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Newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to say hi

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
N

NHardy

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello,

Today was my unexpected start of an insulin regime and changes to my life after a diagnosis of T1D after numerous blood tests.

The support I have received from my GP and specialists has been incredible and for that I am hugely grateful. A little scary and a rollercoaster week.

First blood test and insulin injection now done and although terrifying I am pleased I have not allowed fear and overwhelm to get in the way. So much information to learn and understand and look forward to making some great friends here and gaining real world insights.

All the best to you all and thanks in advance for any support.

Nick
 
Hi Nick and welcome.

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis but you have come to a great place for support and practical knowledge. I would have been lost without this forum 2.5 years ago when I was diagnosed and then started on insulin. Well done on your first test and injection. It all slowly gets easier but it is a very steep learning curve. Being overwhelmed is totally normal but those tests and injections will soon become so automatic you will have moments where you wonder whether you did actually inject a dose or not on occasion.

So pleased you have a supportive medical team. In the current climate when many are stretched, I think it is fair to say, you are lucky! Which insulins have they given you?

Would you like to tell us a bit about how your diagnosis came about?

There is a thread on the general board called "Group 7-day waking average" where some of us post our waking readings and have a bit of chat/banter/celebration or moan.... depending upon how we are feeling. It is a good thread to get to know some of us regulars a little better as well as just being helpful in seeing the variation in readings and gain an understanding of how unpredictable diabetes can be for some people and how steady other people can manage it. I think it helps to give you an appreciation of how different diabetes can be for different people at different stages of their diabetes journey and how it can change. Anuyway, feel free to join us on that thread each day if you fancy it. We no longer do weekly averages, it is just a daily check in with our waking reading and a bit of a virtual coffee morning. Here is the link...
Might see you there tomorrow.... Just jump straight in. The thread is way too long (thousands of pages) so don't feel you have to try to read it from the beginning. You will soon get the hang of it.

Anyway, other than that, ask whatever you need to and we will do our best to give you some good pointers. The 2 important things to understand with diabetes are that....
1. Perfection is impossible and pursuing it leads to madness..... or at least burn out!
2. Diabetes is highly individual, so what works for one person may not work for you. being prepared to experiment a bit with a keen eye on safety, will help you to become the resident expert of your own diabetes. We can suggest what to try, but only you will find out what works for you by trial and error and hopefully then improvement. Don't be frightened of the error bit as that is where you often learn the most.

Anyway, welcome and good luck on your diabetes journey and look forward to getting to know you better.
 
Hi Nick, welcome to the forum. You have done really well to get yourself sorted out so quickly following diagnosis. I'm sure other Type 1 folk will be along to welcome you. So please ask any questions you might have.
 
Welcome @Nickhem 🙂 Sorry you’ve had to join us. It does take a while to get used to Type 1, so take things slowly and be kind to yourself. It does gradually get easier.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi Nick and welcome.

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis but you have come to a great place for support and practical knowledge. I would have been lost without this forum 2.5 years ago when I was diagnosed and then started on insulin. Well done on your first test and injection. It all slowly gets easier but it is a very steep learning curve. Being overwhelmed is totally normal but those tests and injections will soon become so automatic you will have moments where you wonder whether you did actually inject a dose or not on occasion.

So pleased you have a supportive medical team. In the current climate when many are stretched, I think it is fair to say, you are lucky! Which insulins have they given you?

Would you like to tell us a bit about how your diagnosis came about?

There is a thread on the general board called "Group 7-day waking average" where some of us post our waking readings and have a bit of chat/banter/celebration or moan.... depending upon how we are feeling. It is a good thread to get to know some of us regulars a little better as well as just being helpful in seeing the variation in readings and gain an understanding of how unpredictable diabetes can be for some people and how steady other people can manage it. I think it helps to give you an appreciation of how different diabetes can be for different people at different stages of their diabetes journey and how it can change. Anuyway, feel free to join us on that thread each day if you fancy it. We no longer do weekly averages, it is just a daily check in with our waking reading and a bit of a virtual coffee morning. Here is the link...
Might see you there tomorrow.... Just jump straight in. The thread is way too long (thousands of pages) so don't feel you have to try to read it from the beginning. You will soon get the hang of it.

