- Messages
- 24
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
So since my unexpected diagnosis on 24th August, life with diabetes has been interesting, somewhat frustrating at times, extremely informative (to the point of borderline overload) and humbling in many respects. The good news is that, with the exceptional help I’ve received from the specialist staff at the hospital as well as my G.P’s, we are making good progress.
I’ve read a number of posts where people have obviously not received anywhere close to the help I’ve experienced during my first month with diabetes and my heart genuinely goes out to them. I’m a reasonably intelligent guy but I am under no illusion that I would have really, really struggled without the knowledge and experience so evident in my treatment thus far.
It’s not been easy, particularly when my eye sight became extremely blurry just a few days into my treatment. This, just at the time when you’re handed a folder full of information about your new condition followed by books and even more literature, and testing devices, and the desire to browse the internet for more information and read forums etc, etc.....but you can’t because you’re eye sight is failing you....aaargh!!!
My sight is returning back to normal now, as predicted, and my knowledge of diabetes is increasing on a daily basis with much of the information coming from this website and its members knowledge and experiences......so thank you to all who have contributed to the website during its lifetime. Your comments really help us newbies in particular.
My treatment specialists are in the Strathmore diabetes clinic which is ideally placed up the very first corridor after the main entrance and shopping area within NHS Ninewells hospital and medical school in Dundee. It’s about 27 miles from our home in Angus and is one of the largest hospitals in Scotland.
I’ll try to write a quick summary of the appointments I’ve attended since I first found out I was diabetic.
9th August - GP at local clinic suggests I have blood tests as I have symptoms of diabetes.
18th August - blood tests taken by nurse at local clinic.
22nd August - phone call from clinic to arrange an appointment to speak with my GP about the results of my blood tests. 5 minutes
24th August - GP tells me I am definitely diabetic. Does a finger prick test to confirm. Phones hospital there and then to arrange for me to attend for a consultation the following day (though he did want me to go the same day) - 60 minutes total time
25th August - Into hospital via the AMU ward where I was seen by a nurse within 10 minutes who took further blood samples, another nurse who did an ECG test and then a doctor confirming my GP’s correct diagnosis. I was subsequently sent to the diabetic clinic to have a consultation with Dr ‘Craig’ for around 45 minutes which was immediately followed with an intense introduction to blood glucose and Ketone testing and the process required for injecting insulin,with immediate effect, by specialist nurse ‘Paul’ who had also been present and inputting during the earlier doctors consultation.
5.5 hours total time at the hospital (of which only about 20 minutes of that was sat waiting for someone to attend to me.....and I only fell asleep once!!) Given novorapid pen, lantus pen, needles, pricked, Freestyle meter, test strips, sharpy box, A4 folder of info to read, including a introduction to diabetes book. Agreed initial doses of 4 novorapid 3 x daily and 12 units of Lantus 1 x daily. First blood tests and injections done with Paul’s supervision.
28th August - phone call from Paul asking how things had gone over the weekend. After telling him my blood test results I was told to increase the dosages to 6 units Novorapid x 3 daily and 14 units Lantus I x daily. 15 minutes
30th August - hospital appointment with Paul where dosages were increased to 6 + 6 + 8 units Novorapid and 16 units Lantus. Introduced to the Novopen 5 with digital readout showing last dose after discussing my concerns about the potential to under or overdose if I experience a narcolepsy sleep attack during the testing and injecting process. Not a fix but best available option at this time.
Introduced to specialist dietitian Jill and given a ‘carb & calorie book’ and in-house produced food, beverage, carb, BG and dosage daily diary to complete following each self administered process. 1.5-2 hrs total time.
6th September - hospital appointment where I am introduced to specialist nurse ‘Lesley’ who will take over from where Paul left off.
Another chat with Jill mainly to talk about good and not so good food stuffs and a basic introduction to carb counting individual meals and how a personal insulin unit ratio is the ultimate target we are aiming to achieve, how it can change during the various parts of the day and how activity and other things can change the body’s insulin dependency both upwards and downwards. A lot for my brain to absorb!! Lantus goes up to 18 daily units.
