Newbie That's Not So New -Hello...

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Grumpy_Old_Lump

Grumpy_Old_Lump

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello All & thanks for having me 🙂

I was diagnosed with T2 in 1992. So by no means new to the game.

A game that has taken its toll over the years I'm afraid to say.
Alot of this story you've probably heard before.
Not taking the condition seriously in the early days has led to some poor outcomes for me.

Servere Sight Impairment (Registered Blind)
Retinal Myopathy Macular Oedema.
Depression & Anxiety.
Most of the other usual suspects also from not looking after myself...

I'm on MDI + Oral Meds.

Why the renewed spark of interest I hear you say, why now ??

I've just been prescribedribed a New regime.
New to me anyway.
Tresiba Flexpen & Humalog Pen.
Also given a once weekly Pen of Trulicity

On the monitoring front I am being funded by the C.C.G. for a Libre 2 sensor.
Hoping to start using that in the next couple of weeks after the guidelines were updated last year I believe...

Anyway that's me so Hello & looking forward to reading news, stories & your experiences on the forum.

Cheers Andy...
 
Hi Andy and welcome.

Sorry to hear you have struggled with your diabetes management over the years and have some health challenges as a result but good to hear that you are getting better support now. Libre is, without doubt, a game changer so I look forward to hearing your verdict when it is up and running for you. It is however important to understand it's limitations and that there will still be times when you need to finger prick. The main thing to know is that it can suffer from what we call compression lows if you lie on the arm with your sensor on during your sleep. This will usually result in the low alarm going off when you are not actually hypo, so it is important to double check with a finger prick before you reach for the hypo treatment. Gradually I have conditioned my brain to remember not to lie on the Libre arm, in the same way as you learn not to roll out of bed. Also, if your levels go high, it is best to double check with a finger prick before calculating a correction because the Libre is less accurate at high and low levels, but should be reasonable close to finger prick results in range.

If you are just starting on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) with separate meal time and long acting insulin, you may not be familiar with the term "corrections" I have used above but it is when you use a small dose of your fast acting mealtime insulin to correct a stubborn high BG level. Hopefully, you will also be taught to carb count and adjust your insulin doses to what you are going to eat. This allows much more flexibility in your meals and eating regime and you can skip meals and insulin if/when you want to or have snacks between meals and inject for them, although I am guessing, if you are Trulicity, that you have some weight to lose so snacking between meals is probably not a good idea.

Anyway, don't want to fry your brain with too much info at this early stage, but if you hang around here on the forum, you will pick up lots of tips and practical advice to make the most of your Libre and new MDI regime and hopefully help to preserve your remaining sight and other vulnerable parts of your body like limbs and kidneys. Touching base regularly here and comparing notes with others in the same or similar situation can really help to motivate you with your diabetes management and keep it in it's place at a good level where it hopefully won't do your body any more harm.
 
Ah well - I sleep on the side of in the main, my left arm - always wake up on that side anyway even if the last thing I remember last night was getting on my back or my right side. However even though my Libre sensor spends a fortnight on each arm turn and turn about - they're always affixed to the back of the arm, not the front or side and I think I've had 2 compression lows since I've been using them, approx 2 years by now. So, you won't automatically get them anyway. (Bet I have a run of em now I've said that 😱 🙄:D)
 
trophywench said:
Ah well - I sleep on the side of in the main, my left arm - always wake up on that side anyway even if the last thing I remember last night was getting on my back or my right side. However even though my Libre sensor spends a fortnight on each arm turn and turn about - they're always affixed to the back of the arm, not the front or side and I think I've had 2 compression lows since I've been using them, approx 2 years by now. So, you won't automatically get them anyway. (Bet I have a run of em now I've said that 😱 🙄:D)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice much appreciated.
I have watched a few YT videos & reviews about the sensor placement.
Also purchased an armband sensor holder.
 
Welcome to the forum @Grumpy_Old_Lump

I reckon we are kinda 'diabetes twins'...

I was diagnosed type 1 in '91.
You were diagnosed type 2 in '92

Tee hee! :rofl:

Hope the years have treated you kindly, and that you get on well with your switch to insulin. Many T2 members here have had a very positive experience of the switchover, and found it gave them lots of flexibility and improved their diabetes management significantly 🙂
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @Grumpy_Old_Lump

I reckon we are kinda 'diabetes twins'...

I was diagnosed type 1 in '91.
You were diagnosed type 2 in '92

Tee hee! :rofl:

Hope the years have treated you kindly, and that you get on well with your switch to insulin. Many T2 members here have had a very positive experience of the switchover, and found it gave them lots of flexibility and improved their diabetes management significantly 🙂
Click to expand...
Cheers for the welcome & the encouragement much appreciated ❤️
 
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