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Well! I wasn’t expecting that!

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Calf00

Calf00

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello Friends

I posted a little while ago as a fairly new Type 2 newbie. I’m now posting as a brand new TYPE 1 newbie!

I visited my DN on monday and my meds were changed again (4th time) as my most recent bloods were 114. They have climbed steadily from being first diagnosed last August from 48, 52, 88, 114.

Very fortuitously i have an endocrinologist aptmnt at my local hospital in a couple of weeks and my
Pre aptmnt bloods showed v low VitD (15 in a range where 70 is normal). Practice Nurse changed my meds and asked me to run them by Endo by phone first. I have many autoimmune health conditions (Graves Disease, Vitiligo, Asthma and I had a total thyroidectomy in 2009 during which procedure I lost all four parathyroids so I need daily vitD and calcium).

I put in a call to my Endo as requested and, bless her heart, she found the time to call me amidst the chaos at my local hospital. When I appraised her of my situation she insisted I present at hospital within the hour. Hence new diagnosis and me returning home with a bagful of scary goodies, leaflets, emergency cards and a headful of new data to digest. Ketones are ok apparently, 1.3 And then 1.0 after my first dose of insulin at midday.

I’d be v grateful for a priority “to do” list please if anyone has a moment to help me?

Thank you.

Jan
 
It is good that you now have the correct diagnosis.

What insulins have they put you on? Have they introduced carb counting yet. This helps you to adjust your doses of insulin to match what you choose to eat

One book I found very useful after diagnosis was T1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young Adults by Ragnar Hanas. Ignore the age reference, I was 53 at diagnosis. It explains all you need to know about T1 very clearly and is regularly updated. Once you settle into the correct doses of background insulin (basal), which will deal with glucose your liver releases to keep you ticking over, and quick acting insulin (Bolus) which you work out to match the carbohydrates you eat, you will settle into a new ‘normal’ life. Lots of change but plenty of people here who are happy to answer absolutely any questions that you have.
 
Ps
It would be useful to change your profile to show that you are now T1
 
Hi @Calf00 - That is a surprise for you !- but now at least you know what you are facing - and thats half the battle isnt it. Now you can set about educating yourself, have a plan of action and be well. Im sure someone will be along shortly to give you the heads up with being a new T1

....Maybe have a look at the forum lists, on the home page. I know there is lots of advice/info there for newbie T1's - just scroll down and select the appropriate sections. Also there is the Learning Zone (Highlighted in orange at the top of the page) you could sign in there too? Good luck on this new path of yours - please keep us posted as to how you are getting on with things. All the best.

Useful links for people new to diabetes
 
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The first thing on the to do list must be get some hypo treatment (glucose in some form) and keep it with you at all times. Even if you will only be away from dase for a short time and a hypo is most unlikely, take your glucose with you.

It will be second nature after a while. A hyoo is bad, but a hypo with no treatment available is very much worse.

I would recommend too that you add to the take everywhere list your BG monitor and insulin even when you do not expect to be away long enough to need these. They are better to have than not to have if things do not go as you planed.
 
Welcome to the Club no-one wanted to join! I echo the hypo treatment advice, cos you WILL have hypos to begin with until you get used to it all. Though it isn't actually obligatory !
 
.. but just part of life with T1.

As others have said, have your hypo treatment with you everywhere. Hypos don’t always follow logic and sometimes try to take you by surprise. We have pots of them all around the place in the house. It saves me going downstairs to find my handbag. When I was working I did the same and had lots in convenient places.

Let us know how you get on.
 
Welcome back with your shiny new diagnosis @Calf00 !

You might want to browse the ‘useful links’ thread for some helpful pointers, though I’d also recommend the Ragnar Hanas book, because so many on the forum have found it helpful

Along with carrying hypo treatment with you, another thing I would suggest is to begin to record your BG readings alongside doses and what foods you were eating (with an estimate of carb count).

There are lots of factors that affect BG, but attempting to balance insulin and meal carbs will go a long way towards keeping your levels ‘in range’ as much as you can.

Good luck with it all... and keep asking questions!
 
I also echo the advise about hypo treatments, I’ve got them everywhere inc the bathroom and downstairs loo.
I also take my in use insulins, a supply of needles , lancets, glucose tablets , test strips , needle clipper and meter with me even if only nipping out to the corner shop. I use a clear pencil case as a kit bag . Oops I forgot a copy of my up to date repeat prescription.

Think about getting some type of medical alert bracelet , I use Medic alert you pay about £35 a year but you can get cheap wristbands from a variety of online places.

My last piece of advise is. Order your repeat meds in good time , don’t get down to you last pen or cartridge of insulin before re ordering as something can go wrong , ie you may smash it , or their could be a delay in getting it.
 
Ljc said:
My last piece of advise is. Order your repeat meds in good time , don’t get down to you last pen or cartridge of insulin before re ordering as something can go wrong , ie you may smash it , or their could be a delay in getting it.
Click to expand...