1 hour total.
8th September - hospital appointment with Lesley. Can’t remember......system overload!! Introduced to dietician no 2, Elaine. Similar story and frustrated as we didn’t appear to progress from my last meeting with Jill. Left feeling anxious and quite down but understanding that the staff must combine their efforts to each individuals needs, intelligence and ability to best do their job thoroughly and correctly and at a controlled speed.
Novorapid 8,6 & 6 plus an additional 3 units if I have a late supper which was previously my normal routine. Lantus upped to 20units.
About 1.5 hrs total
12th September- missed telephone call from Lesley who left a voice mail for me to phone back. I did but she wasn’t available. I didn’t repeat.
15th September - telephone call from Lesley for an update of test results and dosages. Fixed dosage Novorapid remains 8,6,6 plus 3 additional if I have supper. Lantus increased to 22 units x 1 daily injection.
19th September - hospital appointment with Lesley and dietician no 3, Elinor. Lesley introduced me to my new meter, an Accu-chek Aviva Expert and base settings set up with help from Lesley. From now on, Novorapid dosages are to be taken as required throughout the day and, common sense applied, as directed by the Aviva meter after BG tests, carb values, meal times and physical / mental status have been inputted. Still continuing to write a diary also so as to include details of the food and beverages consumed, which the meter doesn’t detail. Also need to continue to use the Freestyle meter for Ketone tests.
Introduced to dietician Elinor who calculates ratios for breakfast, lunch and dinner times based upon my written diary notes. Lesley joins the discussion and inputted conservative time blocked ratios that allow for some inconsistencies are inputted into the Aviva meter settings. 1:10 breakfast, 1:15 lunch and dinner. Correction injections as advised by the meter or self if unsure of accuracy of inputs or meter advise. Also introduced to the Glucogen hypo kit....wife appears very excited at the prospect of using it on me which frankly concerns me as she’s a farmers daughter who was brought up injecting three quarter tonne bulls !! Lantus now up to 24 units.
About 1.5 hours total.
22nd September - telephone call from Lesley asking for blood test results and my general well-being. Lantus dose increased to 26 daily units. Novorapid units per day totalling between 27-34.
26th September - telephone call from Lesley asking for latest blood test results and condition of my general well-being. Lantus upped to 28 units daily. Novorapid units remaining about the same, 27-34. Last two days have BG tests to be much more stable than any time prior and 80-90 % of them within current tolerances set of between 6 - 12.
Time block dosage ratios are agreed to be tightened to 1:10 breakfast, 1:12 lunch and dinner. Correction injections if and when necessary at the same time block ratios. Lantus increased to 28 units once daily.
29th September- telephone call from Lesley asking for blood test results and my general well-being. Lantus remains at 28 units daily. Novorapid also very similar to previous. Getting closer to a definitive blend of ratios?
Next appointment is tomorrow where Lesley is hoping to have me begin my trial of the Libre BG test system currently not available on prescription through the NHS though I noted a post from a member suggesting it may be available on the NHS from November.
I have a further appointment due on 13th with Prof. ‘Rory’ who’s specialist area is experimental diabetes treatments among others so that should be an interesting chat. I also have an appointment with Dr ‘Deborah’ who is a clinical physician scheduled for 2nd November. I have no idea what that will entail but looking forward to learning more.
After my latest visit to see my GP last Friday, she has agreed to refer me to one of the neurologists at Ninewells hospital to discuss my narcolepsy and cataplexy condition further and the concerns I’ve previously raised with the diabetes team regarding my increased risk of mis dialling dosages due to my 3-4 x daily narcolepsy attacks which, FYI, has a very similar symptom list to a person experiencing a hypo..... sweating, confusion, dizziness, unaware of surroundings etc etc.
I’m hoping it can be a main topic of conversation when I meet the professor in a couple of weeks time where I hope to discuss the pros and cons associated with a pump as opposed to pen injections and hopefully get the two hospital departments speaking together to best formulate as good a workable safe guard as possible for me, particularly as I get more used to everything and, as a result, potentially more complacent.
