Hello all
This is my first post on the forums. I was newly diagnosed at the age of 21 on the 25th April this year (3 weeks before my university finals - ideal timing as ever). I don't know what my first HbA1c was upon diagnosis, but I do know that when I went into the walk-in clinic in London my sugars were at 27. They must have been high for a while because I'd lost approximately 10kgs in weight over a period 4-6weeks. Since finishing my exams I've tried to use the summer to tighten my control and get hold of some better kit to assist me. I love my Bayer Contour pen and NovoPen Echo with the memory function and half doses. I'm currently in the midst of the honeymoon period, which kicked in on the night before my first exam (14th May) and sent my blood sugars plummeting. Where I was originally dosing 1:10 on Novorapid and about 16 Lantus I've now been on 8 Lantus and a does of 0.5-2 of Novorapid with each meal for some time (hence the use of the NovoPen Echo, which I highly recommend for anyone struggling during the honeymoon period using low doses).
I've just had my first fair HbA1c which dates back to around the 23rd April which I'm very pleased to report was a 48 (6.5). I find this promising given that I feel I'm now much better than I was back in April and early May. So hopefully whilst I'm still in the honeymoon period I'll be able to reduce this number whilst maintaining very few hypos. Then when my beta cells finally give up I imagine I'll really have to work at my dosing to hold onto the good numbers.
Just as an aside point to anyone who's also newly diagnosed and reading this - I've found it very beneficial going to the gym regularly (I've always been weight training 3-5 times each week). I gave it up initially, for about 2months, because I didn't want to overcomplicate matters with my blood sugars, but since then have picked it up and been more motivated than ever. It's the time of day when I most 'forget' I'm diabetic and can just enjoy myself. It's been a learning curve but I feel it has really helped.
I'll stop going on now, but I'll continue to post over the coming years and have found comfort in reading others' stories whilst coming to terms with the condition.
Thanks for reading