Newbie

[Dizzydaz]

Hi,hope everyone is well,iam a newbie and to be honest finding things a little difficult at the moment mentaly and physically.I was diagnosed type 1 around 3 weeks ago so began taking insulin and immediatly felt alot better,began putting weight back on and getting my energy back,but as of late i have been suffering from leg cramps,calfs and thighs also my sugar levels are rising and falling drastically,example 6 to 22 in around 4 hrs,not getting a great deal of support from my diabetes nurse,car'nt reach her most of the time,just reaching out for a little advice,thanks guys

 

[trophywench]

Hiya - what insulins have they started you on, are you having fixed amounts before meals, or what and how often have you been asked to check your blood glucose?

 

[Dizzydaz]

Hiya - what insulins have they started you on, are you having fixed amounts before meals, or what and how often have you been asked to check your blood glucose?

Hi trophy wench,thanks for the reply,not sure what insulin it actually is,its a nova pen if thats any help and yes the nurse advised me to take 13 in the morning before breakfast,usually around 8 oclock and then same again before tea around 5 oclock,iam testing my blood glucose quite often when i get up for work around 6,before my first shot around 8,before lunch around 12.30 and before tea around 5,but like i mentioned its fluctuating between 4 and low 20s,car'nt seem to regulate it at the moment.

 

[trophywench]

So you're only on Novorapid insulin before two of your meals, you don't take another type before bed?

 

[Dizzydaz]

Thats right

 

[SB2015]

Hi @Dizzydaz

With two fixed injections morning and night, I wonder whether you have been put on a mixed insulin. It would be very helpful to us if you could find the name of the insulin. It will be in the box. Are you being managed by your Practice rather than a spec team at the hospital? Sorry to bombard you with questions. It will really help us know how to respond to your questions.

it is a lot to take in at the start and you have been diagnosed a very short time. Good to hear that you have regained the weight that you lost And that you are feeling better. It will take time to get you doses of insulin’s sorted to match you, and also you are likely to be in the honeymoon period where you have beta cells still making a bit of insulin.

Keep In touch and let us know how you get on. There is plenty of help available on here.

 

[Dizzydaz]

Hi @Dizzydaz

With two fixed injections morning and night, I wonder whether you have been put on a mixed insulin. It would be very helpful to us if you could find the name of the insulin. It will be in the box. Are you being managed by your Practice rather than a spec team at the hospital? Sorry to bombard you with questions. It will really help us know how to respond to your questions.

it is a lot to take in at the start and you have been diagnosed a very short time. Good to hear that you have regained the weight that you lost And that you are feeling better. It will take time to get you doses of insulin’s sorted to match you, and also you are likely to be in the honeymoon period where you have beta cells still making a bit of insulin.

Keep In touch and let us know how you get on. There is plenty of help available on here.

Hi,sorry for the delay in replying,was at work,yes its novamix 30 but feeling much better today,changed my diet a little and my bloods seem to be balancing out,hopefully,thank you for the reply,makes things easier knowing there is people such as yourselfs avaliable to give support..

 

[SB2015]

Hi @Dizzydaz

it is very unusual for people these days to be on mixed insulin. You will have a lot more flexibility once you switch to separate basal and bolus insulin. On Novomix you need to eat to match your insulin, whereas on the Basal/Bolus regime you can eat when you want and what you want. You will also be able to adjust doses to match what you plan to do. Do ask about this. The mixed insulin with T1 leaves you far more likely to have hypos which can cause problems with driving.

I am guessing that you are being managed by your Practice, as I doubt a special team would suggest the mixed insulin. The Practice staff are far less familiar with Type 1 as we are such a ‘rare breed’. You should be able to get transferred to the hospital team who will be far more experienced in teaching you how to adjust your own doses.

Let us know what progress you make

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Dizzydaz

I agree with @SB2015

Mixed insulin is no longer recommended for most T1s, and the NICE guidelines suggest starting on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) which is often called Basal:Bolus. Unless there is a specific reason for mixed insulin, of course.

It sounds like a referral to the specialist clinic at the hospital would be very helpful for you.

 

[PattiEvans]

Hi there DizzyDaz. I was first started on mixed insulin (mind you that was a long time ago now) and I found it impossible to level out my blood sugars on that insulin without eating at fixed times of day and eating exactly the same amount of carbohydrate every day. So have you been given any dietary advice, or has carb-counting been mentioned? As @SB2015 and @everydayupsanddowns suggest, you would have a much easier ride on a basal insulin that you take once a day and a bolus insulin to take with meals. If you are indeed being managed by your GP practice I suggest you ask for a referral to the hospital diabetes clinic who have much more expertise in managing T1. It took me 9 months of kicking up a fuss to get referred, so best to start asking now.

 

[Inka]

Hi @Dizzydaz 🙂 Mixed insulin like Novomix demands a lot of regimentation. It’s quite inflexible.I agree with everyone above who’s saying you would find a basal/bolus regime more flexible. It’s more injections but the payback is more flexibility and, usually, better control.