0 confidence with my type 1 diabetes and hypo anxiety

Hi,

I've had type 1 since I was 5 and I'm now nearly 26 so very nearly 21 years. Ive had numerous hypos in the morning over the years and was hospitalised once. I now do atleast 7 bm's a day to make sure it doesn't happen again. The most important time to be above 10 is before you go to bed. If you're low when you're awake then you are able to counter that without any problems.

Dearest Gab - Don't write this off when I say that I went to university in 1978 and had ups and downs (including a hypo admission at a school disco where I was on teaching practice!) before a diabetes specialist said to me, "You need to know what to do to take control of this condition you're going to have to live with." The problem with what I did was bouncing from highs to lows and back again, maybe a bit like you.

Test your blood and learn how much you should compensate for what your reading is, how long till your next meal etc. It's hard at first when you take control, but, hell, it cuts out a lot of the worry and the seemingly unpredictable highs and lows, which make you FEEL awful as well. (I still get some, but nowhere near as many and much more rarely.)

Have you heard of the DAFNE course? It might be a good starting point as it teaches you what control is and how to do it (and more). No-one can live your diabetes for you or look after it for you, if you want a full life.

Take advice, not just mine, but I've had a full life, a career and am still working (part-time now aged 60 - yesterday, whoopee - not) having been diagnosed age 2. You have a long way to go, for sure, so stop being frightened and learn to be in charge. It can be done! Ask your specialist, or ask to be referred to one if your present diabetes care provider does not give you access to one or to a diabetes specialist nurse.

All best wishes, and keep in touch with Diabetes UK.

gab_07 said:

Thank you everyone for the lovely helpful messages I know it'll take time and effort but I am very determined and committed and every day is a step closer and cutting down on the anxiety and worry- as well as being a learning curve. I am constantly carb counting as accurately as possible, and still refining my ratios etc to figure out what I actually need since getting the pump.

I did the DAFNE course about 2 years ago now, and it helped me with carb counting etc and I learned a lot. They were very strict though and said only to check my blood before meals, before driving and when I feel low. I freaked out when they said that as I check sooo much! But everyone on here seems to promote lots of checking which is good

My only high's now are from me being silly and purposely giving less insulin for meals due to hypo fear, as well as after hypos due to over eating as I'm not patient enough I'm getting better at this though and hopefully it'll stop soon!

Thank you everyone once again, means a lot X

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We're here! XXX

Sorry

gab_07 said:

Thank you everyone for the lovely helpful messages I know it'll take time and effort but I am very determined and committed and every day is a step closer and cutting down on the anxiety and worry- as well as being a learning curve. I am constantly carb counting as accurately as possible, and still refining my ratios etc to figure out what I actually need since getting the pump.

I did the DAFNE course about 2 years ago now, and it helped me with carb counting etc and I learned a lot. They were very strict though and said only to check my blood before meals, before driving and when I feel low. I freaked out when they said that as I check sooo much! But everyone on here seems to promote lots of checking which is good

My only high's now are from me being silly and purposely giving less insulin for meals due to hypo fear, as well as after hypos due to over eating as I'm not patient enough I'm getting better at this though and hopefully it'll stop soon!

Thank you everyone once again, means a lot X

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- me again. I think why the DAFNE course advises against constantly testing except for before meals (and, I think from experience, before bed if several hours after the meal) is because blood sugar levels are still on the move and constant minor adjustments just mess it all up. I learned this from experience and now I do fewer adjustments my levels are more regular. Glad you have enjoyed your thread!

Hence, avoid over-eating carbs or anything else unless a necessary test (before a meal, driving or bed) betrays a low level you are not soon to correct by eating normally. Do not over-treat with insulin and do not over-treat with carbohydrate. (Keep going!)

gab_07 said:

I'm terrible for trying to prevent a hypo before it happens.

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Don't be too hard on yourself. You're not alone. It's a learning process and it takes time to build confidence. I was just diagnosed with Type 2. No meds. Had a "hypo" (CGM read 70's and dropping fast). Over-treated it because it was terrifying. Endo said Type 2's on no meds can't hypo. Even if it was a false hypo, it feels terrible so I've been eating every couple of hours when I see that sugar dropping into my "hypo" symptom territory. Still working on my confidence.

Why are posts this old still here? Not relevant