Overwhelmed Newbie!

[Beach Bubbles]

Hello,

Just popping by to say hello, and thank you in advance of any and all help I receive.

I was diagnosed Type 1 two weeks ago after being admitted to hospital with DKA. It's all been very daunting, and I'm trying to learn all I can. I've been told I have high triglycerides, and my HbA1c is 71, which I understand is far too high. I'd be appreciative of any suggestions how to lower these, especially for a vegetarian celiac!

I'd like to get back in the gym, but am quite nervous about my sugars going haywire and am not sure at the moment how to manage my insulin when doing exercise.

Anyway, I hope to learn lots here, and thank you again for your help.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Beach Bubbles 🙂 Type 1 is definitely overwhelming to start with, but things do gradually get easier as time passes. What insulins are you on?

Personally I wouldn’t be going to the gym yet. Your body needs time to recover from the DKA, the untreated Type 1 (which will have been going on for a while) and time to ‘rebuild’ itself now you’re on insulin. You also need time to get to grips with your new regime.

There are a couple of books often recommended for Type 1s here:

Think Like a Pancreas’ by Gary Scheiner.

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

 

[SB2015]

Welcome @Beach Bubbles. I was diagnosed at 53 and it was daunting to start with. I liken it to learning to drive. It seems very complicated to start with but then much of it becomes automatic.

At present you need some recovery time, and to settle into your new regime of injecting. Exercise will be manageable but give yourself some time. You will be taught to make your own adjustments to your insulin doses. If you are happy to do so tell us which insulins you are using. This helps us to adjust our advice.

Have you been given a Libre sensor. These are great for helping you to see patterns in what is going on each day.

I have learnt so much from others on here so feel free to ask any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here.

 

[Flower]

Hi @Beach Bubbles and welcome

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it really is a traumatic shock both physically & mentally. I hope you’re starting to feel much better with a re-established insulin supply.

As said above take things slowly, your body will have been running on dwindling amounts of insulin for a while desperate for energy. Sustained high glucose levels pre diagnosis affect everything in the body & cause turmoil.

It takes a while for things to start to get back to equilibrium after diagnosis & factors such as triglycerides are affected by high glucose. Hopefully as your glucose levels settle down your blood results will return to normal ranges.

Take time to readjust and get used to injecting insulin. Have hypo treatments at the ready as you’re shown how to adjust insulin for food, exercise etc. Best Wishes.