I hope this is a good incite in what you can and should expect from a good NHS team. I’m so thankful for their continuing help and support as I adapt to my latest chronic condition.
Regards, Anthony
I’ve read a number of posts where people have obviously not received anywhere close to the help I’ve experienced during my first month with diabetes and my heart genuinely goes out to them. I’m a reasonably intelligent guy but I am under no illusion that I would have really, really struggled without the knowledge and experience so evident in my treatment thus far.
It’s not been easy, particularly when my eye sight became extremely blurry just a few days into my treatment. This, just at the time when you’re handed a folder full of information about your new condition followed by books and even more literature, and testing devices, and the desire to browse the internet for more information and read forums etc, etc.....but you can’t because you’re eye sight is failing you....aaargh!!!
My sight is returning back to normal now, as predicted, and my knowledge of diabetes is increasing on a daily basis with much of the information coming from this website and its members knowledge and experiences......so thank you to all who have contributed to the website during its lifetime. Your comments really help us newbies in particular.
My treatment specialists are in the Strathmore diabetes clinic which is ideally placed up the very first corridor after the main entrance and shopping area within NHS Ninewells hospital and medical school in Dundee. It’s about 27 miles from our home in Angus and is one of the largest hospitals in Scotland.
I’ll try to write a quick summary of the appointments I’ve attended since I first found out I was diabetic.
9th August - GP at local clinic suggests I have blood tests as I have symptoms of diabetes.
18th August - blood tests taken by nurse at local clinic.
22nd August - phone call from clinic to arrange an appointment to speak with my GP about the results of my blood tests. 5 minutes
24th August - GP tells me I am definitely diabetic. Does a finger prick test to confirm. Phones hospital there and then to arrange for me to attend for a consultation the following day (though he did want me to go the same day) - 60 minutes total time
25th August - Into hospital via the AMU ward where I was seen by a nurse within 10 minutes who took further blood samples, another nurse who did an ECG test and then a doctor confirming my GP’s correct diagnosis. I was subsequently sent to the diabetic clinic to have a consultation with Dr ‘Craig’ for around 45 minutes which was immediately followed with an intense introduction to blood glucose and Ketone testing and the process required for injecting insulin,with immediate effect, by specialist nurse ‘Paul’ who had also been present and inputting during the earlier doctors consultation.
5.5 hours total time at the hospital (of which only about 20 minutes of that was sat waiting for someone to attend to me.....and I only fell asleep once!!) Given novorapid pen, lantus pen, needles, pricked, Freestyle meter, test strips, sharpy box, A4 folder of info to read, including a introduction to diabetes book. Agreed initial doses of 4 novorapid 3 x daily and 12 units of Lantus 1 x daily. First blood tests and injections done with Paul’s supervision.
28th August - phone call from Paul asking how things had gone over the weekend. After telling him my blood test results I was told to increase the dosages to 6 units Novorapid x 3 daily and 14 units Lantus I x daily. 15 minutes
30th August - hospital appointment with Paul where dosages were increased to 6 + 6 + 8 units Novorapid and 16 units Lantus. Introduced to the Novopen 5 with digital readout showing last dose after discussing my concerns about the potential to under or overdose if I experience a narcolepsy sleep attack during the testing and injecting process. Not a fix but best available option at this time.
Introduced to specialist dietitian Jill and given a ‘carb & calorie book’ and in-house produced food, beverage, carb, BG and dosage daily diary to complete following each self administered process. 1.5-2 hrs total time.
6th September - hospital appointment where I am introduced to specialist nurse ‘Lesley’ who will take over from where Paul left off.
Another chat with Jill mainly to talk about good and not so good food stuffs and a basic introduction to carb counting individual meals and how a personal insulin unit ratio is the ultimate target we are aiming to achieve, how it can change during the various parts of the day and how activity and other things can change the body’s insulin dependency both upwards and downwards. A lot for my brain to absorb!! Lantus goes up to 18 daily units.
1 hour total.
