Newly diagnosed and levels

[sofs888]

I was diagnosed for diabetes officially a week and a half ago (2 weeks since sent for hbA1c) and have been put on novorapid and Lantus. I have since seen the dietician and been switched into carb counting. Despite this my sugar still seems to be high - they didn't really give me a target range other than the standard 4-7. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing during their first few weeks?

(I've just started experimenting with correction doses)

Sofia

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

Welcome to the forum, I'm type II so my experiences will not necessarily be relevant (some might). It's early days and there's a lot to take on board especially with carb counting etc. There will be others on this forum who will be able to share their experiences. All the best.

 

[becca59]

Have you been taught about corrections yet? Your levels are high at breakfast. Which could be due to various things. Not enough basal, dawn phenomenon, or just the fact that your body is adjusting to coming down from higher sugars there before diagnosis. If you are not correcting this before breakfast, the knock on effect will continue all day. It is still very early days for you and your best bet is to seek advice from your DN. Also try and get on a DAFNE course.
This diabetes thing is a very steep learning curve. Well done for writing down your results. I have to say they look very similar to my first few weeks.
Hopefully others will come in with lots more suggestions, but your DN should help you.

 

[sofs888]

Welcome to the forum, I'm type II so my experiences will not necessarily be relevant (some might). It's early days and there's a lot to take on board especially with carb counting etc. There will be others on this forum who will be able to share their experiences. All the best.

Thank you! Fingers crossed I can manage it!

 

[sofs888]

Have you been taught about corrections yet? Your levels are high at breakfast. Which could be due to various things. Not enough basal, dawn phenomenon, or just the fact that your body is adjusting to coming down from higher sugars there before diagnosis. If you are not correcting this before breakfast, the knock on effect will continue all day. It is still very early days for you and your best bet is to seek advice from your DN. Also try and get on a DAFNE course.
This diabetes thing is a very steep learning curve. Well done for writing down your results. I have to say they look very similar to my first few weeks.
Hopefully others will come in with lots more suggestions, but your DN should help you.

My dietician quickly mentioned it but I've heard so much information it's hard to remember it all! The "corrections" I've been doing are adding an extra 1 or 2 units onto my next meal dose! Thank you so much for your help, I feel a lot better for knowing others has similar levels to start with!

 

[Toppo97]

Hello!! I was diagnosed end of Feb this year! I am also on Novorapid and Lantus same as yourself! I have only just started getting my sugars within the target range the last few weeks!! For me it has been a slow process and a lot of adjusting insulin dosages- but it takes time (deffo keep away from the dominos got a while)

 

[sofs888]

Hello!! I was diagnosed end of Feb this year! I am also on Novorapid and Lantus same as yourself! I have only just started getting my sugars within the target range the last few weeks!! For me it has been a slow process and a lot of adjusting insulin dosages- but it takes time (deffo keep away from the dominos got a while)

Ah that's so great to hear thank you for your reply that's good to know that I'm not doing anything too wrong for now! Haha I know not ideal but in my last few weeks of university and didn't want to miss out I've started to give myself a more units for certain meals when I know that the units they suggest definitely won't be enough!

 

[laurakirkup]

It can be so overwhelming when you are first diagnosed and as daft as this sounds try not to stress to much as this will only cause your levels to rise more! I have been diagnosed for 22 years now and still regularly ring my nurse when I'm going high, the best thing I have found is adjusting my doeses a little at a time, for example increase your insulin to carb ratio by .5 of a unit or add on an extra 2 units of long acting before bed to stop high readings, always leave a period of three days minimum before increasing more.
It takes a while but you will get there eventually and it will be second nature! Keep in touch with your nurse and update them with what you are doing and it will sort itself out in no time!
Also are you on the libre? I have found it so much easier to control my sugars on this as it shows you exactly what your sugars do through the night and after eating making it much easier to see where you need to adjust your doeses.
And welcome to the forum!

 

[sofs888]

It can be so overwhelming when you are first diagnosed and as daft as this sounds try not to stress to much as this will only cause your levels to rise more! I have been diagnosed for 22 years now and still regularly ring my nurse when I'm going high, the best thing I have found is adjusting my doeses a little at a time, for example increase your insulin to carb ratio by .5 of a unit or add on an extra 2 units of long acting before bed to stop high readings, always leave a period of three days minimum before increasing more.
It takes a while but you will get there eventually and it will be second nature! Keep in touch with your nurse and update them with what you are doing and it will sort itself out in no time!
Also are you on the libre? I have found it so much easier to control my sugars on this as it shows you exactly what your sugars do through the night and after eating making it much easier to see where you need to adjust your doeses.
And welcome to the forum!

