the posts/ topics and, as you have already by asking questions. There are many experienced people on here who can give you advice and stories of their experiences, which im sure you will find helpful and informative and maybe be able to adopt a few of their ideas yourself if they suit you. Hope your journey is a peaceful one. All the best.

Many Thanks for the warm welcome🙂

 

[David Caldwell]

Thanks. I hadn't really looked at it like that but to be honest my readings are still pretty erratic and I doubt there will be much improvement in my next test which is just a couple of weeks away. I suffer quite badly from stress and I struggle with following a day/night regular mealtimes routine both of which impact negatively on my BG control.
You really sound like you have taken it all in your stride and only 2 hypos in that time is absolutely amazing!!
I have an app on my phone where I can record all my readings, food, insulin etc and it plots a graph or gives me my averages etc. I am hoping to try to get a trial of the Freestyle Libre when I see the consultant at the end of this month and see if that will help me improve my control.

Hi Barbara i had to give up my last job as a purchasing manager due to stress and diabetes i was burning me out with anxiety when i wasn't at work making me worry about things which were OK my mind was playing tricks on me. The other thing i noticed was cognitive symptoms, lack of concentration and tiredness. i found stress effected my reading as they were high in the morning at work. When i was working i found it hard to keep to regular meal times. Maybe Swimming, walking or taking would help the stress. It's great you're using an app to record reading and monitor results. Hope you don't mind i'm following you... if it helps i'm here to listen.

Good night Dave

 

[Toucan]

Hello David and welcome from another T2.
Well done on coping so well with the Diabetes, and it sounds as if you are well on the road to keeping it under control.
It is great that you have joined the forum, because as you can already see you can share what you are doing and get a lot of empathy and support here.
I hope that your stress and anxiety levels are also now reducing, as it is a bit of a viscous circle with the diabetes and hopeful they are both improving in parallel.
As you say being active helps with both, as does connecting and sharing, and taking control and managing worries. All easy to say, hard to do. Well done.
I hope you will keep posting and let us know how it goes.

 

[David Caldwell]

Hello David and welcome from another T2.
Well done on coping so well with the Diabetes, and it sounds as if you are well on the road to keeping it under control.
It is great that you have joined the forum, because as you can already see you can share what you are doing and get a lot of empathy and support here.
I hope that your stress and anxiety levels are also now reducing, as it is a bit of a viscous circle with the diabetes and hopeful they are both improving in parallel.
As you say being active helps with both, as does connecting and sharing, and taking control and managing worries. All easy to say, hard to do. Well done.
I hope you will keep posting and let us know how it goes.

Many Thanks for the warm welcome and it's great to see people like you 🙂 that are doing ready well controlling their diabetes its an inspiration. My stress and anxiety are a lot better now that i'm not working and i'm taking time to let things sink. i can definitely see this journey is a marathon and not a sprint. I think this is a great forum and feel that i will learn so much here and hopefully be able to support others as well. My only worry now is finding work that won't stress me to much and i'm sure it will come when i'm ready. Going to start carb counting today to see how it goes for me..Many Thanks again and chat again soon David🙂

 

[Brando77]

Hi Brando your HbA1c came down very quickly after being diagnosed and looks very stable now. I was diagnosed Sept 2019 had my first review last week and my HbA1c was 41 consultant still doesn't know what type i'm confused a little!! Feek i can get my HbA1c down a little more.....What is a good target?

Hey David, T1 is different to T2 but 41 sounds good. Think T1s would be happy with that reading 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

Hi again David

Many thanks for your kind words. Far from minding, I am rather honoured that you have chosen to follow me, if a bit nonplussed. There are many more better informed members here than myself.
Unfortunately I have struggled with stress for probably more than 20 years and the main thing I have learned is that I need to take time out when it hits me. I am retired and have really supportive friends and family, but even things which should be a pleasure, like going to a concert or a party, can be a real ordeal. I have horses and chickens and bees and cats, so lots of activities which involve getting out in the fresh air and doing physical stuff and I do try to run occasionally but it is not something that I particularly get enjoyment from. Sometimes I get stressed about just making it to the next lamppost without having to stop and walk, which is totally stupid, especially when I am on my own, but then I am exceptionally good (Olympic standard maybe!) at creating stress where there is none. 🙄

Anyway, enough about me..... as regards Carb Counting, can you ask your team to put you down for a DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) Course or whatever your local equivalent is. It is an extremely comprehensive week long course which teaches you not just to carb count but how to identify basal insulin requirement changes and how to deal with them as these often change with the seasons or over the years. How to factor insulin adjustment for exercise and alcohol and illness and also one of the biggest benefits is mixing with other Type 1 diabetics and learning about their problems which can be remarkably varied and helping solve each other's issues by discussing them as a group. I very nearly didn't go on the course because I eat very low carb and felt like I would be channelled towards "normal" eating, whatever that is, but the course is actually specifically tailored to enable everyone to learn how to deal with their own food and drink choices and to stay as safe as possible by giving you a framework to apply to any situation. It also enables you to learn about new technologies and perhaps get access to them.... at least 2 of my intake got Freestyle Libres prescribed within a month of the course and now 4 months later, have insulin pumps and think they are the best things since sliced bread.... ok... maybe not the best analogy for diabetics 😳 One of them, a relative newbie like me and the other a lady who has had diabetes for 50 years, so there can be a huge range of experience within the group and again that is a real eye opener.
.... Anyway, I have waffled on quite enough, but hope you are able to get listed for such a course. as it is really helpful. It stressed me half to death getting there the first couple of days, but well worth it!