Anyway, other than that, ask whatever you need to and we will do our best to give you some good pointers. The 2 important things to understand with diabetes are that....
1. Perfection is impossible and pursuing it leads to madness..... or at least burn out!
2. Diabetes is highly individual, so what works for one person may not work for you. being prepared to experiment a bit with a keen eye on safety, will help you to become the resident expert of your own diabetes. We can suggest what to try, but only you will find out what works for you by trial and error and hopefully then improvement. Don't be frightened of the error bit as that is where you often learn the most.

Anyway, welcome and good luck on your diabetes journey and look forward to getting to know you better.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the kind welcome, advice and support, I am very grateful.

I had kidney issues and that lead to numerous tests with diabetes showing as the cause.

I do feel very fortunate to have a great team working with me. I have been prescribed initially - Abasglar and Humalog.

It has been such a journey so far and so grateful to have support and I look forward to getting to know you better.

I also will join in the group 7 and thank you for the link.

Have a lovely evening.
 
Leadinglights said:
Hi Nick, welcome to the forum. You have done really well to get yourself sorted out so quickly following diagnosis. I'm sure other Type 1 folk will be along to welcome you. So please ask any questions you might have.
Click to expand...
Hello, thank you very much. I have been very fortunate to have a great team supporting me. Thank you I will do. Have a lovely evening
 
Inka said:
Welcome @Nickhem 🙂 Sorry you’ve had to join us. It does take a while to get used to Type 1, so take things slowly and be kind to yourself. It does gradually get easier
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the welcome and yes it has been a challenge and very overwhelming. Thank you for the advice and I will do! Have a lovely evening
 
Benny G said:
Hi Nickhem, welcome to the forum, this is a good place for a Type 1 novice to find information. There's plenty to read and many people to ask if you are feeling a little out of your depth.
Click to expand...
Hello, thank you very much for the welcome. I have been doing some reading and I appreciate what a great support this is. Thank you - I feel very much out of my depth at the moment. Have a great evening
 
Welcome to the forum @Nickhem , but sorry that you have needed to join.

Managing T1 takes a bit of getting used to, and the best analogy I was given was that it is like learning to drive. It all seems complicated at the start but then just becomes automatic and you are just dealing with the unexpected. As you say it is a steep learning curve at the start.

There is plenty of support and experience to tap into on here, so fire away with any questions that you have. Nothing is considered silly.
 
SB2015 said:
Welcome to the forum @Nickhem , but sorry that you have needed to join.

Managing T1 takes a bit of getting used to, and the best analogy I was given was that it is like learning to drive. It all seems complicated at the start but then just becomes automatic and you are just dealing with the unexpected. As you say it is a steep learning curve at the start.

There is plenty of support and experience to tap into on here, so fire away with any questions that you have. Nothing is considered silly.
Click to expand...
Hello and thank you for the warm welcome. I am really pleased to have been advised to join the forum - everyone is kind and supportive.

Yes, I think that is a great analogy! I feel so out of my depth right now but I am sure it will make more sense over time. But, great team, support and information so I feel confident.

Great thank you. I am sure I will be asking questions as soon as my head stops spinning.

Have a great weekend and thank you again
 
Hi @Nickhem and welcome from me too. You mention you had kidney problems and I am just wondering if they have managed to sort them out for you now you have a diagnosis. I remember the constant visits to the loo prior to diagnosis, but once on insulin and gradually achieving better numbers I was thankful that they ceased.

As others have said, no question is regarded as silly here and we are all just as fallible as each other when it comes to control.
 
Hello and thank you for the welcome.

