Newbie

[Kitt]

Hi,
Just a quick line to say hello and introduce myself. I was diagnosed with T1 in Dec 22 (age 50). Well, I think it's T1, I'm on insulin so I'm assuming its that till I hear otherwise. It's in my family.

Its been quite the rollercoaster since, the shock part seems to have worn off a bit now, but there are still days with tears. Evereyone says it gets easier with time so I am hanging on that hope.
I have been lucky enough to get a Dexcom which is amazing and I am so grateful for it as I was holding myself back from doing 20 finger pricks a day.

I realise I'm trying to be "perfect" with this and need to ease up on that as its getting me down. Exercise/activity is the trickiest part.... basically when to go for a walk (I'm a 30 minute walk a day person). I notice any activity at all is dropping the BG - emptying the washing machine and I see the BG heading south... what works once day, doesn't work the next. I just have to keep at it.

Anyway that's enough rambling. Thank you for accepting me into your community.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Kitt 🙂 Yes, the variability of things is a major part of the stress, I think. What insulins do you take and when? Do you count carbs and adjust your mealtime insulin as necessary?

 

[Tdm]

I found initially my bg tanked very quickly with excercise and rapid acting insulin in my system, though it seems to have got less dramatic over time (just over a year since my dianosis, dec 21.
It may be the same for you

and it most definitly does get better. Its still really early days !
And you are in the best place for any questionS

 

[Kitt]

Hi, thanks for your replies. It's good to hear it gets easier with time. The hardest thing at the moment is thinking I've something figured out and in fact I haven't, especially with exercise. I tend to tear around the place and I've realised I can't really do that now without thinking about BG...I find that loss quite sad.

I'm on fixed fast acting insulin before my meals and Lantus at night. 10 units in total. Trying to carb count. Upped thd food a bit as I was going low

 

[Tdm]

Excercise was the thing i expected to work out quite on, but was the thing that took the longest to get right. It's taken about a year to crack it.
You will get there. Just don't put too much pressure on yourself.
Also, initally your pancreas may still be producing some insulin, which can make things more complicated and unpredictable
As for upping the dose of food to meet the insulin, i did that too, at first. Things are so much easier when you are able to take control of your insulin. I found getting a half unit pen for my rapid (bolus insulin) to be helpful
When you have the headspace i recommend 'think like a pancreas' - some gems in there.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, thanks for your replies. It's good to hear it gets easier with time. The hardest thing at the moment is thinking I've something figured out and in fact I haven't, especially with exercise. I tend to tear around the place and I've realised I can't really do that now without thinking about BG...I find that loss quite sad.

I'm on fixed fast acting insulin before my meals and Lantus at night. 10 units in total. Trying to carb count. Upped thd food a bit as I was going low

Until you get referred to the carb counting course, DAFNE or your local equivalent you might find the on-line BERTIE course helpful as you can self refer.
Being on fixed insulin doses makes it harder to keep stable when your life style isn't the same day in day out.
Once you get your diagnosis confirmed you may be able to move to a more flexible regime.

 

[Tdm]

Plus, its a nightmare producing food with a set number of carbs.

 

[Kitt]

Excercise was the thing i expected to work out quite on, but was the thing that took the longest to get right. It's taken about a year to crack it.
You will get there. Just don't put too much pressure on yourself.
Also, initally your pancreas may still be producing some insulin, which can make things more complicated and unpredictable
As for upping the dose of food to meet the insulin, i did that too, at first. Things are so much easier when you are able to take control of your insulin. I found getting a half unit pen for my rapid (bolus insulin) to be helpful
When you have the headspace i recommend 'think like a pancreas' - some gems in there.

Yes, the exercise is a tricky one. I've heard of that half unit pen... I'll ask about that, thanks. Diabetes Team told me I'm probably in that honeymoon phase. Looking forward to that honeymoon being over ! 🙂 I take 2 units of fast acting before meals, I have the Carbs and Cals book which I find useful... So I can calculate how many carbs are in the meals,. They've put me on a "Sliding Scale" with the meals, eg if BG is 9 before meals, an extra unit and so on. I've put my name down to do that DAFNE course as it would be good to be more flexible in time.

I don't mind eating extra at the moment (trying to keep it healthy with fruit for snacks) as I've lost a good bit of weight. Thanks for the answer, your cat looks cute, I have two here with me,

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Kitt

Sounds like you have got off to a great start, and that you are starting to gather bits of information and spot patterns. These are really helpful tactics, and they’ll stand you in good stead as the weeks turn into months, turn into years, turn into decades.

And you’ve also already clocked the Really Big Thing that you’ll now have to get used to. This is always going to be a work in progress. Sometimes your diabetes will cooperate more, sometimes it will be ridiculously annoying. Sometimes if your unlucky it can even get to be pretty scary.

But it’s always moving the goalposts. You’ll never have it sorted, and just be able to sit back and keep doing that. It’ll keep shifting and changing, and you just have to keep going again and working out what your diabetes needs now.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome @Kitt , from another late starter (53 at diagnosis)

It is early days for you at the moment, and you have picked out the things that cause variation in your insulin needs, such as exercise. There is no point in trying to get perfection, as it is impossible. It took me ages to believe that and I put myself under a lot of pressure to achieve the impossible.

You mention that you are in fixed doses at meals, so you will need to eat the carbs needed to match those doses. Do ask about their carb counting course, as once you have done that you will be able to eat whatever you want and then match the insulin to that.

there is loads of experience to tap into on here, so fire away with any questions that arise, and know that nothing is considered silly on here. Just ask.

 

[Kitt]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Trying to keep on with the daily walking and overall I am figuring it out - I usually do the same daily walk. Finding over 2 hours since the last fast acting Novarapid is the best time to go (morning or afternoon), with a banana about 30 mins before I go out and a jelly going out the door and I stay fairly level for it. That usually has me at about 9 and I am about 6 when I am finished.

I went at some yard work on Saturday morning (used the same tactic of banana) but had a hypo later. I should have reduced the bolus for my lunch. So lesson learned. I'm on 2 units of Novarapid with meals, its low already so part of me is afraid to reduce it any further.

I am not putting myself under pressure for hiking this year as I think figuring it out bit by bit is best.

Thanks for your replies. I am starting to see a way with this.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sounds like you are making some good discoveries, and developing some reliable strategies @Kitt

Well done!

 

[Kitt]

Thanks Mike. A few discoveries alright. The Dexcom G7 is brilliant, I was really lucky to get it early. I have Glanceface on my watch too so it really helps to figure things out (and get on with things at the same time).