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- Thread starter Betty123
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rebrascora
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Hi and welcome Betty.
Sorry to hear that you are battling cancer and now diabetes as well. I am guessing it was immunotherapy that caused it. There is a lot to take in at first but it does gradually get easier. Which insulins have you been given and do you have a sensor (usually Libre or Dexcom) to monitor your levels or are you currently reliant on finger pricking.
Apart from feeling anxious and probably overwhelmed, which are both perfectly normal feelings that most of us experienced at first, how are you managing with testing and injecting? Have they started you on fixed doses for meals?
If you have any questions please feel free to ask them. We are here to support you in any way we can.
Sorry to hear that you are battling cancer and now diabetes as well. I am guessing it was immunotherapy that caused it. There is a lot to take in at first but it does gradually get easier. Which insulins have you been given and do you have a sensor (usually Libre or Dexcom) to monitor your levels or are you currently reliant on finger pricking.
Apart from feeling anxious and probably overwhelmed, which are both perfectly normal feelings that most of us experienced at first, how are you managing with testing and injecting? Have they started you on fixed doses for meals?
If you have any questions please feel free to ask them. We are here to support you in any way we can.
Thanks for replying. I'm on Nova Rapid and Semglee. Not finding it easy to get the night time under control. Have good support from my diabetic nurse.
I do have a Libre sensor which helps a lot but tend to look at it to much.
My cancer at the moment has taken a backseat.
Take care
Betty
I do have a Libre sensor which helps a lot but tend to look at it to much.
My cancer at the moment has taken a backseat.
Take care
Betty
rebrascora
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Are you aware of the limitations of Libre? I just wonder if erratic overnight levels might be down to what we call "compression lows" where you roll over onto the arm with the sensor on it and after about 15 mins it starts to record a false drop in levels which can show you being hypo when you are not. If you don't double check that low with a finger prick and just treat it as a hypo, then your levels will then go too high and you end up on a bit of a roller coaster and all because it told you you were low when you weren't. Some of the nurses are not aware of this problem and will adjust the long acting insulin to try to prevent those lows and then levels go high because there is not enough insulin overnight. Libre is great but you do have to understand it's limitations and know when to trust it and when to double check with a finger prick.
Also, always important to keep test kit and hypo treatments by your bed so that you can use them without having to get out of bed and wander around the house when you are potentially hypo as that can be dangerous, especially if you have a house with stairs..... being groggy with sleep and jelly legs with a hypo makes a flight of stairs potentially hazardous..... so do keep everything to hand particularly during the night and of course when you leave the house.
I will link to a thread that @helli started where she composed a list of the Limitations and quirks of CGM from our combined experiences of using them... rather than manufacturer info.... ie tried and tested issues, not just manufacturers hype. Don't get me wrong, Libre is brilliant and life changing, but you have to know when you can trust it and when you can't in order to get the best from it and trusting it when it is wrong can make things more difficult.... so things like compression lows and time lag when levels are changing direction is really important. ...
forum.diabetes.org.uk
Also, always important to keep test kit and hypo treatments by your bed so that you can use them without having to get out of bed and wander around the house when you are potentially hypo as that can be dangerous, especially if you have a house with stairs..... being groggy with sleep and jelly legs with a hypo makes a flight of stairs potentially hazardous..... so do keep everything to hand particularly during the night and of course when you leave the house.
I will link to a thread that @helli started where she composed a list of the Limitations and quirks of CGM from our combined experiences of using them... rather than manufacturer info.... ie tried and tested issues, not just manufacturers hype. Don't get me wrong, Libre is brilliant and life changing, but you have to know when you can trust it and when you can't in order to get the best from it and trusting it when it is wrong can make things more difficult.... so things like compression lows and time lag when levels are changing direction is really important. ...
CGM limitations and precautions
Moderator Note: This helpful reply was copied from another thread as it details some of the commonly experienced limitations of continuous glucose sensors. My blood sugar has been in perfect range for days now, but although I haven't changed anything, I'm starting to get very short periods of...
forum.diabetes.org.uk
Hi Betty My husband developed T1 diabetes a year ago (aged 73) caused by immunotherapy. It was quite a struggle at first getting to grips with counting carbs and just the blooming exasperating way blood glucose has a mind of its own at times. But please let me reassure you that it does get easier over time. The important thing in his case is that the cancer is not progressing and immunotherapy is far more effective than chemo for the cancer he has. The chemo regime is brutal and only 5% survive to 5 years. If it wasn't for the immunotherapy I am sure he would be dead by now as he was so ill before the treatment started. So, diabetes is undoubtedly a pain in the a*** but its manageable and the cancer is very much in the background now. I hope your cancer is also kept well controlled. Good luck with everything and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
Thanks for replying. Glad your husbands cancer is under control. I had a scan for mine last week and results next week from my Consultant. However when I saw my GP last week he did say my cancer is stable. I have had my cancer 3 years now and like your husband 73.