They aren’t sorted yet as this is all very recent but that is what I am confident will happen when more under control. I am pleased to hear it eased for you.

This is quite a journey and learning curve. I hope you are well.

Thank you very much that is hugely appreciated.

Have a lovely weekend.
 
Sorry to cross examine you Nick, but when you say, 'kidney issues' do you actually mean the drinking and urinating 'for England!' prior to diagnosis which is mega common with T1, or actually some other plumbing issue? One heck of a lot of us suffered polydipsia/~uria and Yeah it does calm down pretty quickly TG (I would drink a pint pot (well, actually a nonic pint glass to be precise) of cold water and about 5 minutes later be just as thirsty again) and then desperately need to pee max 1 hour later) - but other kidney issues don't disappear that quick.

Huge learning curve when first diagnosed so I sincerely hope you like reading! I can recommend the 'Learning Zone' (see top of every forum page, bright orange tab) and also a book which is good for anyone newly diagnosed whatever their age despite the title -

Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Seventh Edition: Amazon.co.uk: Ragnar Hanas: 9781859597989: Books

Buy Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Seventh Edition Seventh by Ragnar Hanas (ISBN: 9781859597989) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk

Jolly good luck with it all.
 
trophywench said:
Sorry to cross examine you Nick, but when you say, 'kidney issues' do you actually mean the drinking and urinating 'for England!' prior to diagnosis which is mega common with T1, or actually some other plumbing issue? One heck of a lot of us suffered polydipsia/~uria and Yeah it does calm down pretty quickly TG (I would drink a pint pot (well, actually a nonic pint glass to be precise) of cold water and about 5 minutes later be just as thirsty again) and then desperately need to pee max 1 hour later) - but other kidney issues don't disappear that quick.

Huge learning curve when first diagnosed so I sincerely hope you like reading! I can recommend the 'Learning Zone' (see top of every forum page, bright orange tab) and also a book which is good for anyone newly diagnosed whatever their age despite the title -

Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Seventh Edition: Amazon.co.uk: Ragnar Hanas: 9781859597989: Books

Buy Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Seventh Edition Seventh by Ragnar Hanas (ISBN: 9781859597989) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk

Jolly good luck with it all.
Click to expand...
Hello and thank you for your message.

Yes it was but where it had become quite bad I ended up with an infection. But yes the thirst was incredible and yes peeing a lot. No other issues - phew!! I am hoping this will calm down soon and the antibiotics have helped with the infection. A system onslaught it has felt like. But, such an amazing support team and diabetic team - I feel very fortunate.

It is a very steep learning curve and I have been reading lots. The book sounds great and I have ordered a copy. Thank you.

Thank you and to you too.

Have a lovely weekend.
 
It’s not unusual to get an infection as the pee is very sweet and an ideal environment for bacteria and the likes - quite often Thrush too. The renal threshold for peeing out glucose is normally around 11mmol so if you can gradually get your BGs lower than that, the constant visits to the loo and propensity to infections should stop.

Good that you have ordered the book @trophywench suggested. “Think Like a Pancreas” by Gary Scheiner is also an excellent book for T1s.
 
Pattidevans said:
It’s not unusual to get an infection as the pee is very sweet and an ideal environment for bacteria and the likes - quite often Thrush too. The renal threshold for peeing out glucose is normally around 11mmol so if you can gradually get your BGs lower than that, the constant visits to the loo and propensity to infections should stop.

Good that you have ordered the book @trophywench suggested. “Think Like a Pancreas” by Gary Scheiner is also an excellent book for T1s.
Click to expand...
Ah yes that makes sense now and it has been horrid. Looking forward to it easing off and generally starting to feel well again. Currently still above that but coming down a little which is positive.

Brilliant thank you for the book advice - I will get a copy.

Thanks again for the support.

Have a lovely Sunday.
 
Welcome to the forum @Nickhem

Hope the ABs work speedily and knock the infection into touch 🙂
 
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