Type 1: Control?

[kade]

Whats everyone found the best way to control blood sugars as I've found some times the worse I am the better the blood sugars

 

[azure]

Hi @kade

What do you mean by being "worse"?

 

[azure]

The best ways I've found to get good control is to test lots, carb count and adjust my insulin, advance bolus to control after-meal spikes and avoid both excessive carbs and minimal carbs.

Is there any particular area or time that you're having difficulty with @kade ?

 

[kade]

Honestly everything Dr doesn't seem to want to help

 

[catapillar]

Whats everyone found the best way to control blood sugars as I've found some times the worse I am the better the blood sugars

How is your diabetes currently treated? What insulin regime are you on? Do you carb count?

The worse you are in what way? No idea what you mean here, can you explain?

 

[kade]

I'm on insulin injections twice a day m3 or m8 can't remember the name I check my sugar levels and I found if I eat **** sugars are a good level

 

[azure]

I'm on insulin injections twice a day m3 or m8 can't remember the name I check my sugar levels and I found if I eat **** sugars are a good level

Ok If you're on a mixed insulin, you need to carb count so that you can eat the same amount of carbs for your meals to match your fixed dose of insulin.

That's a regime I was on early in diagnosis. If you stick to a routine, both for meal times and amounts of carbs per meal, you should find your blood sugars become smoother.

 

[catapillar]

I'm on insulin injections twice a day m3 or m8 can't remember the name I check my sugar levels and I found if I eat **** sugars are a good level

What does eating **** look like?

M3 is a mixed insulin. Your dosage requires you to eat a pretty steady amount of carbs per day. Perhaps eating "****" matches that better?

You're previous posts mention confusion about what type of diabetes you have, do you have clarity on that now?

 

[Juicyj]

Honestly everything Dr doesn't seem to want to help

Unfortunately the doc is probably not the best way to get help, no offence to docs but they aren't specialists - you need to get a referral to your local hospital (Endocrinology dept) and see a specialist consultant for your type 1.

They can do a number of things, so:

- Review your current regime to ensure it's absolutely right for you.
- Refer you to a DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating)course which will give you specialist knowledge to help you manage the day to day as well as review how you are progressing, this course is a great one to get you on track.
- Keep you on their radar to ensure you are being looked after.

You really need to go back to your docs and ask them to refer you.

 

[kade]

Ie chocolate ice cream blood sugars are lower than normal food and I didn't know there was courses for diabetes

 

[kade]

I think one problem is im not that activitie

 

[kade]

And no I don't still not 100% 4 years down the line

 

[azure]

@kade Sometimes we have to push for the help we need - which is annoying, but it will benefit us in the end.

You really would find counting carbs so you can eat a consistent amount each day, a huge help.

If you've seen a consultant at a hospital, you could phone and speak to a Diabetes Nurse there. They should be able to help, and know more than GPs and surgery nurses.

 

[catapillar]

And no I don't still not 100% 4 years down the line

If you were diagnosed 4 years ago, you've been put on fixed doses of mixed insulin and you've never been offered structured diabetes education, that suggests that you are being treated as type 2.

The preferred/recommended course of treatment for type 1 diabetics is a basal bolus insulin regime and carb counting course, and management by an endocrinology consultant.

How were you diagnosed? Who is your doctor, is it a GP or are you under you under the diabetic team at the hospital?

Maybe the fat content in chocolate ice cream means the spike doesn't happen till later on when you aren't testing.

 

[kade]

They can't figure out what I am one says I'm type 1 next says I'm type 2

 

[kade]

I'm part of mortimer surgery but diagnosed from my village dr

 

[catapillar]

I'm part of mortimer surgery but diagnosed from my village dr

Village doctor being a GP?
When I asked how were you diagnosed I was kinda asking what was the story of your diagnosis, what was you presentation that led to you being diagnosed with diabetes to see if that gives any indication as to type of diabetes?

They can't figure out what I am one says I'm type 1 next says I'm type 2

So has anyone actually run any investigatory tests to try and see what type of diabetes you have? The tests would be cpeptide test to see if you are making insulin and GAD test to see if you have type1 antibodies. You probably need a referral to endocrinology to get these tests run.

Whatever type you are, if you aren receiving appropriated support in managing your diabetes from your GP, then you need a referral to endocrinology.

 

[azure]

They can't figure out what I am one says I'm type 1 next says I'm type 2

As @catapillar says, there are tests that can help determine that.

Some GPs assume any adult with diabetes must be Type 2 but that isn't true. Lots of people are diagnosed with Type 1 as adults. Ask to be referred to a consultant if you haven't seen one already. Also ask for some help with carb counting.

Diabetes is a condition you need to be really involved in, so get as much knowledge as you can so that you can manage your condition well. It can make a big difference.

 

[Esther444]

I was diagnosed as an adult and had to insist on having the tests. So should you you will feel so much better. I didn't really know how rubbish I was feeling until I started to take control and feel better.
There will almost definitely be some diabetes education near you and that's the game changer.
Your eating **** could possibly be explained by the fact that depending on your brand and portion your chocolate ice cream (say three small balls) could be around 30g of carbs whereas a large jacket potato baked could be around 90g of carbs. That is of course unless your having both.
Just a possibility. If you have a smart phone there is an app called 'Carbs & Cals' which i find really useful. If not there is a book version.

Good luck

 

[Shiba Park]

I'm part of mortimer surgery but diagnosed from my village dr

Small world - same surgery as me!

Dr Tighe is taking over as the diabetes lead at the practice now as the previous lead is due to retire. He doesn't have an 'I know best' attitude at all and seems to genuinely listen to what you say and discuss what to do next. Have you seen him yet? Given the treatment can be so different between T1 and T2 I'd be surprised if he didn't at least get to the bottom of that question for you. If you are confirmed as T1, my experience of that surgery is that everything (checks and courses) gets set up very rapidly.

Good luck!

Shiba