8th September - hospital appointment with Lesley. Can’t remember......system overload!! Introduced to dietician no 2, Elaine. Similar story and frustrated as we didn’t appear to progress from my last meeting with Jill. Left feeling anxious and quite down but understanding that the staff must combine their efforts to each individuals needs, intelligence and ability to best do their job thoroughly and correctly and at a controlled speed.
Novorapid 8,6 & 6 plus an additional 3 units if I have a late supper which was previously my normal routine. Lantus upped to 20units.
About 1.5 hrs total
12th September- missed telephone call from Lesley who left a voice mail for me to phone back. I did but she wasn’t available. I didn’t repeat.
15th September - telephone call from Lesley for an update of test results and dosages. Fixed dosage Novorapid remains 8,6,6 plus 3 additional if I have supper. Lantus increased to 22 units x 1 daily injection.
19th September - hospital appointment with Lesley and dietician no 3, Elinor. Lesley introduced me to my new meter, an Accu-chek Aviva Expert and base settings set up with help from Lesley. From now on, Novorapid dosages are to be taken as required throughout the day and, common sense applied, as directed by the Aviva meter after BG tests, carb values, meal times and physical / mental status have been inputted. Still continuing to write a diary also so as to include details of the food and beverages consumed, which the meter doesn’t detail. Also need to continue to use the Freestyle meter for Ketone tests.
Introduced to dietician Elinor who calculates ratios for breakfast, lunch and dinner times based upon my written diary notes. Lesley joins the discussion and inputted conservative time blocked ratios that allow for some inconsistencies are inputted into the Aviva meter settings. 1:10 breakfast, 1:15 lunch and dinner. Correction injections as advised by the meter or self if unsure of accuracy of inputs or meter advise. Also introduced to the Glucogen hypo kit....wife appears very excited at the prospect of using it on me which frankly concerns me as she’s a farmers daughter who was brought up injecting three quarter tonne bulls !! Lantus now up to 24 units.
About 1.5 hours total.
22nd September - telephone call from Lesley asking for blood test results and my general well-being. Lantus dose increased to 26 daily units. Novorapid units per day totalling between 27-34.
26th September - telephone call from Lesley asking for latest blood test results and condition of my general well-being. Lantus upped to 28 units daily. Novorapid units remaining about the same, 27-34. Last two days have BG tests to be much more stable than any time prior and 80-90 % of them within current tolerances set of between 6 - 12.
Time block dosage ratios are agreed to be tightened to 1:10 breakfast, 1:12 lunch and dinner. Correction injections if and when necessary at the same time block ratios. Lantus increased to 28 units once daily.
29th September- telephone call from Lesley asking for blood test results and my general well-being. Lantus remains at 28 units daily. Novorapid also very similar to previous. Getting closer to a definitive blend of ratios?
Next appointment is tomorrow where Lesley is hoping to have me begin my trial of the Libre BG test system currently not available on prescription through the NHS though I noted a post from a member suggesting it may be available on the NHS from November.
I have a further appointment due on 13th with Prof. ‘Rory’ who’s specialist area is experimental diabetes treatments among others so that should be an interesting chat. I also have an appointment with Dr ‘Deborah’ who is a clinical physician scheduled for 2nd November. I have no idea what that will entail but looking forward to learning more.
After my latest visit to see my GP last Friday, she has agreed to refer me to one of the neurologists at Ninewells hospital to discuss my narcolepsy and cataplexy condition further and the concerns I’ve previously raised with the diabetes team regarding my increased risk of mis dialling dosages due to my 3-4 x daily narcolepsy attacks which, FYI, has a very similar symptom list to a person experiencing a hypo..... sweating, confusion, dizziness, unaware of surroundings etc etc.
I’m hoping it can be a main topic of conversation when I meet the professor in a couple of weeks time where I hope to discuss the pros and cons associated with a pump as opposed to pen injections and hopefully get the two hospital departments speaking together to best formulate as good a workable safe guard as possible for me, particularly as I get more used to everything and, as a result, potentially more complacent.
I hope this is a good incite in what you can and should expect from a good NHS team. I’m so thankful for their continuing help and support as I adapt to my latest chronic condition.
Regards, Anthony