T1 Diagnosed 2 days ago - so sad

ewelina

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,354
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Not sure where you are but we have meet ups every two months in London. Tomorrow is the next one :)
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Kerouac's_cat

Hello Rob and welcome to the forum :) In addition to all the good advice you have received so far, here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and there will be someone there to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 

Type1Bri

Well-Known Member
Messages
881
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Highs and lows
Not sure where you are but we have meet ups every two months in London. Tomorrow is the next one :)
Hi and welcome to the type 1 club, it really does get easier with time and experience. As Ewelina Said we are having a meet up today in london, it really does help to sit with other type ones and have a chat and nice afternoon. If you are near London would be well worth coming along to one
Any questions just ask, no questions are silly questions, we have all been in the exact same place as you and all have good advice to give
 
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wiserkurtious

Well-Known Member
Messages
368
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
diabetes :P having to eat food in moderation
Hi guys,

I'm 33 and was diagnosed 2 days ago with T1.

I feel overwhelmed and incredibly panicked. I'm scared of the future and the possible complications associated with T1.

I don't know what I need right now or why I'm posting but I am struggling to keep it together.

Agh.

Rob



like you I was diagnosed in july felt numb at he diagnosis but as time passes you ll get used to it and find that its not the end of the world just means you ll have to be strict in everything you do regarding food,its alot to take in at first bud but on here we all know how your feeling.

exercise it a great thing so make sure you put that into your daily routine if you can,after meals get up and do things ;).also I'm guessing you've probably looked up all the complications regarding diabetes,and like me was blown away!!! but as long as you learn to control your sugars you ll be fine :) keep ya head up let your emotions flow bud look upto the sky and give our maker the finger ;)
 
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Kerouac's_cat

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Thank you all. I would very much like to come to the next meet in London.

I've been shopping today and bought a lot of whole meal: bread/pitta, rice.ive also bought a lot of turkey. I'm trying to keep carbs to between 40-50 grams at each meal but have been quite hungry. My blood was 12.9 before bed and 11.3 before breakfast (10.30 am). Very much higher than lower in the range. I have a meeting with the team on 7th Dec and hopefully that will mean different doses to get blood levels down - I feel uneasy that I'm doing damage in the meantime.

Thank you all so much again, the advice is keeping me more positive x
 
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victry77

Well-Known Member
Messages
259
Hi there, try not to worry about high levels at the moment, you have literally been diagnosed just a few days, higher levels at this time are totally normal as you're getting to grips with it all. I think if you manage to get into a positive mind frame now, then this will set you on a great course for the future. I have been T1 a relatively short amount of time compared to many (8 yrs) but I have been absolutely fine and adjusted really well.

Plus, I don't know of it was a coincidence but I seem to have done more fun things for myself these past 8 yrs than I ever did previously, in terms of hobbies and social life. I even recently took up amateur theatre and have already been in two plays this year and have another lined up for January. Stuff that is fun and keeps me active. No time for wallowing about diabetes when there are good time to be had! I'm very sensible about managing my diabetes, but it is just a small part of my life that I keep in check. You will feel massively overwhelmed at first, but it will get better and easier as long as you stay positive. Right now, just take things slowly. You'll be fine :)
 
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Jennystokes82

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Really grateful for all the support and information on this site! I just don't know where to start! High readings since I've started insulin and I thought it'd bring it down a lot more quickly! Feel like my mind is consumed with how to tackle this!
 

Type1Bri

Well-Known Member
Messages
881
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Highs and lows
Really grateful for all the support and information on this site! I just don't know where to start! High readings since I've started insulin and I thought it'd bring it down a lot more quickly! Feel like my mind is consumed with how to tackle this!
Just take it one day at a time. Each reading will get better ad time goes by, just be methodical and only make decisions on the facts in front of you. If you are too high try and spot trends or patterns. Are certain foods worse for your readings, did you not take enough insulin to cover the foods you ate?? Lots of questions and lots of good advice on here, if your not sure just ask.
Hope it all starts to make sense soon for you, I'm sure it will. This time last year I was only 8 weeks into my T1 journey so can well remember those days
 
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Midnightdawn

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Be healthy, it's that simple, eat well, exercise, stay happy, it ain't rocket science, If everyone ate a good diabetic diet there would be no obesity in the world, you'll have some bad days but gradually they will get less and you'll nail it, be warned insulin with alcohol can make you aggressive so watch out over the holiday period
Stay well, stay sane, don't sweat the small stuff
Midnight
 

Type1Bri

Well-Known Member
Messages
881
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Highs and lows
I think it's just alcohol rather than insulin which causes aggression
 

Midnightdawn

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Alcohol just made me silly on the odd occasion I drank but since being on insulin I've only drank twice and been aggressive both times, I don't drink at all any more
Midnight
 

Type1Bri

Well-Known Member
Messages
881
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Highs and lows
I stick to red wine or vodka, both of which lower BS so need to be careful when drinking
 

Alberti

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes & Ex wife
Hi guys,

I'm 33 and was diagnosed 2 days ago with T1.

I feel overwhelmed and incredibly panicked. I'm scared of the future and the possible complications associated with T1.

I don't know what I need right now or why I'm posting but I am struggling to keep it together.

Agh.

Rob
Hi Rob.
I was diagnosed type 1 , 8 months ago. Felt excactly like you. Overwhelmed,panicked, and scared for the future. Struggled with my levels for months. Got even depressed . Thought life is no fun anymore. Used to work and travel as Scuba Diver Instructor during winter months in Asia . (live in Finland,cold in winter)Thought that was over, just stay home and prick fingers . But then decided this condition will not spoil my life. Got my levels in range(HBAC 5.9 %) . Just packed my bags to Bali, Indonesia a month ago. Learning how to travel again, regarding Insulin keeping cool and eating out every day in a country with rice/noodle as main dish. Was the same struggle with my levels as 8 months ago !! But slowly learned every day again and levels back within range now, after high readings at the start of the trip. And help from this forum. Believe now you can do everything in life as type 1. But only have to life with the precautions to take with T1. And learn to keep your levels within range, to avoid complications later on in life.

Take Care ,Willem