Newbie Type 1 and off on Hols

[pk111]

Hello,

Just found out last week I am late onset Type 1. I'm 52.

I was put on a mixed insulin, just a small dose (6 on the pen). Since diagnosis, I have cut out the bad stuff like cakes and sweets and knocked alcohol on the head. This seems to have worked as my BS levels were up in the teens and have now come down to mostly single figures.

I'm off for a few days in Majorca next week and I'm wondering what my holiday will be like. When I have been abroad in the past, my pattern is proabably not disimilar to most non-diabetics, so I usually kick back and have a couple of beers in the afternoon, and perhaps a little more at night. Eat what I fancy, when I fancy, have an ice cream in the sun etc. It has somewhat taking the gloss off it to think I will probably have to drink mostly water, srutinise the menu for the "right" type of foods for me to eat (and I've not got my head round what is right or wrong - the hospital tell me to eat carbs but a sensible amount, but people on here seem to say go for low carbs, almost an Atkins type diet).

In a way, I wish the holiday was somewhere down the line when I have got a better understanding about this new world I am in!

Paul.

 

[fletchweb]

Hello,

Just found out last week I am late onset Type 1. I'm 52.

I was put on a mixed insulin, just a small dose (6 on the pen). Since diagnosis, I have cut out the bad stuff like cakes and sweets and knocked alcohol on the head. This seems to have worked as my BS levels were up in the teens and have now come down to mostly single figures.

I'm off for a few days in Majorca next week and I'm wondering what my holiday will be like. When I have been abroad in the past, my pattern is proabably not disimilar to most non-diabetics, so I usually kick back and have a couple of beers in the afternoon, and perhaps a little more at night. Eat what I fancy, when I fancy, have an ice cream in the sun etc. It has somewhat taking the gloss off it to think I will probably have to drink mostly water, srutinise the menu for the "right" type of foods for me to eat (and I've not got my head round what is right or wrong - the hospital tell me to eat carbs but a sensible amount, but people on here seem to say go for low carbs, almost an Atkins type diet).

In a way, I wish the holiday was somewhere down the line when I have got a better understanding about this new world I am in!

Paul.

I find alcohol has mixed results with my Blood Sugar Levels. When I drink beer - such as Guinness or some other dark ale it as a significant impact on my sugar levels and I ussually have to compensate for that with more humulog (fast acting) insulin. But when I drink dry red wine - it actually lowers my Blood Sugar Levels. One thing for sure, I've been living with diabetes for a long time and have continued to drink alcohol without much of a problem.

 

[pk111]

I find alcohol has mixed results with my Blood Sugar Levels. When I drink beer - such as Guinness or some other dark ale it as a significant impact on my sugar levels and I ussually have to compensate for that with more humulog (fast acting) insulin. But when I drink dry red wine - it actually lowers my Blood Sugar Levels. One thing for sure, I've been living with diabetes for a long time and have continued to drink alcohol without much of a problem.

Thanks - that's good to hear.

I also posted a message on the "Drinking Lager" thread somewhere else on here as I was wondering how people managed beer drinking. I like real ale and craft beers, so from your experience, I may have to cut back on those. I can get away with lager, and on holiday that's pretty much all there is anyway! Other than beer, I mostly drink red wine anyway, and spirits only occasionally. I guess I just need to experiment.

 

[GrantGam]

You can still enjoy yourself But you will need to keep a close eye on your BG levels in order to not run into double figures on a regular basis.

Beers - You can still drink beer, I do all the time! My beer of choice is Tennents lager, which in cans has zero impact on my BG. Draught beer on the other hand, including Tennents, does make my BG rise somewhat which is a pain. You'll probably find yourself okay with red wine and any spirits neat or with a sugar free mixture. Which beer has minimal impact on your BG is trial and error on your part and there's no quick answer. You'll just have to test regularly to see what's going on. Low carb or light beers may be better for your BG - but I can't comment as I've not tried them. You may find this of interest/help:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/alcohol-and-blood-sugar.html

http://getdrunknotfat.com/

You will need to watch that you don't hypo overnight if overindulging, as alcohol has a tendency to make us insulin sensitive and has an impact on the liver's ability to release glucose into the blood stream when we run dangerously low.

Ice cream - feel free to enjoy, but bear in mind this will result in BG spikes so best to go at this moderately. Since you're a fairly new diabetic and on mixed insulin you may be lacking the ability to carb count and adjust your insulin dose to suit more carb heavy based meals/treats. Everything in moderation though.

Heat can be a factor on diabetes for many reasons. One reason is that heat can damage insulin's potency, rendering it useless in some cases. A cooling wallet will help keep the insulin cool and functional at times when the heat is pretty high. I'd advise you to pick one up as they're fairly cheap and can avoid some serious problems. Also try and keep your insulin out of direct sunlight and hot places such as car glove boxes, etc:

http://www.friouk.com/shop/medical/individual-pen-wallet.aspx

Most importantly, don't let diabetes ruin your holiday. You will still have a great time and an even better time with good planning and observation

Have fun!
Grant

 

[himtoo]

Hi @pk111
welcome to the forum

there is no doubt you will need to be mindful of your diet when on holiday , but testing will tell you if you're making the right choices food wise.
I would agree that wine is the best choice on the alcohol front.

do remember to take extra everything ( test strips , insulin , spare blood meter ,spare pen )
get yourself a frio bag to keep the insulin cool http://www.friouk.com/

and pack everything in your hand luggage ( hold luggage can make the insulin go bad cuz of freezy temps at 35,000 feet)

get your EHIC health card just in case , and a doctor's note saying you're diabetic and need to carry the sharps

 

[pk111]

You can still enjoy yourself But you will need to keep a close eye on your BG levels in order to not run into double figures on a regular basis.