Ah thank you so much for this - such good advice!!! I'm seeing my nurse or dietician Tuesday and kept a food diary of the past week and bg readings so hopefully they can advise on the correct ratio then too I'm not unfortunately, there's a high demand so they're only selling to existing customers currently! I've already been recommended it by a friend and it sounds so much easier to control everything! Worth the money by the sounds of things!

 

[donnellysdogs]

Its better to get levels lower gradually.. as your body needs to have time to adjust.. ie you may have noticed eyes bad prior to diagnosis.. its better for them if your levels dont just dip in to 4-7 range immediately..

Apart from that one hypo... your levels arent that bad for swinging from one level upward or downward... so it will be easier to increase doses....

However... if you havent got pens that deliver in 1/2 units... please ask for pens that will allow this... you are not on big doses and it will be much easier to tweak if you get 1/2 unit pens. Sometimes 1/2 a unit makes a big difference when tweaking.

Have you got an accuchek aviva expert blood tester? Which allows you to type in carbs and you can monitor your ratios etc on it? If you have a blood tester which allows carbs and ratios to be entered, it also best that the machine also works with 1/2 unit adjustments...

Very important that you learn the carbs and adjusting. So give it a little time and patience as its you that needs to learn it and have the confidence...

Well done..

 

[laurakirkup]

Ah thank you so much for this - such good advice!!! I'm seeing my nurse or dietician Tuesday and kept a food diary of the past week and bg readings so hopefully they can advise on the correct ratio then too I'm not unfortunately, there's a high demand so they're only selling to existing customers currently! I've already been recommended it by a friend and it sounds so much easier to control everything! Worth the money by the sounds of things!

Well done for keeping a good diary! I really try to keep one but always get a few weeks in and forget to fill it in for a few days then have a weeks gap again!
Oh that's so annoying, I self funded mine for about three months and it was really worth the money, I think it's Superdrug that sells the sensors for £35 each so it doesn't break the bank to much! Honestly though best decision I ever made to switch to the libre! Hope it goes well on Tuesday!

 

[sofs888]

Its better to get levels lower gradually.. as your body needs to have time to adjust.. ie you may have noticed eyes bad prior to diagnosis.. its better for them if your levels dont just dip in to 4-7 range immediately..

Apart from that one hypo... your levels arent that bad for swinging from one level upward or downward... so it will be easier to increase doses....

However... if you havent got pens that deliver in 1/2 units... please ask for pens that will allow this... you are not on big doses and it will be much easier to tweak if you get 1/2 unit pens. Sometimes 1/2 a unit makes a big difference when tweaking.

Have you got an accuchek aviva expert blood tester? Which allows you to type in carbs and you can monitor your ratios etc on it? If you have a blood tester which allows carbs and ratios to be entered, it also best that the machine also works with 1/2 unit adjustments...

Very important that you learn the carbs and adjusting. So give it a little time and patience as its you that needs to learn it and have the confidence...

Well done..

Ahh thank you for the advice! Yes I was quite reassured that whilst still a bit high, my levels seem to be fairly consistent at the same times of day!

I haven't got half unit pens and just been prescribed a new batch of single unit ones!

Haven't got accuchek (luckily avoided the malfunctioning test strips) but that sounds very clever being able to enter ratios!

Thank you, definitely will take time to work out the carbs that my body needs and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to count more naturally and ditch the book/app!

Thank you again!

 

[donnellysdogs]

Ahh thank you for the advice! Yes I was quite reassured that whilst still a bit high, my levels seem to be fairly consistent at the same times of day!

I haven't got half unit pens and just been prescribed a new batch of single unit ones!

Haven't got accuchek (luckily avoided the malfunctioning test strips) but that sounds very clever being able to enter ratios!

Thank you, definitely will take time to work out the carbs that my body needs and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to count more naturally and ditch the book/app!

Thank you again!

You need to ideally record exercise and more details of food.. so you and hospital team can work through your carb n correction ratios etc..

The more detail and to be honest, effort you put in now, the better..I know its an effort but sitting down for 30 mins a day and writing out more detail is important at the moment.

 

[sofs888]

You need to ideally record exercise and more details of food.. so you and hospital team can work through your carb n correction ratios etc..

The more detail and to be honest, effort you put in now, the better..I know its an effort but sitting down for 30 mins a day and writing out more detail is important at the moment.

Yeah I am actually I've got a food diary that my dietician gave me where I note down exactly what I've eaten, how many units I gave, snacks between and exercise information! Just didn't attach that photo