still struggling

[kevin type 1]

hi im new to this and dont know where to start.Im looking for some advice on weight gaining whilst keepi bg under decent control sometimes i find myself around 6 or 7 then upto 20 am i the only one like this after around 8 yrs of injecting i really struggle to gain weight which really gets me down.Dont want to go to a diatecian or doctor i lost faith in them years ago when i fell really unwell to ketoacidosis(had 2 hrs to live)feel like i need to get a grip of myself have constant mood swings,lack of sleep and could say depression as well all of these i reckon is linked to my bg being so unpredictable any advice would be really grateful.

 

[Lynn Davies]

Hi Kevin - welcome to the forums - I am no help at all but I am sure someone will be along very soon.

I personally have never had a problem with gaining weight. How about finding some low carb snacks which are high calorie like pork scratchings or nuts? You can make some rather delicious mousse using diabetic jelly and full fat cream, still very low carb but will all too soon up your calorie intake.

 

[kevin type 1]

thanks very much any advice is well appreciated the jelly ifea is a really good idea

 

[trophywench]

Hi Kevin - I wonder about your BG swinging about like that and your not being able to identify the reason(s) for this.

Tell me - have you ever been offered a place on a carb-counting course which enables you to adjust your insulin doses more exactly for YOU? You can do one on-line (we can give you a link to one if you want) but the ones you actually have to physically attend are really much better because you can ask ask ask, and normally get answers answers answers.

Or, ever tested your basal insulin to see if it really does keep you steady all day and all night like it says on the tin? Cos unless the basal is as near as you can get it to right, fiddling with bolus insulin is very hit and miss. Can give you a link to the explanation of how to do that too.

You mention depression - I know I got very depressed and must have been vile when my BG was jumping about too - it is the effect of the swinging BG. So really, you have got to find out why it's doing that and try and tackle whatever is the culprit.

Stress did it to me - I was correcting the highs and then going hypo BUT on mentioning it to a new DSN (just new to me, she'd been doing it years) she actually came up with a really good suggestion, and it worked!

I'm a bit loath to tell you how and stuff like this TBH bearing in mind your lack of faith in the people that run the courses and offered me the advice that worked.

The inability to gain weight might well be from running at too high a BG too much of the time - it's exactly what happens before we are diagnosed in the first place for exactly the same reason. Still - if you did a basal test - you'd soon know if it was that.

 

[kevin type 1]

thanks v much for your reply ive thought about attending the carb counting course but due to work restrictions not able to get time off.I usually sit about 7/8 in the morning which im happy with the rest of my readings are the problem.I work in a glass factory where the beat can range from 30 deg in the winter to 70 or above in the summer so its a very hot place i try to keep my bg a bit on the higher side incase of hypos but not 2 much if u could send me the links that would be great think it could be time for an overall diet re haul.thanks.

 

[trophywench]

Here's the info about basal insulin and testing to see if you've got it right http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120

Here's the course - on the right 'e learning' http://www.rbch.nhs.uk/bdec2/

Good luck!

 

[trophywench]

I understand what you say regarding your DKA situation - I've had experiences with some Drs or nurses doing stuff they shouldn't, not doing stuff they should, talking bollards etc over the years BUT this doesn't mean that they are all idiots !

I would hazard a guess that the rubbish ones are what - 1% of the whole?

Give em another chance!