Beers - You can still drink beer, I do all the time! My beer of choice is Tennents lager, which in cans has zero impact on my BG. Draught beer on the other hand, including Tennents, does make my BG rise somewhat which is a pain. You'll probably find yourself okay with red wine and any spirits neat or with a sugar free mixture. Which beer has minimal impact on your BG is trial and error on your part and there's no quick answer. You'll just have to test regularly to see what's going on. Low carb or light beers may be better for your BG - but I can't comment as I've not tried them. You may find this of interest/help:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/alcohol-and-blood-sugar.html

http://getdrunknotfat.com/

You will need to watch that you don't hypo overnight if overindulging, as alcohol has a tendency to make us insulin sensitive and has an impact on the liver's ability to release glucose into the blood stream when we run dangerously low.

Ice cream - feel free to enjoy, but bear in mind this will result in BG spikes so best to go at this moderately. Since you're a fairly new diabetic and on mixed insulin you may be lacking the ability to carb count and adjust your insulin dose to suit more carb heavy based meals/treats. Everything in moderation though.

Heat can be a factor on diabetes for many reasons. One reason is that heat can damage insulin's potency, rendering it useless in some cases. A cooling wallet will help keep the insulin cool and functional at times when the heat is pretty high. I'd advise you to pick one up as they're fairly cheap and can avoid some serious problems. Also try and keep your insulin out of direct sunlight and hot places such as car glove boxes, etc:

http://www.friouk.com/shop/medical/individual-pen-wallet.aspx

Most importantly, don't let diabetes ruin your holiday. You will still have a great time and an even better time with good planning and observation

Have fun!
Grant

Hi Grant,

That's brilliant - your post has cheered me up no end! I have a few days, so I might buy a couple of cans of San Miguel on the way home and do a before and after test to see what they do to my BG. I'll look into the cooling wallet as well. Thanks again!

Paul

 

[pk111]

Hi @pk111
welcome to the forum

there is no doubt you will need to be mindful of your diet when on holiday , but testing will tell you if you're making the right choices food wise.
I would agree that wine is the best choice on the alcohol front.

do remember to take extra everything ( test strips , insulin , spare blood meter ,spare pen )
get yourself a frio bag to keep the insulin cool http://www.friouk.com/

and pack everything in your hand luggage ( hold luggage can make the insulin go bad cuz of freezy temps at 35,000 feet)

get your EHIC health card just in case , and a doctor's note saying you're diabetic and need to carry the sharps

Thank you for those tips. As it happens I had my first follow up this morning with the diabetic nurse and I menetioned by chance that I was away next week. Thankfully she gave me a letter and pretty much the advice you gave - but she didn't mention keeping the insulin cool - she did warn me about putting in the hold though in case it froze! Thanks again!

Paul.

 

[GrantGam]

Thank you for those tips. As it happens I had my first follow up this morning with the diabetic nurse and I menetioned by chance that I was away next week. Thankfully she gave me a letter and pretty much the advice you gave - but she didn't mention keeping the insulin cool - she did warn me about putting in the hold though in case it froze! Thanks again!

Paul.

That's no problem at all, the forum is full of friendly people who will steer you right as they did me

Was the letter for presenting to airport security staff wrt to your needles, pens, etc? You'll need something like that for the unlikely case that you're pulled aside.

Grant

 

[pk111]

That's no problem at all, the forum is full of friendly people who will steer you right as they did me

Was the letter for presenting to airport security staff wrt to your needles, pens, etc? You'll need something like that for the unlikely case that you're pulled aside.

Grant

Yes that exactly - Good job I mentioned it - could have been a very short holiday otherwise!

Paul

 

[noblehead]

Hi @pk111,

There's some great advice in the following article for type 1's travelling abroad:

https://jdrf.org.uk/living-with-type-1/type-1-and/travelling/

Make sure you visit the Caves of Drach whilst there, you won't be disappointed

Have a great time.

 

[pk111]

Hi @pk111,

There's some great advice in the following article for type 1's travelling abroad:

https://jdrf.org.uk/living-with-type-1/type-1-and/travelling/

Make sure you visit the Caves of Drach whilst there, you won't be disappointed

Have a great time.

Thanks noblehead,

Some useful tips there. Still getting over the shock of diagnosis, so then going on holiday so soon with all this new stuff I need to think about has got me in a bit of a spin, so all this guidance is great. Prior to this, I'd had 52 years without a real days illness apart from the odd cold, kept myself fit and tried to follow a healthy lifestyle. Of course Type 1 is no respector of any of that!

He-ho, I've just got to get on with life, and I do not aim to let it stop me enjoying myself, I just need to find the best way of managing it, like we all do

Paul

 

[noblehead]

Prior to this, I'd had 52 years without a real days illness apart from the odd cold, kept myself fit and tried to follow a healthy lifestyle. Of course Type 1 is no respector of any of that!

Hi again @pk111

There's no reason why the above should change, I rarely get ill and when I do it's just a cold and I've had type 1 for 35 years, just keep up with your healthy lifestyle and try and keep on top of your diabetes. Best wishes.