I am really Struggling and Need Help

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Ica291

Well-Known Member
Messages
48
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I have an 18 month old baby, I'm type 1 and I massively struggled post birth to get any sort of normality to my blood sugars. Your body goes through this massive thing and then your hormones are all over the place, lack of sleep, stress.... Its no wonder our diabetes plays up. As you know, you would have been insulin resistant in your last trimester and I presume you immediately reduced your insulin doses to prepregnancy levels once little one was born. Unfortunately, our bodies aren't the same as they were prepregnancy so there is a huge amount of adjusting that needs to happen as well as caring for your new baby. It's ****** hard!

I agree with some previous posts that it is most likely your background insulin causing the issue, because unless that is correct it's very difficult to know what your Carb ratio should be. You also may have a different Carb ratio for different times of the day..... I'm so gutted for you that you aren't getting the help you need from your health care team. Makes me feel very lucky!

I also would reiterate what someone else has said and please don't reduce your insulin, especially with ketones present. Not without speaking to a diabetic specialist. Do you use correction doses? Are they at the correct ratio? As in does one unit actually bring it down 3mmol, or whatever your ratio is.

Something else to bare in mind, if you are self managing and happy to do so, whatever you change (doses etc) takes at least 48 hours to show any real effect. So wait a couple of days to see of the change, if any, before changing anything else.

Hope that helps. You're a super mum doing it with type 1, remember that!

edited by mod for language
 
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hwhiting

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I am sorry to hear about your diabetes issues. I am only a T2D and what I say should be treated only as a suggestion to be discussed with your doctor. It appears to me that you need to reduce the quantity of insulin you are taking and to do that you need to reduce your carbohydrate intake. It is important that this is monitored at all times so that any reduction in carbs is met with the appropriate reduction in insulin. You don't want to get to the point where your body thinks it is starving as that might risk ketoacidosis. You should therefore convert to eating a lot of vegetables, high level of fatty foods (butter, nuts, olive oil, eggs, etc.,) and meat for protein. Meat also contains fat and if your not vegetarian good for you. Fish and walnuts will also give you Omega 3.

Eating fatty foods will not make you fat. If you can reduce your carb and insulin intake, your liver will eventually break down your own fats into ketones, which it will use instead of glucose (sugars) to feed from. This is a very stable energy source for your body which does not fluctuate. You will then only require to use a small amount of insulin to deal with the modest carbs in your body and maintain a steady blood sugar reading within the normal range of 4 to 6 that non-diabetics enjoy. The reduction in insulin will reduce and possibly resolve your insulin resistance.

Because T1Ds manually maintain their insulin levels depending on the carbs they take it is sometimes too easy for them to eat what they want and as much carbs as they want believing that they can simply deal with the sugar in the blood through their insulin intake. It can be forgotten that T1Ds can also suffer from insulin resistance in the body caused by having high levels of insulin over a prolonged period of time in the blood. This high level of insulin will over time be detrimental to your body as it leads to other health issues including neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney and heart problems and has also been linked to Alzheimer's. As you have discovered the insulin resistance means that your organs and muscles are not taking up the sugars from your blood and this in turn sends signals to your brain asking for more sugar, despite the fact that you have eaten. You then have to inject more insulin which is simply poring more petrol on the fire.

Insulin resistance is what T2Ds have to deal with on a daily basis and you need to adopt some of our methods of dealing with that issue. Moving to a low carb high fat diet (or keto diet) will not reverse your T1D, but it will at least stabilise it and keep it at a more constant low level, which should make it easier for you to control. Remember because you are a T1D it is not as easy for you as it is for a T2D to go straight into this diet, and you should do it slowly and with consultation with your doctor.

I hope this helps and wishing you well.
What a really informative reply
 

hwhiting

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello!
I am a 24 year old Mother who has had type 1 for 5 years now and I have had on and off bad control, when I was pregnant I became completely insulin resistant and my body just doesn’t seem to have gone back to how it was, I have really poor control at the moment and seem to be averaging a BM of 20 most days and Keytones at 2. The hospital don’t seem to be interested unless I go in through A&E which I refuse to do. I’ve also asked multiple times for a pump. I’ve tried everything I can and just feel so alone! It has effected my relationships and my mental health and I really don’t know what to do now!

Does anyone have any advise or help?

It will be so appreciated!

