- Messages
- 1
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi everyone, first time posting!
I'm a 24 year old UK national currently living and working in Athens. I moved here at the end of October and my symptoms developed around the exact same time. I noticed I was more thirsty than usual, urinating more frequently (especially at night) and was losing weight rapidly. I felt that each of these symptoms could be justified with the change in food and tap water, the stresses of a new job and exercising in the sun - I run 15 to 20km per week and have around 3 gym sessions per week. Over the past 2 months however I started to get regular bouts of cramp in the calves and feet, developed a rash on my torso, became fatigued during the day and had periods of blurred vision, so I decided to finally visit a pharmacist on Wednesday night (10/01) to have a blood glucose test performed.
The result was 338mg/dl or 18.8mmol/l. The pharmacist told me I must seek medical attention immediately and after visiting A&E I was admitted straight away. I was attached to an IV saline drip for rehydration and gave blood and urine samples, recieved an ECG, X-X-Ray, ultrasound, CT scan and several insulin injections within the first 24 hours. Yesterday (Friday) I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I am still im hospital and expect to be discharged on Monday and fly back to the UK on Tuesday. I am still attached to an IV and receive regular blood glucose tests and insulin injections. Yesterday I had 5 injections in total on a reactive basis rather than proactively injecting before meals. So far today (now 0940) I have recieved one injection on waking and a second before breakfast, only 35 mins apart. I expect to see a specialist today who will explain how to monitor and self administer insulin injections.
Because of the unfortunate coincidence of my symptoms developing at the same time that I moved country and started a new job, I am afraid that I may have caused permanent nerve damage by waiting so long to be tested. I would be interested to learn how long other diabetics showed symptoms before receiving treatment?
Once I am repatriated I intend to join the NHS program for newly diagnosed diabetics, I'd be grateful to hear of other people's experience of such programs.
Also, as part of my job, I will be regularly relocating around the world for periods of 6 months at a time. I also fly regularly on business trips. If anyone has any experience or tips regarding flying as a diabetic please share! Also, there will be times when I am away from the UK for 6 full months, does anyone have experience of storing or transporting such a long term supply of insulin, sharps, etc?
I feel physically very well, despite being overwhelmed by the diagnosis of a lifelong condition and all of the learning and adaptation that will be necessary. Any general advice for a newly diagnosed Type 1 is much appreciated!
Sorry for the rather long post but I'd love to receive any relevant feedback!
Thanks for reading ☺
I'm a 24 year old UK national currently living and working in Athens. I moved here at the end of October and my symptoms developed around the exact same time. I noticed I was more thirsty than usual, urinating more frequently (especially at night) and was losing weight rapidly. I felt that each of these symptoms could be justified with the change in food and tap water, the stresses of a new job and exercising in the sun - I run 15 to 20km per week and have around 3 gym sessions per week. Over the past 2 months however I started to get regular bouts of cramp in the calves and feet, developed a rash on my torso, became fatigued during the day and had periods of blurred vision, so I decided to finally visit a pharmacist on Wednesday night (10/01) to have a blood glucose test performed.
The result was 338mg/dl or 18.8mmol/l. The pharmacist told me I must seek medical attention immediately and after visiting A&E I was admitted straight away. I was attached to an IV saline drip for rehydration and gave blood and urine samples, recieved an ECG, X-X-Ray, ultrasound, CT scan and several insulin injections within the first 24 hours. Yesterday (Friday) I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I am still im hospital and expect to be discharged on Monday and fly back to the UK on Tuesday. I am still attached to an IV and receive regular blood glucose tests and insulin injections. Yesterday I had 5 injections in total on a reactive basis rather than proactively injecting before meals. So far today (now 0940) I have recieved one injection on waking and a second before breakfast, only 35 mins apart. I expect to see a specialist today who will explain how to monitor and self administer insulin injections.
Because of the unfortunate coincidence of my symptoms developing at the same time that I moved country and started a new job, I am afraid that I may have caused permanent nerve damage by waiting so long to be tested. I would be interested to learn how long other diabetics showed symptoms before receiving treatment?
Once I am repatriated I intend to join the NHS program for newly diagnosed diabetics, I'd be grateful to hear of other people's experience of such programs.
Also, as part of my job, I will be regularly relocating around the world for periods of 6 months at a time. I also fly regularly on business trips. If anyone has any experience or tips regarding flying as a diabetic please share! Also, there will be times when I am away from the UK for 6 full months, does anyone have experience of storing or transporting such a long term supply of insulin, sharps, etc?
I feel physically very well, despite being overwhelmed by the diagnosis of a lifelong condition and all of the learning and adaptation that will be necessary. Any general advice for a newly diagnosed Type 1 is much appreciated!
Sorry for the rather long post but I'd love to receive any relevant feedback!
Thanks for reading ☺