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Gem87

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Hi,

My name's Gemma, I'm 23 years old and I've had type 1 diabetes for 6 years now. My sugars are insulin controlled with 4 injections a day - Novorapid before meals and one Levemir before bed.

I've joined this forum to get help, support and advice from everyone on it and to also do the same for other people. My blood sugar control is not the greatest and the main reason I'm here is to get the readings down and lose some excess weight that insulin puts on...!

I hope this isn't top much of a dopey introduction, I hate talking about diabetes with anyone, especially my family, so really hoping by joining this forum I can change that. Maybe if there's no face staring back at me, no one who has an vested interest in me, helping and givinge advice then I can actually start to take control and move on with my life.

Okay that's definately over the top, but really hoping by joining a forum it will help me.

Thanks for your time :D
 
Hi Gemma and welcome to the forum :) You will be able to discuss your diabetes and any other problems here as much as you like and there is always someone to listen to you. No staring faces I promise, but you might imagine some faces the way you want them to be one day as you get to know people :) People will welcome any advice you feel like giving too.

In order to help your weight problem caused by insulin, you need to be able to reduce it. By getting better control by improving your diet will help you to do that and lose some weight as well. I know you are not newly diagnosed but here is some basic information put together by the Forum Monitors for new members which should be helpful to you. After reading this ask any questions you like as someone will always help you.

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.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Gem and welcome to the forum :D
 
JF.Hi Gem
welcome to the forum you will soon find out that we are crazy buch of folks that help each other out also we like to have a laugh ,so if you don't mind this :D or this :lol: :lol: then you wont feel like :( and every thing ends up like this 8) 8) 8)
Now them faces are'nt too bad :D
 
Hello, why do you hate talking of diabetes with anyone other than family? I've told my mates, that way if anything happens they have a clue what to do to help me! It's not something to be ashamed of, it's just something that happens. Anyway welcome and hope you get what you want from here.
 
Perhaps "hate" is a strong word, but I'd rather not talk about it. I'm not ashamed in the slightest, people often have questions that I'm happy to answer - but I don't like going into specifics about my situation. Diabetes in general, what to do if something happens etc is fine - but not what my sugars are, what I'm eating, what I'm doing, why I'm doing it and so on.
 
That sounds like a healthier attitude to what I thought you had! I don't go into too much detail as then you let the disease rule you, which it can never be allowed to do. My mates know as it's part of my life but it'll be a positive part of my life as with healthier eating and weight loss I'll be fitter for next badminton season and win even more matches! I'm sure that you can find an equivalent positive to aim for in your own life.
 
Hi yh if there's any specifics that ya want answered just holler lol. I'm currently balancing my type 1 with basketball swimming college and exams. Trust me once your on top of it it's not that bad as long as you stay their. I was diagnosed January with a level of over 45 which is ridiculously high. However now I average at 5.6. Bringing levels down consists of small accumulative changes which feel all the better once pulled off. Anyways gd luck and message if you need anything or just wanna talk
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