Diagnosed today - feeling really overwhelmed

tractor98 said:

I'm 23 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes today after completing an initial blood test only a couple of days ago. They have taken another test to determine whether it is Type 1 or 2 but they seem to be fairly confident it is Type 1.

As such they are already putting me on insulin for me to take 4 times a day. I tried to take it this evening but found it really overwhelming to measure myself properly, work out how much to use and actually use the equipment effectively. The diagnosis has come as a huge shock to me and I don't know how to react or what it means for me. I read things about life expectancy, hair loss and associated diseases and just feel really devastated (I am generally healthy otherwise). I have no clue what I can eat or when to eat or how to eat in public places. I know it will just take some getting used to but it is all just surreal at the moment and feel like I have been given too much information but also not enough...

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As it is rather late there might not be many type ones around to give advice - so I will just say welcome, this is a good place to be, and DON'T PANIC - you might not be old enough to understand the allusion, thinking about it.
I am sure that in a day or so you'll get all the help you need.

I don't think that is in the rules.

As you are still awake - did you manage to inject the insulin as prescribed (I'm just being nosy)

You don't have to say - I'm just here playing word stacks on the ipad with the big PB still on looking at this site.

tractor98 said:

If you have Type 1 are you meant to sleep earlier?

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Being T1 shouldn't stop you from doing all the things you did before (OK astronaut is out). Yes you have to monitor your bgs and inject insulin to balance your levels and your food/activity, but it isn't rocket science and you will get the hang of it. Speaking as a T1 for 51 years since I was 8, but I only started basal/bolus when I was about your age (they didn't have glucometers before that). Still alive and well.

So, have they sent you home with insulin and blood testing kit? Do you have a phone number for a DN? At this stage you need frequent communication as you get the hang of things.

And welcome to the forums.

EllieM said:

but I only started basal/bolus when I was about your age

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And just to make it clear, I was of course injecting insulin before that, it was just I was on fixed amounts (and fixed amounts and times of meals).

Hello @tractor98

Yes it is a massive shock and also a very steep learning curve. I completely understand where your head is at now, but try to lay off Google and information overload, we are only equipped to take in so much at any one time, a friend once said we are like cups and can only take so much before we fill up and spill over. I felt very over whelmed with the enormity of the situation I found myself in when diagnosed, it did take a while to acclimatise and adjust, so best advice is to just take it one day at a time, ask questions, write things down and more importantly talk about your feelings and what's going on in your head. Things will go wrong but having resilience to cope with this will help guide you to learning more about your t1. Have a read of this thread: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/5-things-any-newly-diagnosed-type-1-should-know.175425/

I was diagnosed 9 years ago and have transitioned from injections to pump and a continuous glucose meter now, my life has changed dramatically but I am still alive and last year ran my first marathon last year so living more healthily now than ever. It does become second nature and our lives today are made so much easier with technology too. There's lots of information about to help but take it in when you feel ready, it does help to learn as much as you can as knowledge is power but having type 1 should not stop you living the life you want to live, it just means making sure you are equipped to manage it with t1.

Always happy to chat if you need to off load, take care but most importantly be kind to yourself.

tractor98 said:

Hey no worries! I didn't manage to do it before dinner but did it before I went to sleep. I haven't been able to measure my blood sugar levels yet though - I think my GP is providing an alternative machine than the one the hospital gave me but that won't be until this afternoon

Thanks to everyone for their kind messages. I've taken the day off work to start getting organised. Who should be my main point of contact to answer my questions? I've only spoken to the nurse at the hospital so far. I have private insurance through work - is that worth going through?

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You should be assigned a diabetic nurse who will guide you through things until a time when you can manage better yourself - it's best to go through your diabetic team as they have the specialist knowledge to help you rather than private insurance as they will also be responsible for your prescriptions and access to courses and tech which you will need as time progresses.

Hi and welcome. It must be scary going from nothing to full Basal/Bolus overnight. It was more gradual for me. Basically you can eat what you want but be aware that carbs are our potential problem so if you have too many when on insulin you may gain weight as you would as a non-diabetic. Also you will have larger BS swings. You have probably been started on a fixed Bolus dose for each meal. After a while you will be taught to adjust the Bolus dose for each meal to match the carbs in the meal. Ask the DN or come back here for more information. Do ask any questions you may have. This forum is excellent and you can learn a lot and contribute.