Newly diagnosed Type 1

[Jilly Poll]

I was called in by my GP in April to tell me I was pre-diabetic - I had no symptoms and it was decided I would have another blood test in October. I have had no symptoms until about 3 weeks ago when various symptoms started, eyesight changes, raging thirst, weight loss, lack of energy etc. I called the diabetes unit here and had a blood test on Monday and by Tuesday I was sent to hospital for an insulin infusion - appalling treatment there but since have had amazing treatment at my local surgery. I am 69 and my diagnosis is of type 1. It has been the most stressful week of my life - I am in shock, an emotional wreck, and scared. Currently my ketones have come down but my blood sugars are rarely below 15. Because I am over 60 and sudden onset diabetes I also have to have a CT scan. I am trying to get my head round everything - the testing as well. Such a lot to take in.

 

[Rachox]

Hi @Jilly Poll and welcome to the forum, sad it’s at such a distressing time of your life. I’m a type 2 so I can’t offer any advice but rest assured there be some type 1s here sooner or later to help you, so fire away with any questions bothering you.

 

[Antje77]

Hi @Jilly Poll , welcome to the forum and to T1.
Sounds like you're really going through the wringer at the moment!
Very happy to hear your blood glucose and ketones are coming down.

Currently my ketones have come down but my blood sugars are rarely below 15.

Take a breath. The immediate crisis is over, next step is learning about T1 and finding the right doses for you.
This takes time, as finding them is by trial and error, and you don't want to massively overdo the insulin and cause a bad hypo.

I expect your doses are carefully titrated upward to find the right dose, this is the way it's done.

Have a big hug, must have been quite a scare!

 

[EllieM]

I am trying to get my head round everything - the testing as well. Such a lot to take in.

As a T1 you should be able to get a freestyle libre (assuming you are in the UK), so much less fingerpricking is required.

On the bright side, the relatively quick diagnosis means you haven't got years of high blood sugars that may have damaged your system.

T1 does require a lot of adjustments but it shouldn't stop you doing anything you want to do. (Am guessing you are past wanting a career as an astronaut or in the army).

Good luck, welcome and have some virtual hugs from New Zealand.

 

[Lynnzhealth]

As a T1 you should be able to get a freestyle libre (assuming you are in the UK), so much less fingerpricking is required.

On the bright side, the relatively quick diagnosis means you haven't got years of high blood sugars that may have damaged your system.

T1 does require a lot of adjustments but it shouldn't stop you doing anything you want to do. (Am guessing you are past wanting a career as an astronaut or in the army).

Good luck, welcome and have some virtual hugs from New Zealand.

I was called in by my GP in April to tell me I was pre-diabetic - I had no symptoms and it was decided I would have another blood test in October. I have had no symptoms until about 3 weeks ago when various symptoms started, eyesight changes, raging thirst, weight loss, lack of energy etc. I called the diabetes unit here and had a blood test on Monday and by Tuesday I was sent to hospital for an insulin infusion - appalling treatment there but since have had amazing treatment at my local surgery. I am 69 and my diagnosis is of type 1. It has been the most stressful week of my life - I am in shock, an emotional wreck, and scared. Currently my ketones have come down but my blood sugars are rarely below 15. Because I am over 60 and sudden onset diabetes I also have to have a CT scan. I am trying to get my head round everything - the testing as well. Such a lot to take in.

 

[Lynnzhealth]

I was called in by my GP in April to tell me I was pre-diabetic - I had no symptoms and it was decided I would have another blood test in October. I have had no symptoms until about 3 weeks ago when various symptoms started, eyesight changes, raging thirst, weight loss, lack of energy etc. I called the diabetes unit here and had a blood test on Monday and by Tuesday I was sent to hospital for an insulin infusion - appalling treatment there but since have had amazing treatment at my local surgery. I am 69 and my diagnosis is of type 1. It has been the most stressful week of my life - I am in shock, an emotional wreck, and scared. Currently my ketones have come down but my blood sugars are rarely below 15. Because I am over 60 and sudden onset diabetes I also have to have a CT scan. I am trying to get my head round everything - the testing as well. Such a lot to take in.