Thank you
I understand what you are going through, I recently ended up in hospital in resus with DKA and was very ill because I just wanted to give up because nothing was working, whilst in hospital I developed pneumonia and it took me weeks to recover. It gave me the kick up my **** to start asking for help, asking questions until something changed for the better, it wasn’t a quick resolve and I still find the whole thing overwhelming but I am now my own advocate as I never want to bein the hospital under those circumstances again, make a plan, good luck x
 

Marie 2

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Pump
Ketones of 2 are dangerous for a type 1, DKA can be life threatening. I don't know how it works in the UK, but in the US you could go to emergency but better yet usually is an urgent care. I've not ever had ketones or been sick, but some people get pretty sick at lower levels than others. I'm not trying to scare you but it's a type 1 potentially serious problem.

I am a type 1 on a pump and CGM. If you can afford it get a Libre, it is so much easier, you just scan and know your number. especially with a child keeping you busy it will make it easier.

Unfortunately for us type 1's for no apparent reason BG's can go up. It could be hormones, a hidden tooth infection (happened to me) stress. You have to go back to basics and make sure you carb count and give the proper dosing which can also change over time. It is so much easier to prevent the high than dealing with it when your BG is raised. It takes me a lot more insulin to make it come down than to just control it before it can. I think everyone has already said this previously.

I am by far not a low carber , I eat what I want and dose for it, but I do eat low carb if my sugars are high and won't come down, because if you start at a higher number and add to it and it's already being stubborn it can end up disastrous. I'm a vegan so my go to's for that are seitan, almond butter on a piece of toast, or even just a protein drink, I have a vegan one that's 20 grams of protein and only 8 carbs.

Squawk and scream for some help. Crying when you talk to them usually works. It doesn't sound like a good situation, and we want to get along with people, but the squeaky wheel thing works.

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this.
 
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Marie 2

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Pump
I want to add that sometimes switching insulin brands help. I know novolog didn't work as well for me as humalog does. Apidra had a longer acting time period and I would bottom out in the middle of the night from it. But I have ran across other people that one kind of insulin stopped working for them and they switched and were then fine. Keep in mind when you switch it's a new learning curve on dosing.
 
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nadiq38

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. I have struggled with my diabetes type 1, n mental health. I actually got some help from diabetes UK, as they have a line where you can talk to someone. May be worth looking at. Wish you the best of luck.
 

Chrissy232

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi
I was exactly the same.
If possible if you can find out if they run a DAFNE Course. Also are you on the basal/bolus regime? Without these you won't be considered for a pump.

I've had a pump for 16 months and it was the best thing I ever did with my hba1c bein down to near on normal however it does mean counting carbs everyday.

I've had a couple of times where things have gone a bit wrong with the pump however That's why the DAFNE Course is necessary.

It is very difficult to get a pump because of the funding necessary it took me 13 years but don't give up just do everything necessary as not only do they have a responsibility to you but also your baby.
 

aealexandrou

Well-Known Member
Messages
117
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Exercise
Eat low calories carb and observe fasting for 8 hours.
A T1D cannot simply switch to eating low carbs. Everyone fast for 8 hours. Even if you sleep at midnight and have breakfast at 8 am you have fasted for 8 hours. Even that can be dangerous for a T1D if the insulin the night before has not been properly judged
Switch to a low carb, high fat or keto diet for a T1D whose BSL are consistently high is clearly beneficial, but it has to under medical supervision to ensure that the type and dosage of insulin is correct. That is especially true of fasting and then only after the body has been adapted to a ketone diet. If your are on time restricted fasting then you need to aim for day 14 to 16 hours a day, 3 or more days a week to really enjoy the benefit of fasting and possibly activate stem cell generation.
 

Diakat

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
5,591
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
The smell of cigars
Everyone, can we please remember that the Original poster is struggling with control- this is not the place for debate on the pros and cons of Keto, it is time for simple supportive suggestions - @Kimberleyart1 has had a number of suggestions and she can come back to ask for further info if needed on different diets/insulin resistance/ opinions / support.
 