 

[David Caldwell]

Hi again David

Many thanks for your kind words. Far from minding, I am rather honoured that you have chosen to follow me, if a bit nonplussed. There are many more better informed members here than myself.
Unfortunately I have struggled with stress for probably more than 20 years and the main thing I have learned is that I need to take time out when it hits me. I am retired and have really supportive friends and family, but even things which should be a pleasure, like going to a concert or a party, can be a real ordeal. I have horses and chickens and bees and cats, so lots of activities which involve getting out in the fresh air and doing physical stuff and I do try to run occasionally but it is not something that I particularly get enjoyment from. Sometimes I get stressed about just making it to the next lamppost without having to stop and walk, which is totally stupid, especially when I am on my own, but then I am exceptionally good (Olympic standard maybe!) at creating stress where there is none. 🙄

Anyway, enough about me..... as regards Carb Counting, can you ask your team to put you down for a DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) Course or whatever your local equivalent is. It is an extremely comprehensive week long course which teaches you not just to carb count but how to identify basal insulin requirement changes and how to deal with them as these often change with the seasons or over the years. How to factor insulin adjustment for exercise and alcohol and illness and also one of the biggest benefits is mixing with other Type 1 diabetics and learning about their problems which can be remarkably varied and helping solve each other's issues by discussing them as a group. I very nearly didn't go on the course because I eat very low carb and felt like I would be channelled towards "normal" eating, whatever that is, but the course is actually specifically tailored to enable everyone to learn how to deal with their own food and drink choices and to stay as safe as possible by giving you a framework to apply to any situation. It also enables you to learn about new technologies and perhaps get access to them.... at least 2 of my intake got Freestyle Libres prescribed within a month of the course and now 4 months later, have insulin pumps and think they are the best things since sliced bread.... ok... maybe not the best analogy for diabetics 😳 One of them, a relative newbie like me and the other a lady who has had diabetes for 50 years, so there can be a huge range of experience within the group and again that is a real eye opener.
.... Anyway, I have waffled on quite enough, but hope you are able to get listed for such a course. as it is really helpful. It stressed me half to death getting there the first couple of days, but well worth it!

Hi Barbara many thanks for giving me great advice again i will ask to get on DAFNE course as i want to be able to match carbs to insulin to level out my daily readings. I'm finding this to be a great forum for chats and useful information i.e. downloaded carb counting guide yesterday 122 pages and found it was very well written and made easy to understand giving good examples and tests. It's good to hear you have a good family and friends for support as its not everyone you can talk too. It's lovely to hear about your animals sounds idealistic but i'm sure it's hard work at times. Horses are one of my favorite animals and is also my chinese sign birth sign....starting to give away my age now🙄. in all my life i have never seen a runner or jogger with a smile on their face😱 while exercising . My stress has always been related to work and i find it takes over me as i always have work in my head all the time. Now that i'm not working at the moment i'm enjoying a sabbatical doing things i don't normally do. Starting to look for work again trying to find something that won't stress me too much. I have always been in stressful jobs doing procurement for manufacturing but i found when i took diabetes it made things worst gave me anxiety when i wasn't at work i worried about things i didn't need to worry about, my mind was playing tricks on me as my cognitive thinking wasn't right. Maybe start an email and found it difficult to finish it or make sense. Remembering if you did it or didn't do it....OK i have waffle on enough for now.. One last thing was thinking about you worrying about your up coming test and don't be to worried as it is covering the worst 3 months😳 christmas and all that. i feel better having chatted to you today....take care and chat soon🙂....Dave

 

[Tee G]

@david, the cat is out the bag!, your profile shows your age 😉😛 lol

 

[David Caldwell]

@david, the cat is out the bag!, your profile shows your age 😉😛 lol

Nice one... well seen i'm a newbie😳....LOL Chat soon Dave

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @David Caldwell. Good to see you have made such a positive start to your life with diabetes, and congratulations on your excellent HbA1c.

I’d second @rebrascora’s suggestion of asking about whatever structured education for T1 is offered in your area, it may be DAFNE, but some regions have their own versions and courses.

If there’s a long wait for a course, you could enrol in the online BERTIE course, which is very like DAFNE, but is available as an online e-learning version. https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/

You might also find some useful information in Ragnar Hanas’s book Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People which gives a very clear overview of what type 1 diabetes is, and how it can be managed. Don’t be put off by the title... it’s suitable for those diagnosed at any age!

Additionally Gary Scheiner’s book Think Like A Pancreas is very well regarded for practical blood glucose management strategies (a third edition is due out soon)

Good luck, and keep asking questions!

 

[David Caldwell]

Welcome to the forum @David Caldwell. Good to see you have made such a positive start to your life with diabetes, and congratulations on your excellent HbA1c.

I’d second @rebrascora’s suggestion of asking about whatever structured education for T1 is offered in your area, it may be DAFNE, but some regions have their own versions and courses.

If there’s a long wait for a course, you could enrol in the online BERTIE course, which is very like DAFNE, but is available as an online e-learning version. https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/

You might also find some useful information in Ragnar Hanas’s book Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People which gives a very clear overview of what type 1 diabetes is, and how it can be managed. Don’t be put off by the title... it’s suitable for those diagnosed at any age!

Additionally Gary Scheiner’s book Think Like A Pancreas is very well regarded for practical blood glucose management strategies (a third edition is due out soon)

Good luck, and keep asking questions!

Hi Mike,

Many thanks for your warm welcome and support. You have certainly given me plenty of food for thought which i greatly appreciate.

Diabetes has came as a shook for me and i'm still a little in denial and confused as whether i'm T1 or T2 as it hasn't fully been confirmed yet, but in the meantime being treated as T1 which i'm happy to do!

I'm motivated to find out as much as i can about diabetes and make sure i have a good quality of life going forward.

Again i would like to thank everyone who makes this a great site....David