Not your regular diabetic.....please help if possible

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm wondering if an insulin pump would help you control the spikes better than injections - I don't know enough about pumps but I'm sure someone who has experience with one will be along to offer advice.
As far as the Libre is concerned I recommend it for the trend data it provides which will help you in judging insulin doses and timing. Unfortunately it is not yet available on the NHS so would cost you aprox £100 per month to fund - you could always use it now and again when you can afford it.
I will give both a look. Just worried about inserting either as i have hardly any fat so not sure if it would work well or be wise
 

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello. I think eventually it will be a replacement, but at the mo ppl are saying a few things about accuracy so you wouldn't be able to rely on it alone. You probably could cut down on a lot of finger tests though. It uses the same strips as the NEO so you could use the machine to scan and for prick tests.

If you could find the money I do think it would help you to manage :)
Yea just finished reading the accuracy issues and i don't think it would be good for me apart from the patterns/trend data. But it's a fair amount to pay just to view that.
 

logindetails

Well-Known Member
Messages
297
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Neuropathy :-(
I will give both a look. Just worried about inserting either as i have hardly any fat so not sure if it would work well or be wise
A couple of mothers on the Libre Users Facebook page have purchased them for their children and placed the sensors on top of their childs' buttocks as their arms are a bit skinny - they seem to be having good results
 

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Yea just finished reading the accuracy issues and i don't think it would be good for me apart from the patterns/trend data. But it's a fair amount to pay just to view that.
Fair enough, looks like u r putting all the research in. I do really think it would help you though :)
 

logindetails

Well-Known Member
Messages
297
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Neuropathy :-(
Yea just finished reading the accuracy issues and i don't think it would be good for me apart from the patterns/trend data. But it's a fair amount to pay just to view that.
I'm having problems with accuracy but that's because I like to run very low sugars and my Libre is scanning 2.0mmol lower than a finger prick reading and therefore thinks I'm hypo most of the time LOL. If you don't try and run your sugars lower than 4.5mmol you should be ok. Most people are not having issues with accuracy. Even though mine is not accurate I've learnt a lot in a few days from the trend data it has provided - in your situation I'd say it was worth £140 to give it a go for a month.
 

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I agree with @logindetails it would be a massive help. I just think especially with ur unique circumstance you couldn't use it as a way of not finger testing. But the other benefits far outweigh that anyway
 

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm having problems with accuracy but that's because I like to run very low sugars and my Libre is scanning 2.0mmol lower than a finger prick reading and therefore thinks I'm hypo most of the time LOL. If you don't try and run your sugars lower than 4.5mmol you should be ok. Most people are not having issues with accuracy. Even though mine is not accurate I've learnt a lot in a few days from the trend data it has provided - in your situation I'd say it was worth £140 to give it a go for a month.
I am very tempted after reading this. I read that because it isn't blood, the accuracy would always be off. How have the users who aren't having accuracy problems managed this? Or is it pot luck as a lot of people commented on problems. I dont need my sugars below 5 really ...i just want them in between 4-8 and that would be ideal. But of course i would want them to match up near enough to my monitoring kit.


I agree with @logindetails it would be a massive help. I just think especially with ur unique circumstance you couldn't use it as a way of not finger testing. But the other benefits far outweigh that anyway
I agree it could be worth a look in. I just need a bit more info on it and providing it all sounds good then i may even purchase one today.


How would i go about using it to benefit my situation. Would i just monitor it everytime i eat to see how the foods play a role in raising my sugar.
just a little confused as how it would improve my situation with the extra info as what could i then change to make use of the info provided? Sorry if that sounds silly lol
 

Bazzza

Well-Known Member
Messages
162
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Don't you think that would have been the most logical place to start?.....Don't you think I would have already covered that with my medical team HENCE writing the penultimate line of my OP saying I have exhausted each option?

and just out of curiousity how do you know where I am currently based, when I have been in hospital or what condition I am in? You don't so how can you comment on where I should be and what I should be doing?