I'm on my 2nd lot of treatment as the 1st cancer treatment didn't work. On this Immunetherapy Im now on was feeling ok apart from a rash. Then became very unwell and rushed into hospital 6 weeks ago. So a bit of a shock to find I'm now diabetic and have to think about what I'm eating. As you say though I have lived longer with the cancer treatment than I would have done without.
Just need 2 get to grips with counting carbs & how much insulin to give myself. Have a wonderful diabetic team who are giving me a lot of support.
It sounds as though you are a great support to your husband as my husband is to me.
Take care
Betty
I'm on my 2nd lot of treatment as the 1st cancer treatment didn't work. On this Immunetherapy Im now on was feeling ok apart from a rash. Then became very unwell and rushed into hospital 6 weeks ago. So a bit of a shock to find I'm now diabetic and have to think about what I'm eating. As you say though I have lived longer with the cancer treatment than I would have done without.
Just need 2 get to grips with counting carbs & how much insulin to give myself. Have a wonderful diabetic team who are giving me a lot of support.
It sounds as though you are a great support to your husband as my husband is to me.
Take care
Betty
I would really recommend getting digital scales if you haven't already got them, the Carbs and Cals book and a book called Think Like a Pancreas. The latter really helps to demystify type 1 diabetes and is written in a very accessible way. You can also ask your diabetes team to put you on a DAFNE course (Dietary Advice for Normal Eating). My husband is on the waiting list for it. There is also a BERTIE course you can do online. We have found that the more you can learn about diabetes, the more your confidence grows in managing it. Apologies if I'm telling you stuff you already know!
Thanks for replying again. I have the Carb & calorie counting book as it was recommended by diabetes nurse. Booked on the virtual carbohydrate counting workshop beg. June. Luckily have some digital scales already which I'm finding very useful. Also been on the website Mytype1diabetes.nhs.uk which I have also found very useful. So thanks very much for all your advice. Very grateful as it all helps to get my head in a better place. Have found it all a bit overwhelming.
All the best
Betty
All the best
Betty
I know exactly what you mean about it being overwhelming and just bloody unfair to get another incurable thing on top of the cancer. But you are doing all the right things to get as on top of it as possible and as I said before, it does get a lot easier. Big hugs and do come back to the forum with any questions as time goes on. The folk on here are lovely and very knowledgeable.
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Welcome to the forum @Betty123
So pleased to hear that your cancer is currently stable. Long may that continue. Sorry to hear you’ve been landed with T1 as part of the package though - what a nuisance for you!
Thanks for offering the help and support of your experiences @mbmep - it can be so helpful when facing something new to have reassurance from someone who has been through the same thing. It’s a tiny point but the acronym of DAFNE stands for Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating - which gives a slightly different emphasis. With T1 we can eat a normal healthy varied diet (with nothing ‘off limits’) and adjust our doses to match. 🙂
Ask away with any questions as and when they crop up @Betty123 - we have centuries of lived experience with diabetes of all flavours on the forum. The ‘hive mind’ of all those members is a rich resource!
So pleased to hear that your cancer is currently stable. Long may that continue. Sorry to hear you’ve been landed with T1 as part of the package though - what a nuisance for you!
Thanks for offering the help and support of your experiences @mbmep - it can be so helpful when facing something new to have reassurance from someone who has been through the same thing. It’s a tiny point but the acronym of DAFNE stands for Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating - which gives a slightly different emphasis. With T1 we can eat a normal healthy varied diet (with nothing ‘off limits’) and adjust our doses to match. 🙂
Ask away with any questions as and when they crop up @Betty123 - we have centuries of lived experience with diabetes of all flavours on the forum. The ‘hive mind’ of all those members is a rich resource!
I am not surprised you are worried. I don't know anything about diabetes 1 and cancer - but lean heavily on your care teams - hopefully both conditions can be looked after and you can start to enjoy life
Thanks for replying. I will be honest and say I have found getting diabetes on top of my cancer very overwhelming. Luckily I do have a very supportive husband who keeps me calm when I fet anxious. Take care
Betty
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