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Chrissy232

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
A T1D cannot simply switch to eating low carbs. Everyone fast for 8 hours. Even if you sleep at midnight and have breakfast at 8 am you have fasted for 8 hours. Even that can be dangerous for a T1D if the insulin the night before has not been properly judged
Switch to a low carb, high fat or keto diet for a T1D whose BSL are consistently high is clearly beneficial, but it has to under medical supervision to ensure that the type and dosage of insulin is correct. That is especially true of fasting and then only after the body has been adapted to a ketone diet. If your are on time restricted fasting then you need to aim for day 14 to 16 hours a day, 3 or more days a week to really enjoy the benefit of fasting and possibly activate stem cell generation.
It's not about eating low carbs it's about measuring the carbs she is having and responding properly with the insulin doses and regularly checking he BG.
I was on mixtard insulin whilst I was pregnant and my BG was very similar to hers. I was put in touch with a situation to make small changes, and then put on Basal Bolus which didn't work because at that time there wasn't any courses available to teach people how to do what is necessary.
Suggesting KETO diets and things like that is probably the worst advice you can give as Basal Bolus requires carbs to work.
Also being pregnant causes insulin to resist because the body thinks the baby is a foreign body rather than something that should be there.
 

NicoleC1971

BANNED
Messages
3,451
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hello. I have had 3 kids with type 1 and do remember the early years of struggling to look after my own needs as well as babies/toddlers. You sound stressed and in need of support which seems to be lacking in your area. I met fellow t1s via my dafne course and the monthly get togethers were and are great (11+ years on). In the absence of that support, Diabetes UK careline can at least inform you of what support you are entitled to and provide a sympathetic ear.
As others have suggested I'd start with the basal based on your post baby body not on the rates you had before. Having data about how your blood sugar behaves when you are eating zero carbs will be useful and if you get that right you won't always be chasing your tail with correction doses.
Pump funding is rationed. I got one because I had a bigh ish HBA1c and did exercise which made my sugars more unstable. I do find it useful because I can have a basal rate which varies by the hour and can set up multiple profiles e.g. PMT week!
I also get a Freestyle Libre and this is on prescription though I had to say I tested plus 8 times daily and would aim to reduce my JBA1c by 0.5%.
If I hadn't gotten funding my consultant made the sensible suggestion to self fund and wear the sensor for 2 weeks at a time then 2 weeks' normal testing to make the cost less across the month.

I think we're all wishing we could come and give you a hug and some hope but the virtual versions will have to do! I am sure you are focussing on your child as a good mum must do, but you really need to fight for some support from whomever you can (GP, Health Visitor and partner or family as well as the diabetes team).
 

aealexandrou

Well-Known Member
Messages
117
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Exercise
It's not about eating low carbs it's about measuring the carbs she is having and responding properly with the insulin doses and regularly checking he BG.
I was on mixtard insulin whilst I was pregnant and my BG was very similar to hers. I was put in touch with a situation to make small changes, and then put on Basal Bolus which didn't work because at that time there wasn't any courses available to teach people how to do what is necessary.
Suggesting KETO diets and things like that is probably the worst advice you can give as Basal Bolus requires carbs to work.
Also being pregnant causes insulin to resist because the body thinks the baby is a foreign body rather than something that should be there.
I have to disagree. T1D are the same as everyone else except that they have to regulate for themselves their own insulin and their carb intake. The suggestion that a T1D can eat what ever carbs he or she likes and just deal with it through more or less insulin is plainly nonsense. Excessive carbs and frequent eating leads to the same end result in a T1D as it does to a non-diabetic, insulin resistance and eventually insulin related diseases including neuropathy. retinopathy, kidney and heart issues, possible Alzheimer, amputations, etc. I know from friends how difficult it can be to regulate insulin when your are not insulin resistant. I imagine it is substantially more difficult when you become insulin resistant, in which case the text books don't and can't tell you the exact dosage you need. The goal for everyone, including T1D is to maintain a level of basal and bolus insulin to ensure BGL to the recommended 4-6 mmol/L. It does not take much carbs and insulin to maintain that status quo. Virtually everything has carbs or, as with protein, can be turned into glucose by your body when needed. In addition both basal and bolus insulin can be adjusted to accommodate a protein diet. I accept that it cannot be easy for a T1D, but then nothing relating to insulin is easy for a T1D. A low carb high fat or keto diet provides a stable basis from which low insulin levels can be maintained. It will also help with a host of gut and other body functions which will assist with keeping hormones stable. Clearly if the T1D is pregnant, then other considerations come into play, but after the pregnancy, when hormones remain altered, regulating diet and insulin must surely be essential, otherwise it will take longer for the body to recover and achieve hormone stability.
 

Diakat

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
5,591
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
The smell of cigars
The OP has had lots of useful suggestions and the thread has now wandered into different areas. Please start another discussion if need be but this is not helping the poster with her control.
 
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