That’s a top tip! Not stockpiling... but not waiting to the last minute either 🙂
 
Calf00 said:
Hello Friends

I posted a little while ago as a fairly new Type 2 newbie. I’m now posting as a brand new TYPE 1 newbie!

I visited my DN on monday and my meds were changed again (4th time) as my most recent bloods were 114. They have climbed steadily from being first diagnosed last August from 48, 52, 88, 114.

Very fortuitously i have an endocrinologist aptmnt at my local hospital in a couple of weeks and my
Pre aptmnt bloods showed v low VitD (15 in a range where 70 is normal). Practice Nurse changed my meds and asked me to run them by Endo by phone first. I have many autoimmune health conditions (Graves Disease, Vitiligo, Asthma and I had a total thyroidectomy in 2009 during which procedure I lost all four parathyroids so I need daily vitD and calcium).

I put in a call to my Endo as requested and, bless her heart, she found the time to call me amidst the chaos at my local hospital. When I appraised her of my situation she insisted I present at hospital within the hour. Hence new diagnosis and me returning home with a bagful of scary goodies, leaflets, emergency cards and a headful of new data to digest. Ketones are ok apparently, 1.3 And then 1.0 after my first dose of insulin at midday.

I’d be v grateful for a priority “to do” list please if anyone has a moment to help me?

Thank you.

Jan
Click to expand...
Make sure you always carry something be it sweets normal coke with you at all times so you can treat a hypo. My consultant said to me control it don’t let it control me . I am type 1 and I eat a low carb diet which works for me. I was only diagnosed last June it’s a massive learning curve but it does get easier . Ask questions the support you get on this forum is vital. O and the book carbs and calories is now my bible and gives me confidence when injecting rapid insulin . Good luck x
 
Thank you so very much everyone for your replies, so much appreciated.

I’m only three days in injecting insulin and so my BG and Ketones are still high(ish?). BG : 15.2 and Ketones 1.4.

I was told at time of correct diagnosis last Thursday that ideally I should stay in hospital for a little while until I had stabilised but due to Coronavirus I would be monitored at home by telephone next week.

I’m hoping that I shouldn’t panic at the above numbers as it’s such early days and I’ll just keep on with my 4 x daily injections of 4 units (3/NovoRapid and 1/Lantau) and call the readings in to the hospital on monday.

Would welcome any thoughts please.

Thank you

Jan
 
Loving your new profile pic - very sweet 🙂
 
Calf00 said:
Thank you so very much everyone for your replies, so much appreciated.

I’m only three days in injecting insulin and so my BG and Ketones are still high(ish?). BG : 15.2 and Ketones 1.4.

I was told at time of correct diagnosis last Thursday that ideally I should stay in hospital for a little while until I had stabilised but due to Coronavirus I would be monitored at home by telephone next week.

I’m hoping that I shouldn’t panic at the above numbers as it’s such early days and I’ll just keep on with my 4 x daily injections of 4 units (3/NovoRapid and 1/Lantau) and call the readings in to the hospital on monday.

Would welcome any thoughts please.

Thank you

Jan
Click to expand...
No, no need for panic! Mid-teens for BGs are not what you will want to see eventually, but it is best to bring them down gradually, a too rapid drop can affect eyes and nerves adversely.

Your team will also have been very cautious about initial doses, wanting to avoid hypos. People are very different in how much insulin they need, so initial doses are just a best guess! They will adjust them as necessary in line with your readings.
 
Awhh, thank you!
silentsquirrel said:
No, no need for panic! Mid-teens for BGs are not what you will want to see eventually, but it is best to bring them down gradually, a too rapid drop can affect eyes and nerves adversely.

Your team will also have been very cautious about initial doses, wanting to avoid hypos. People are very different in how much insulin they need, so initial doses are just a best guess! They will adjust them as necessary in line with your readings.
Click to expand...
Thank you so v much, that is so helpful. I understand. V kind of you.
 
Calf00 said:
Awhh, thank you!

Thank you so v much, that is so helpful. I understand. V kind of you.
Click to expand...
I remember being told for the first fortnight just to focus on getting used to injecting and trying to stay below 14, then I was set single figures, then I started to get into normal levels. I just looked back at my log book for that time. I know it was very useful in my realising that the more I ate the higher my BG went. It may sound obvious but I had no idea what I was doing at the beginning.

Keep in touch and keep asking absolutely any questions that you have.
 
SB2015 said:
I remember being told for the first fortnight just to focus on getting used to injecting and trying to stay below 14, then I was set single figures, then I started to get into normal levels. I just looked back at my log book for that time. I know it was very useful in my realising that the more I ate the higher my BG went. It may sound obvious but I had no idea what I was doing at the beginning.

Keep in touch and keep asking absolutely any questions that you have.
Click to expand...
Thank you so v much. That’s v reassuring!
 
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