Hello Type 1, are you staying ...guess so.....where's my passport

I was like you too John. I was an undiagnosed diabetic through a drs mistake. I crashed like you did and was on deaths door. When I woke up from the coma I was totally blind. I heard a nurse tell me I had to go for dialysis. I refused. I felt if I was going to be blind and very ill what was the point? As it turned out my kidneys did come back on line slowly. The specialist at first thought I was type 2 due to my age. But he was proven wrong and I was told I was type 1 and had to inject. OMG I have always had a thing about injections and now I was going to have to do it to myself.
I came out of hospital with blurred vision and no idea of anything at all. Sugar levels up at 48mmol and terrified. I phoned the diabetic nurses and was told I was to get a grip and get on with it. I was in floods of tears.
I attended the DAFNE course and it was like a fog lifting. I knew about this monster and was going to clobber it under control.
I have suffered with my eyes and have to have 6 monthly eye tests ordered by my optometrist. Yes my eyes have changed but I can see well. My levels are now 100% in target and best of all I can eat what I like and like what I eat.
You will get this monster under your control in time. But it does take time. 4 years ago I was a mess. Now although I have ostioarthritis psiatica, and ostioperosis I refuse to give up. I tow a large caravan with my automatic car. I get out and about and care for my husband of 84 who has mild dementia. So you see John things will get better, it takes time and learning.

Hi John

I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis...it sounds like you're having a bit of a rough time at the minute...my thoughts are with you...and I'm sure every other Diabetic on this site. I'm quite sure that everyone remembers the build up to their diagnosis...and in many cases feeling just as you did...so little energy...crazy thirst etc...it's not a good feeling...I remember it well despite being over 15 years ago now. I recall I woke each morning for nearly two weeks and just cried...ALL day...I thought my life was over. It's ok to feel this way...it doesn't mean you're a weak person...everyone deals with it differently and some better than others...but there is a wealth of support on this site and I'm sure if you take some time to read some of the posts that you start to see that it's not a life sentence...life goes on and you can still enjoy all the foods you used to...but in moderation. Once you manage to get your sugars lowered you will notice a huge difference in how you feel...you'll feel much more energetic and in control...it won't happen over night...again it takes time...but it is achievable and you will be amazed the difference it makes to your health and well-being.

Although I've not done the DAFNE course personally I know there are some good reviews of it and many people have found it of great use...hopefully this will be just what you need and give you a chance to meet and talk with other diabetics. There is another course available online called BDEC which you may find of interest http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/

You don't say whether your blindness is a long term thing or something that has recently developed. Consistently high blood sugars can affect your eyesight and you may find that once you gain a little control over your sugars that you eyesight may improve.

I hope you start to feel better soon...big hugs x

Jonnyjibbsuk said:

View attachment 13313had too now u started me

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Johnny, I eat popcorn. I just weigh it and then take however much insulin I need. I laughed at your diet. There's nothing "bad" about it. In fact for a guy you ate very little. I am a woman but I can eat exactly that and have my blood sugars "in the zone" all day. You just need to learn how to calculate your carbs and insulin. You CAN eat normally as a Type 1. If you want to improve things a bit before the DAFNE course, try a bit of weighing and measuring and calculating the carbs of foods. You will learn quickly and you will stop feeling so panicked. Also, don't test your blood sugar just after eating. Wait one and half to two hours. I used to test randomly at all times of the day and scared myself to death, when in fact my bloods two hours after a meal were always right.

I think your DSN is giving you the NHS standard Jonny, learning to count carbs isn't rocket science, and if your willing to learn it's worth getting on with it, I was so hungry for knowledge at the start I got the app carbs and cals on my phone, knowing what affected my blood glucose was important. By the way your dinner looks good

Hi Johnny. Everyone's insulin to carb ratio is a little different. I'm going on my course in 2 weeks and will learn mine on there but in the meantime its all about bg testing...take your bg just before you eat. Then work out what amount carbs you gonna eat, try injecting dose 1:10(1 unit to 10 carbs), then if after 2 hrs you test again and your the same bg as before you ate then its about right. But that's for a non fatty meal. Ring your dn to suggest this before hand though and see what they say. I think my ratio is about 1:7, but will know when I've done my dafne. You are allowed to eat what carbs you want in theory, however its easier to keep your levels low and balanced if you lower your carbs. I'm on about 120 carbs a day, not very low, but it suits me. You may find it easier to stick to a certain brekkie and lunch for a week or so, so you get confident with your insulin in take.

You also say your on 31 units a day. I'm assuming that's all bolus ones. How much basal( your once a day one) are you on?

Bolus is the type of fast acting insulin u have with your food, mine is Novorapid. Basal is long term insulin, mine is Lantus.
I think you just need to ring your DN, especially if your levels are not coming down, they are there for you and to help you. Ate you finding your levels are coming down better?

Oh good, I'm glad your seeing dn..i bet you've got alot to ask them, lol.. 12 is alot better than you were so well done, you're on the right track

Jonnyjibbsuk said:

Well am 12 this morning ...just done my slow and about to eat and have my five fast ....oh and I see the DSN at 1.30 today .....yay me

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Good luck at your appointment today, I think you just need lots of 'tweaking'. I am on 1 unit of NovoRapid to 10 carbs, but slightly more Insulin if I am inactive, late afternoons/ evenings. My whole Insulin doses for the day are about 28 to 30, that includes 11 units of Levemir before bedtime.

All the best RRB