Judging by what you wrote you expect me to be lying on the floor about to die in the next few minutes when fighting for ones life was mentioned. Many people are fighting for their lives in and out of hospital! If a terminally ill patient walks out of a hospital it doesn't make them okay! They still are fighting for their life.

And I am not asking people about managing a disease that no one knows about. I am asking about managing INSULIN doses from people with DIABETES and a DIABETES forum seems a good place for that to get as many views and as much advice all in one go from real life experiences and people trying different things that work for

Sure...whatever you think will help.
 

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
It doesn't sound silly.
In my opinion seeing how your carbs react while you are sleeping will be the main thing. Because u won't necessarily be up at 2 hours or 4 hours (or whenever you test after food), you might not know your patterns. Also it's much easier to wake up and scan without having to fully wake up and prepare a finger test if u see what I mean?
 

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
You basically can scan all the time, and it carries on recording ur results while u sleep which u see when u wake up
 

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
It doesn't sound silly.
In my opinion seeing how your carbs react while you are sleeping will be the main thing. Because u won't necessarily be up at 2 hours or 4 hours (or whenever you test after food), you might not know your patterns. Also it's much easier to wake up and scan without having to fully wake up and prepare a finger test if u see what I mean?
would this be the only benefit....as when i have had the BGM done at the hospital and many times at home when i check it all through the night when asleep....it doesn't really fluctuate.

My sugars don't seem to rise or fall during the night they are normally very stable providing i haven't eaten or drunk anything. And every day i wake up over 90% they are always the same fasting glucose.


The main issue is the food and drink as if that gets solved, it will be a huge breakthrough and in turn can start help solving and reducing all other complications.
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
Firstly regarding getting some weight on, unfortunately with levels in the higher ranges then that does tend to also hinder any weight gain.

You mention novorapid at meal times. Are you also taking a basal insulin? (Sorry, I may have missed reading that bit of info)
Do your healthcare professionals leave it to you to alter your doses of insulin?
I personally think that your higher levels are more of a hinderance to putting weight on and maintaining it than what you are eating or when.
 

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Firstly regarding getting some weight on, unfortunately with levels in the higher ranges then that does tend to also hinder any weight gain.

You mention novorapid at meal times. Are you also taking a basal insulin? (Sorry, I may have missed reading that bit of info)
Do your healthcare professionals leave it to you to alter your doses of insulin?
I personally think that your higher levels are more of a hinderance to putting weight on and maintaining it than what you are eating or when.
absolutely, the higher levels are a nightmare to put weight on. I did go for a period and just stick with foods that don't make my sugar rise much but day in day out it was very hard to meet a high enough nutritional requirement for my macros and micros.

Also when monitored in hospital we had doses to roughly work on. But because it's not a full indication as the foods and lifestyle was different this obviously changes things. We worked out a rough guideline that was implemented and then left to me to report back with all my data logging. Every time i report back we adjust accordingly and after months of this i now have a little play around within reason to see what works best as i have told to do so.

I am not currently on a basal due to my levels only changing when eating or drinking as opposed to fluctuating throughout the day or night randomly.
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
Also, I would personally try to have your milkshakes with a meal. I know the type of milk shakes you are having as My neighbour had them when he was re allowed to start eating after neck cancer and to also try and put weight on. I have had some to give me a quick all round boost of vitamins etc.... For me, like you, they spiked me, but didn't so much when sipped if taking as part of a meal. The spike would lessen even more if ate with things like cheese or bacon or with my berries and flaxseed. Flaxseed has fibre in it as well as healthy fat but should only be initially tried introducing by adding a teaspoon in to say yogurt a day. It can help IBS. My stomach is reverse to yours in that it was very slow. However flaxseed does seem to help whether having IBS or slow.
 

