Hello

[KarenG]

Hi there

I've been reading and reading the T1 forums for some weeks now so thought I'd better man up and say hello.

A little about me:

Karen, aged 41, T1 for 37 years
Spent many years pretending I could lead a normal life with no adjustment (just a terrible excuse for poor control to be honest) but very fortunately pregnancy made me start to take it a bit more seriously!
I really really really have a terrible problem with the medical profession - totally my fault not theirs - and I'm always in bits before I go to the doctors. As a consequence I basically never go - I think I've seen my GP once in the last 15 years (except for reviews which I don't feel I can refuse)
I'm on what I imagine is a properly outdated regime of 3xNovorapid and 1xInsulard. The DSN basically says "let's just leave it alone as your HB1AC is fine" (6.8 last time) but, I'm at the point where I think my standard of life could really improve. To be fair to her, she never really tells me anything I don't know and always seems disappointed that I don't have depression or need statins, lol.
However, I fear the HBA1C could be hiding highs and lows, certainly I think that is the case from my blood tests.
A little more background - I do a lot of exercise, marathon, resistance training for example, and find it helpful in a number of ways including weight control. I've massively reduced my insulin and carb intake since reading Dr Bernstein. I find exercise messes up my control badly - both high and low - and I have been reading a lot about how the pump could help. Specifically, to be able to turn down / off basal when doing extended exercise (eg long runs of three to four hours) or sometimes the day after particularly vicious resistance training. The particularly unhelpful reply I got from the DSN was to cease running training.

Sorry for the rambling, not after answers really, just saying hello with sone context.

 

[tim2000s]

Hi @KarenG, welcome to the forum. I can understand your exercise issues, having been there myself.

I have found using levemir on MDI giving me two basals that each last about 12 hours, has been really useful. It might be something to discuss with your dsn?

 

[Mrsass]

Hey @KarenG welcome along

Is it a DSN you see at the doctors or just a doctor/nurse that deals with diabetes?

Well done on lowering your carb intake etc, best thing I've ever done there is a few people on here that do running and a lot of exercise that may be able to help, Abbie x

 

[KarenG]

Thanks for the welcome Tim

My sister (also T1, we are just lucky in my family!) was on Lantus, swapped to Levemir and had to swap back as she found she lost hypo awareness. That has (emotionally) put me off but (rationally) I should probably try it.

Would you suggest that rather than the pump? I guess, I'm hoping to avoid having insulin swimming around that I end up not needing because plans change on the day...?

 

[JTL]

I'm T2 so all I can really say is ... hello and welcome.

 

[KarenG]

Thanks Mrsass (great name )

She is the DSN at the GPs.

I stopped going to my diabetes centre at the hospital (this is going to make me sound like an absolutely terrible awful person) when my consultant - who I have to say probably saved my life or at least saved it from horrific complications - very sadly died terribly young, and at the same time the wonderful nurse who'd been with me through both my pregnancies, retired. I tried to go back but I found it too difficult (my problem, not the clinic's)

I sound really a bit pathetic. I'm not, honestly, normally.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hello and welcome to the forum KarenG, lovely to meet you and you certainly don't sound pathetic, don't think that.

Best wishes RRB

 

[Mrsass]

Aww you don't sound pathetic at all, that must have been really tough!

I'm shocked that the DSN doesn't seem too bothered, but your A1c is good, everyone always like to improve though

Like I said I can't comment on the running, I wasn't designed for running lol but sure someone else will x

 

[KarenG]

Thanks for the welcome, both Jackthelad and RRB

Yep, HBA1c looks good but I think it's a bad mix of highs and lows which just happen to look ok on average. Plus I'm really sick to death of hypos and taking on unnecessary and unwanted calories. Medical science must have improved in the twenty years since I've been on this regime, right?

 

[Mrsass]

@KarenG do you test your bg much yourself? Fasting, before/after meals etc x

 

[tim2000s]

Would you suggest that rather than the pump?

I wouldn't suggest it in place of the pump, I just realise that it's a lot quicker to swap insulin than it is to get on a pump.

 

[Baruney]

Hola karenG and welcome to the forum.

Come on over to the exercise forum as there are quite a few t1s there who might have a more constructive input than your dsn!

 

[KarenG]

Mrsass - yes, I suspect perhaps too often - 10-12 / day generally?

Tim - good point!! Thank you

Baruney - I will! Thanks!

 

[donnellysdogs]

I believe that if you would like a pump you would need to be registered at a hospital as GP Practices do not have any Pump Specialists.
If you wanted to consider a pump then you would be best to see if you would be entitled to consideration for one under the NICE criteria.

 

[KarenG]

Hi - yes, I'm expected to have to go back to the specialist diabetes centre. The NICE guidelines - they are a funny thing because my HBA1C is "too good" to meet the criteria - but as I've explained previously I think it's simply masking extreme highs and lows. I guess I could argue disabling hypoglycaemia (?) on occasion. Depending on interpretation of that...

 

[Mrsass]

Hey @KarenG so when you test 10-12 times a day do you see the extreme highs & lows or do you think they are through the night? If you're testing that much you must be seeing them readings and getting an idea how/why they are happening? Or Is it just when you are exercising? X

 

[KarenG]

Hi- yes, after exercising they can be very high or low with no pattern linked to pre / post carbs and insulin. The other very very odd thing is that sometimes - say two times a month - the 24 hours after a heavy weights session I just can't maintain a high enough level - even with almost no insulin - and sufficient (more than sufficient) carb intake. I can't believe after 37 years my pancreas is producing any insulin still lol.

 

[Baruney]

Hi- yes, after exercising they can be very high or low with no pattern linked to pre / post carbs and insulin. The other very very odd thing is that sometimes - say two times a month - the 24 hours after a heavy weights session I just can't maintain a high enough level - even with almost no insulin - and sufficient (more than sufficient) carb intake. I can't believe after 37 years my pancreas is producing any insulin still lol.

Hi KarenG

Do you monitor the intensity of your training with a heart rate monitor?

 

[KarenG]

Hi KarenG

Do you monitor the intensity of your training with a heart rate monitor?

Sometimes, but not always. I really hate wearing the strap!! There is a definite link (high blood sugars only occur when exercising > 80% effort) BUT not always, and not even usually. It's roughly one in two / three occasions.

 

[Baruney]

There are more and more reliable monitors that don't require a chest strap coming on the market all the time. I'll see if I can come up with any more ideas but do get your query about pumps over to the exercise forum there are quite a few dedicated t1s who post regularly.