Type 1 and Coeliac

[Daphne]

Hi there. My name is Daphne and I am 62 years old. I was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic on 1st April 2015. I hoped it was some kind of joke, but less than a year later I had to resign from my post as Headteacher of an Infant school and Nursery. I couldn't manage to eat properly nor get the exercise I needed to keep my sugar levels down with the pressures of work.

After ever increasing medication it was discovered that I was actually Type 1 in April 2017. Two months later I was diagnosed with Coeliac disease. A gluten free diet is easy to follow these days, but I am still struggling to control my sugar levels.

I am hoping that I will get some tips from the different forums; they have certainly been helpful so far! I am particularly concerned about introducing exercise. I used to swim 30 lengths regularly, but now struggle to take the dog for a walk or garden for an hour without getting a hypo. I have also put on weight recently and would welcome advice on how to lose it again.

I look forward to hearing from some of you soon.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Hi Daphne and welcome to the forum. 🙂 Type 1 and coeliac are both autoimmune conditions so you're not alone as there a number of people who have both. What insulins are you on?

 

[trophywench]

Hiya - indeed, we would like to know which particular insulins you are on, and whether you have attended a properly arranged carb counting and dose adjustment course, before we weigh in with suggestions that are useless!

In turn - do be scared to ask anything on the forum, cos where diabetes is concerned - no question will be regarded as 'silly'. (though no guarantees that some of the answers won't be LOL)

Quite a good proportion of folk on here originally misdiagnosed as Type 2 when they are Type 1 - some doctors don't realise that you can become T1 at any age, nor that there are forms of diabetes that behave like T2 to start with and respond well to T2 drugs but in a couple of years or so, become entirely like T1.

There's nothing whatever simple about diabetes - but the treatment thereof is usually entirely logical once someone identifies 'the problem' and explains it properly - and the person with diabetes takes the explanation on board and puts it into practice. (although sometimes it may initially sound potty!)

 

[Daphne]

Thanks for such speedy responses!

I take 14 units of Lantus in the morning and Novarapid up to 3 times a day.

I attended a carbohydrate counting course shortly after being diagnosed with Type 1. They calculated that I needed 1 unit of Novarapid to 40 gms of carbohydrate at the time! They had to give me a pen with 0.5 units. I think my ratio is more like 1:25 now, but I have only just found out about correction doses.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Thanks for such speedy responses!

I take 14 units of Lantus in the morning and Novarapid up to 3 times a day.

I attended a carbohydrate counting course shortly after being diagnosed with Type 1. They calculated that I needed 1 unit of Novarapid to 40 gms of carbohydrate at the time! They had to give me a pen with 0.5 units. I think my ratio is more like 1:25 now, but I have only just found out about correction doses.

They're quite big ratios which suggests you've still got some significant insulin production going on. What are your levels like when you're not gardening or dog walking? I can't offer any advice on weight loss, hopefully someone else can but exercise is perfectly manageable with T1. Depending on the type of exercise a reduction in insulin (bolus or basal or both) before and sometimes after often works. Unfortunately because the effects are quite individual it can involve a fair bit of trial and error. Always keep glucose/hypo remedies close to hand at all times but especially when exercising. Runsweet has lots of tips on T1 and exercise.

 

[trophywench]

Well I was going to suggest Basal testing for starters - but no good doing that if you aren't on basal/bolus LOL.

So - have a read of this - and once you know what the basal is doing to your BG and when it does it - then you can plan better for when to do what. See http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120

 

[silentsquirrel]

lost me there, @trophywench , surely Daphne is on basal/bolus, Lantus and Novorapid??

 

[silentsquirrel]

sorry TW, reread, and I see what you mean now! Too early, brain not in gear yet!

 

[HOBIE]

Hi there. My name is Daphne and I am 62 years old. I was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic on 1st April 2015. I hoped it was some kind of joke, but less than a year later I had to resign from my post as Headteacher of an Infant school and Nursery. I couldn't manage to eat properly nor get the exercise I needed to keep my sugar levels down with the pressures of work.

After ever increasing medication it was discovered that I was actually Type 1 in April 2017. Two months later I was diagnosed with Coeliac disease. A gluten free diet is easy to follow these days, but I am still struggling to control my sugar levels.

I am hoping that I will get some tips from the different forums; they have certainly been helpful so far! I am particularly concerned about introducing exercise. I used to swim 30 lengths regularly, but now struggle to take the dog for a walk or garden for an hour without getting a hypo. I have also put on weight recently and would welcome advice on how to lose it again.

I look forward to hearing from some of you soon.

Welcome Daphne. Being active is good. Well done for all the swimming 😉