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Also, I would personally try to have your milkshakes with a meal. I know the type of milk shakes you are having as My neighbour had them when he was re allowed to start eating after neck cancer and to also try and put weight on. I have had some to give me a quick all round boost of vitamins etc.... For me, like you, they spiked me, but didn't so much when sipped if taking as part of a meal. The spike would lessen even more if ate with things like cheese or bacon or with my berries and flaxseed. Flaxseed has fibre in it as well as healthy fat but should only be initially tried introducing by adding a teaspoon in to say yogurt a day. It can help IBS. My stomach is reverse to yours in that it was very slow. However flaxseed does seem to help whether having IBS or slow.
I am trying that in the next ten minutes lol, my meal is coming up with the milkshake so for the first time ill be having it with a meal and will see what it does


If there is no sign of me i will be in the clouds high as a kite !!......also my stomach is very slow too, im always looking for ways to speed up digestion to feel less full..but since the high sugars kicked in it makes me go to the toilet much quicker but not in a good way as im sure it doesn't absorb much of the nutrients due to this.
 

ShellyC23

Well-Known Member
Messages
169
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I would add more fats, cheese in particular will add much needed calories. In addition it may be worth seeing if you are suitable for a pump which would control your insulin dose for you. Good luck
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
It may be worthwhile trying get a pack of Linwoods ground flaxseed. It is £4.99 direct from Linwoods on internet. I have now started having 2 teaspoons with my berries and cream (breakfast or pudding!) and it has completely normalised my stomach.

I'm just wodering though whether you are just using injections for food or whether you are taking a background basal insulin as well?
 

IanD

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,429
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Carbohydrates
Can you eat nuts - they are high energy with 50% veg fats. I use them in powdered form as a porridge, or as a cake, instead of flour.

Ground almonds & coconut flour, also milled flax seed.
 
E

emm2012

Guest
Hi Mr X, I really feel for you and understand your situation.I am a type 1 diabetic and also a mature student studying physiotherapy. We are currently studying Cystic Fibrosis, so understand how essential a high carbohydrate high fat diet is for you, as well as the daily battles you face....Your question was at the back of my mind when we recently had a patient seminar...I should imagine although a nice thought, after a while having to eat so much must become quite awful and a chore....I wish I had asked how they manage their insulin on such a diet now!!! Any way I really think you need to speak to your diabetes team / consultant / specialist. The only thing I can think of is weather a insulin pump may help you, as I would think you would be eligible for one. I am sure you are aware high glucose levels provide a perfect breeding ground for infections, which would already be problem with your condition, a pump may help tighten the control so I think that's what I would be asking for in your situation. Sorry I can't be of any more help, take care and best wishes.
 

Mr X

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I would add more fats, cheese in particular will add much needed calories. In addition it may be worth seeing if you are suitable for a pump which would control your insulin dose for you. Good luck
Definitely! I add cheese to my veg and pasta! I will enquire about a pump next time I'm in. Not too clued up with them so not entirely sure how they work.
Can you eat nuts - they are high energy with 50% veg fats. I use them in powdered form as a porridge, or as a cake, instead of flour.
Ground almonds & coconut flour, also milled flax seed.
yup i love nuts haha i have them every day!

Hi Mr X, I really feel for you and understand your situation.I am a type 1 diabetic and also a mature student studying physiotherapy. We are currently studying Cystic Fibrosis, so understand how essential a high carbohydrate high fat diet is for you, as well as the daily battles you face....Your question was at the back of my mind when we recently had a patient seminar...I should imagine although a nice thought, after a while having to eat so much must become quite awful and a chore....I wish I had asked how they manage their insulin on such a diet now!!! Any way I really think you need to speak to your diabetes team / consultant / specialist. The only thing I can think of is weather a insulin pump may help you, as I would think you would be eligible for one. I am sure you are aware high glucose levels provide a perfect breeding ground for infections, which would already be problem with your condition, a pump may help tighten the control so I think that's what I would be asking for in your situation. Sorry I can't be of any more help, take care and best wishes.

wow! And precisely, as you can understand what i mean now with the vicious circle. Due to the higher levels, it also is perfect for breeding more bacteria and harbouring infection....whilst getting your weight down which in turn leaves your immune system even more open to attack and the list goes on lol and also the advice given is stick to eating whatever and high sugars don't matter much as long as they aren't super high and I'm getting the food in...

so refusing to take that I am on here ;)