ANOTHER HELLO (From an old timer type 1)

[cockneyoik]

Hi all,

I've been using this site for resource info for a few years now. I've just never got it together enough, to use or post on the forums.
I'll state from outset that I am rubbish with just about every aspect of my diabetic (non) management regime & control. I'm not making light of the situation, it is what it is.

The fact is, I've always felt having diabetis just got in the way of enjoying myself & I was probably in denial about my condition for years. Anyway, I'm not to ramble on to much, having taken this
long to actually post.
I could seriously use some advice or support though, as I seroiusly need to get control before it's too late. So,here is a brief a personal history:-

Diagnosed in 1979 (aged 18, i'm now 50)
I've not had proper or regular diabetic control, for any significant length of time since my diagnosis.
I take my varoius oral medication. My four times daily injection, plus one at night time & that has been about it really.
Unsuprisingly, I have some fairly complex complications - All sorts of nueropthies. Amputation of 4 toes & restricted mobility. Eye problems & a major heart attack just over 2 years ago.....etc, etc.

I am not after sympathy, so I'll leave stop listing there. I totally accept these complications are mostly self inflicted & that my lack of diabetic management is the biggest contributary factor.
Although I also truly beleive (especially during the early years after diagnosis) that the care I have received from the NHS, during the last 32 years - could certainly have been much better.

As I'm attempting to be totally honest - I did also go through around 25 years of class A drug addiction, which is fortunately now behind me.
So obvoiusly I did lead a pretty chaotic life style for quite a few years. The main after effect of my 'abstinance fom substace & alcahol misuse, is that it seems I've now developed 'food issues' instead! At my lowest, I weighed just about 10 stones (6 ft tall) & I'm currently about 19 stones & rising!
I'm aware this is an extremely lenghty first post, but I've put off doing so for so very long, that it's all blurting out. Any help, advise or encouragement, would be greatfully received, 'ta' very much! The level of knowledge of the users of this forum, seemingly knows no bounds.

I hope & beleive that all is not lost. I do live with a fair level of constant pain/discomfort, but I am optomistic by nature, I.ve alwayse managed to keep laughing (mainly at my own stupidity!) & I just have so much more to do, before I check out!

Thanks for allowing me to vent & apologies for the length of this post.

 

[daisy1]

Hi cockneyoik and welcome to the forum You have certainly found the right place for advice and support. It's never too late to turn things around. Perhaps some information might be helpful to you even though you are far from being newly diagnosed. This is some advice written by our friends Sue and Ken, the former monitors, to be given to new members. I am sure you will find something useful in here to get you started back on track. We are all here to answer all the questions you would like to ask.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hya Cockneyoik and welcome to the forum. There are plenty of experienced T1's here which I am sure will offer you all the help and support they can.

Sounds like you've been through the mill one way or another, I hope things improve for you.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Hi Cockneyoik

Sounds like you have lived life!!!...and am sorry to hear that you have had complications.

However, none of us will get our time again, so you can only move forward...so welcome to the best forum for help and support....

You mention you are type 1...what insulin are you on, and are you having regular hba's done?

There are all sorts of reasons for weight gain..obviously over-eating compared to what your body is using up in energy, meds such as steroids can cause probs, thyroid problems can also cause weight gain....so with your complications...first off-are you able to burn off the food that you are taking in? Are you on other meds that can cause weight issues?

Are you under GP or hospital care? Are you up to date with the changes in insulin, pens and pumps?

Sorry to ask so many questions, just to give us more insight of todays regime's that you do with meds and care will give us an idea of how to support you and to encourage....
Best wishes