Hello Everybody.
Although I have only just joined today, I've actually been reading all your interesting threads since January so I feel as if I know some of you already!!! .
Here's my story... well actually I am not diabetic but it's about my husband and his journey, which greatly affects me too of course!
My husband, 48 years old, was diagnosed with diabetes in January. He had been losing weight fast - he was slim to start with and had started to look gaunt. Friends of ours later admitted to being very worried about him. He had other strange symptoms too and so after a lot of nagging on my part, he went to his doc. A non fasting test was 24. A few days later fasting BG was 17. He was put on Metformin twice a day. Neither he nor I knew the first thing about diabetes, in fact we could never quite work out why some diabetics needed sugar or something sweet from time to time.... I mean, how did that work?!
After about one month his BG never went any lower than 15, despite him cutting out all sugary type foods. His eye sight worsened and he was dog tired and barely able to stay awake beyond about 8pm. He was referred to see the consultant who, on seeing his name, asked if he was Scandinavian, which he is. The Consultant was sure he was type 1 and not type 2. Apparently late onset type 1 in slim and otherwise healthy northern Europeans is quite common. He was told rather bluntly that he must go on to insulin and if he did not, he might be dead in 3 months!!! Straight talking fella he was! That same day, 1st March, he started injecting insulin - 8 units of Lantus each night. Slowly, slowly his BG came down. He had all the tests including the one which tells how much insulin he has of his own. Despite still having a 'significant reserve' of insulin, he was properly confirmed as type 1 in June. Consultant told him that eventually it will deplete but no idea how long it will take.
I must confess I was devastated and had a good cry but hubbie seemed to have taken it all in his stride, which is the kinda guy he is. He had an incredibly sweet tooth beforehand and had to give it all up. It became my mission to learn about this thing and I started reading your posts and all the interesting articles on the website. The biggest revelation has been learning about what carbs do to diabetics. One of the biggest issues for hubbie has been how to keep the weight ON whilst eating healthily and getting enough food so not to be hungry. He kinda follows the LCHF diet and this is helping keep his weight on. He takes cream in his coffee now, what a luxury eh! Every cloud as he says...
So last HB1ac was actually 44.. his other markers are all excellent. Fasting BG averages out at 6 or 7 and post prandial rarely goes beyond 9 or 10. Around 4pm he regularly gets a reading of 5.5 He has had 2 slight episodes of what he calls 'wobbly legs' but a few carbs and he is fine. He has another review in October.
We don't know what the future will bring but so far, it's not too bad. Thank you all for your interesting posts, words of wisdom and your humour. From great low carbs recipes, learning about the Dawn Phenomenon and getting book recommendations. Working my way through 'Think Like a Pancreas' just now!
As they say, every cloud..... with low carbing, eating more healthily and taking more exercise we are all a fitter family, kids included .
Although I have only just joined today, I've actually been reading all your interesting threads since January so I feel as if I know some of you already!!! .
Here's my story... well actually I am not diabetic but it's about my husband and his journey, which greatly affects me too of course!
My husband, 48 years old, was diagnosed with diabetes in January. He had been losing weight fast - he was slim to start with and had started to look gaunt. Friends of ours later admitted to being very worried about him. He had other strange symptoms too and so after a lot of nagging on my part, he went to his doc. A non fasting test was 24. A few days later fasting BG was 17. He was put on Metformin twice a day. Neither he nor I knew the first thing about diabetes, in fact we could never quite work out why some diabetics needed sugar or something sweet from time to time.... I mean, how did that work?!
After about one month his BG never went any lower than 15, despite him cutting out all sugary type foods. His eye sight worsened and he was dog tired and barely able to stay awake beyond about 8pm. He was referred to see the consultant who, on seeing his name, asked if he was Scandinavian, which he is. The Consultant was sure he was type 1 and not type 2. Apparently late onset type 1 in slim and otherwise healthy northern Europeans is quite common. He was told rather bluntly that he must go on to insulin and if he did not, he might be dead in 3 months!!! Straight talking fella he was! That same day, 1st March, he started injecting insulin - 8 units of Lantus each night. Slowly, slowly his BG came down. He had all the tests including the one which tells how much insulin he has of his own. Despite still having a 'significant reserve' of insulin, he was properly confirmed as type 1 in June. Consultant told him that eventually it will deplete but no idea how long it will take.
I must confess I was devastated and had a good cry but hubbie seemed to have taken it all in his stride, which is the kinda guy he is. He had an incredibly sweet tooth beforehand and had to give it all up. It became my mission to learn about this thing and I started reading your posts and all the interesting articles on the website. The biggest revelation has been learning about what carbs do to diabetics. One of the biggest issues for hubbie has been how to keep the weight ON whilst eating healthily and getting enough food so not to be hungry. He kinda follows the LCHF diet and this is helping keep his weight on. He takes cream in his coffee now, what a luxury eh! Every cloud as he says...
So last HB1ac was actually 44.. his other markers are all excellent. Fasting BG averages out at 6 or 7 and post prandial rarely goes beyond 9 or 10. Around 4pm he regularly gets a reading of 5.5 He has had 2 slight episodes of what he calls 'wobbly legs' but a few carbs and he is fine. He has another review in October.
We don't know what the future will bring but so far, it's not too bad. Thank you all for your interesting posts, words of wisdom and your humour. From great low carbs recipes, learning about the Dawn Phenomenon and getting book recommendations. Working my way through 'Think Like a Pancreas' just now!
As they say, every cloud..... with low carbing, eating more healthily and taking more exercise we are all a fitter family, kids included .