Your story sounds quite a bit like mine. Back in 2017 when I was 69, I was diagnosed with T2D. I went on Metformin, but it didn't agree with me. I researched and found Dr. Richard Bernstein's book re his own life with T1D and how he dealt with it. (I think he might be in his early 90s). Great book. He's also on YouTube. I decided to go low-carb and it worked for my blood glucose levels and my general health. Then in 2019 at 71, I had a diabetic ketoacidosis episode and ended up in hospital for 4 days, with insulin infusions, etc. It turns out that when they did the blood tests that I actually had T1D. The glucose tolerance test didn't give the correct results I guess. Hearing I was T2 was bad enough, but hearing T1 knocked me for a loop. It even shocked the specialists. I felt all the emotions that you are feeling, sometimes still do. I almost forgot. Because of my age, my Diabetic Educator gor me the Freestyle Libre 2 system. I am so thankful because I have alarms on it (which sometimes annoy me), but are lifesaving. I'm glad your ketones have come down and hopefully so will your BG levels. It's scary and frustrating, but over time you will get better with controlling it. Take care and go easy on yourself.

 

[Marie 2]

Unfortunately it's common we are misdiagnosed. That it was caught before you became really sick is a plus, even though it might not seem like it. It's a huge learning curve at the beginning because it's such a big change. But it gets a lot easier. You will be in what we call the honeymoon period where your pancreas will still try to work some. So it makes it a little more difficult to judge what doses you need. You will need to learn to carb count so I suggest you start doing that now so you get some experience doing so and ask for a Libre, it will make your life a lot easier. It will be okay, you will thrive, it's not something any of us want, but at least we have a solve, which is insulin.

 

[Zhnyaka]

At 69, it's probably very scary, because you have to change your life. Sometimes I think that people like me who were diagnosed as a child are in some way more fortunate. I hope the injections don't scare you and I hope that you have a good doctor who doesn't put emotional pressure on you. I want to say that everything will be fine, even despite diabetes, it just takes a little time to accept all this and learn how to calculate the dose of insulin. You are well done that you immediately decided to register on the forum, it is easier to accept diabetes with people who were in a similar situation

 

[Ushthetaff]

Hi welcome to the club that nobody really wants to be in but to be honest it’s a great club to be in especially on this site , plenty of good advice from plenty of good people , rest assured whatever you go through we’ve all been through or had similar experiences ,there is a lot to take in initially , loads of info which can be daunting at first , my advice is small steps and don’t panic , Diabetes is. Marathon not a sprint and in time it definitely gets easier , you’ve taken the first good step by coming here and want to learn more and get advice from people who are actually living with it , I’m sure not too far down the road you will fell less daunted , welcome and keep positive

 

[david4503]

Unfortunately it's common we are misdiagnosed. That it was caught before you became really sick is a plus, even though it might not seem like it. It's a huge learning curve at the beginning because it's such a big change. But it gets a lot easier. You will be in what we call the honeymoon period where your pancreas will still try to work some. So it makes it a little more difficult to judge what doses you need. You will need to learn to carb count so I suggest you start doing that now so you get some experience doing so and ask for a Libre, it will make your life a lot easier. It will be okay, you will thrive, it's not something any of us want, but at least we have a solve, which is insulin.

Really Marie, now that I know what “honeymoon period” means, I’d like to have a word with whoever came up with that term. I mean, if this is the honeymoon, I’d be looking for a quickie divorce. Regardless of the importance of staying positive I’d say this is a real stretch and a confusing one, particularly for newer Type 1s.

 

[Marie 2]

@david4503 Lol..............I didn't coin it!!!!! But once you know what it is.........you remember it!

 

[Wee eck]

I was called in by my GP in April to tell me I was pre-diabetic - I had no symptoms and it was decided I would have another blood test in October. I have had no symptoms until about 3 weeks ago when various symptoms started, eyesight changes, raging thirst, weight loss, lack of energy etc. I called the diabetes unit here and had a blood test on Monday and by Tuesday I was sent to hospital for an insulin infusion - appalling treatment there but since have had amazing treatment at my local surgery. I am 69 and my diagnosis is of type 1. It has been the most stressful week of my life - I am in shock, an emotional wreck, and scared. Currently my ketones have come down but my blood sugars are rarely below 15. Because I am over 60 and sudden onset diabetes I also have to have a CT scan. I am trying to get my head round everything - the testing as well. Such a lot to take in.

I was also a late onset T1D (at 67yrs). It's apparently normal to blame yourself for something but I've always been healthy, athletic even, never smoked and don't drink. Simple fact is it's an auto-immune disease ... I wonder if it is Covid related although I'm unaware of getting Covid. Diabetes clinic say there is insufficient evidence. My only symptom was weight loss ... 7lbs in a week. On reflection it could have been a worse outcome but was devastating at the time. I manage my sugar levels very well and owe a lot to Libre 2 ... seriously life changing. Whenever I feel sorry for myself I think about children with diabetes and now donate monthly to "Juvenile diabetes"