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Newley diagnosed type 1

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LauraType1

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
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Morning everyone
New out of the gate! only 3 days in struggling to work out what i can eat and drink its such a mine field!
 
Welcome to the forum @LauraType1
There is a lot to learn about diabetes - I was diagnosed 21 years ago and still learning.
That said, one thing that has not changed is that Type 1 is managed with insulin. It is not managed by diet. However, in the early days, it is very common to be on fixed insulin doses. If that is the case, you need to know how many carbs is assumed for these doses. This gives you a chance to start to learn carb counting.
Believe me - it gets easier and more flexible when you have the experience to adjust your insulin doses.

Sadly, another thing that has not changed is the media abbreviating " type 2 diabetes" to "diabetes". Type 1 and type 2 are different conditions managed differently. However, at the start, it is a minefield understanding what suggestions (especially regarding diet) applies to type 2 and what applies to all types of diabetes.
 
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LauraType1 said:
Morning everyone
New out of the gate! only 3 days in struggling to work out what i can eat and drink its such a mine field!
Click to expand...
As a Type 1 I assume you are on insulin and therefore the answer is - you can eat anything you want, you just dose the insulin accordingly.

I am a few weeks further down the line than you - was diagnosed 6 Dec - and have quickly got used to working out how many carbs are in what I am eating and taking enough insulin to cover that.

Are you on two types of insulin? One you take once or twice a day and then another you take just before eating a meal? Your diabetes team will probably start off keeping things simple and have you inject fixed doses but soon enough you should get some information on how to adjust the dose to what you are eating.

Ask any questions - so many knowledgeable people on here who can answer pretty much most questions.
 
This is a normal insulin regime. It is called basal-bolus or MDI (multiple dose insulin).
The purpose of the insulin you take with your meals is to "mop up" the glucose in the carbs that you eat. This is a fast acting insulin with a spike of activity after about 30 minutes and trails off for about 4 hours. If you do not eat a meal, you do not to take the insulin. Over time, you will learn to adjust this dose according to what you eat which gives you lots of flexibility in what and when you eat and drink.
The insulin you take before bed is a slow acting insulin that will last throughout the day and night to "mop up" the glucose that is dripped from your liver.
 
Hi @LauraType1 and welcome to the forum - It can be very daunting to start with and I felt a bit like a rabbit in the headlights (will be 3 yrs for me later this year) - In terms of food as already mentioned you can eat anything you like as long as you get the timing and dosages of your quick acting insulin right - unfortunately this can be a bit of trial and error, particularly to start with - you will quickly learn what foods give you the highest "spikes" in Blood Glucose and can adjust things accordingly - I'm not going to say its easy because it isn't but it definitely does get easier over time - and feel free to ask any questions you have - nothing on here is regarded as "silly" or trivial - we're all here to support each other - glad you have found us

I would recommend checking out the Learning Zone as there is a wealth of information on there - a link is at the top of the page
 
Welcome @LauraType1 🙂 Be kind to yourself. A Type 1 diagnosis is a massive shock and can be overwhelming with all the stuff to take on board. Pace yourself and go slowly and carefully. Week by week your knowledge and confidence will grow. It does get easier, I promise.

There are a couple of books often recommended for Type 1s on this forum:

Think Like a Pancreas’ by Gary Scheiner.

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

Think Like A Pancreas is American but I liked the chatty style and it contains some great information, as does the Ragnar Hanas book.
 
Welcome to the forum @LauraType1 Sorry that you need to be here but very pleased that you have found us. It is a very steep learning curve at the start but as others have said it does get easier. The best analogy I was given is that it is like learning to drive. It all seems very complicated at the start but then much of it becomes automatic.

Good to read that they have put you straight on the basal/Bolus regime for your injections. This gives you the flexibility to eat what you want at each meal or to eat nothing at a meal. Your team will work with you on carb counting and as you get the hang of this you will then adjust your meal time insulin (bolus) to match what you want to eat.

I am a fan of the Ragnar Hanas Book. I was diagnosed at the age of 53 and still found the book very useful. As questions arise just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here and there is a wealth of experience to tap into on here.
 
Welcome to the wonderful wacky world of pretending to be your own pancreas @LauraType1

The extra full-time job you never applied for, but now can’t give up o_O

T1 diabetes can be very annoying, fickle, stroppy, and stubborn, but it is also something that can be tamed and kept mostly in it’s place with a little attention, some experimentation, a slice of luck, and a bit of determination.

And modern treatment options, gadgets and gizmos make decent glucose management more possible with less effort than ever before.

Keep asking questions here, and sharing your triumphs, confusions, frustrations, irritations, and the little tiny victories of Diabetes Genius moments - you are among people who ‘get it’ :D
 
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