- Messages
- 5,591
- Type of diabetes
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- The smell of cigars
Learn all you can about insulin and food interactions. Ask questions here. Read Think Like a Pancreas
- Messages
- 9,034
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
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- Hypos, rude people, ignorance and grey days.
Hi @Craigwer Welcome to the forum 
How are you feeling and how were you diagnosed ? It's a lot to take in so take things easy, if you can keep a diary or record of your results so you've got something to discuss your your team when you catch up with them then this will help with getting your doses adjusted. Use this forum, there's a lot of support here and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how trivial or dumb they sound, so hope to hear more from you soon
How are you feeling and how were you diagnosed ? It's a lot to take in so take things easy, if you can keep a diary or record of your results so you've got something to discuss your your team when you catch up with them then this will help with getting your doses adjusted. Use this forum, there's a lot of support here and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how trivial or dumb they sound, so hope to hear more from you soon
My tips would be...
- Don't try to learn everything at once.
- Don't expect to "control" diabetes but you can learn to manage it.
- Befriend and listen to your diabetes team.
- Remember 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 - it is different to type 1 so read any "diabetes advice" very carefully to check is applicable to type 1
- Don't use diabetes as an excuse - it should not stop you doing what you want if you really want it.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions from the forum - there is no such thing as a silly question
kitedoc
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,783
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- black jelly beans
Hi @Craigwer, Welcome to this site and your new life. Please read on and re-read if you wish.
Know that you are not alone with this 'thing' called Type 1 Diabetes.
We come from all different nations/countries, differing ages to a degree, some like yourself
just diagnosed, others up to 50 plus years.
And it is not your fault that this condition happened to you.
I was 13 when diagnosed, 52 years ago.
It is not news that I could deny, put on the back-burner or ignore.
It is a shock and we all react in our own ways to the news and how our lives are changed.
Having witnessed the developments in treatment over 52 years the outlook now for T1D (as we call
the polite version)!! is so much better.
My specialist, if you were seeing him for the first time, would be advising you (amongst other things)
to ensure that you worked out a good retirement plan for whatever your normal age for retirement would be.
The outlook is that good.
Things to do:
Breathe - breath-holding and rapid breathing prevent brain staying in gear to best cope and solve things.
Read, learn, ask questions at a pace that you can manage: get the basics first, books can follow as you see what
more particular further help you need - one step at a time
The Home page of this site has lots of information to read: for example, you could browse through Type I Diabetes,
and Living With Diabetes sections, noting particularly things like blood test ranges, blood glucose meters. diets
and hypoglycaemia. Hypo- = low, -glyc- = glucose (blood sugar), -aemia- = in the blood.
High blood sugar is hyperglycaemia. Also a bit about ketones.
Whilst my blood sugar levels (BSLs) were high when I was diagnosed, with treatment with insulin there is the risk
of hypoglycaemia, low blood sugar or 'hypos' as we tend to call them. Hypos carry their own risk to our health so
knowing about them , how to recognise them (and for your friends, family to do so) and what to do about them
is important
.
As you read and learn, and experience your condition try to note down any questions, and if you cannot readily
obtain an answer, ask your health team - whoever you relate to best. It is up to your health team to devise various
plans to help you with things like illness: Sick Day Plan - what to do with testing blood, insulin etc
You can of course ask here also as you are doing - we can support you, point you in the right direction,
make suggestions but cannot provide health professional advice or opinion.
We all make mistakes - learn from ours can save you a heap of trouble !!!
Know that we have all asked the simple, obvious questions at some point so there is no question too simple to ask.
All are relevant and we know that it is best not to take anything for granted - so sometimes things
might be explained too simply for you, as each of us will have had different learning experiences and education
about our diabetes and other things.
Your questions, repeated or expanded on, can help ensure you receive whatever info you need, in the manner that
best suits you..
Some questions maybe about facts, weighing up one option of treatment vs another
others about feelings and emotions - all are welcome.
So.
# one step at a time,
# ask and learn (the art of learning is demystifying confusion about something).
# realise that emotion is part of the reaction and how you deal with all this
# garner support - friends, family, health team and sites like this
# read, learn, question - important things first, facts and feelings
# look after the present to help the future
# other things to follow will be healthy habits re diet, exercise, interests, hobbies etc all in good time
Best Wishes.
......Hang in there...............Mistakes.............Not every day...........Keep............... ..Nothing, nothing
things will improve......................................will be perfect.......... Reading............ ..is impossible
...
........
...... 
....
.......
Know that you are not alone with this 'thing' called Type 1 Diabetes.
We come from all different nations/countries, differing ages to a degree, some like yourself
just diagnosed, others up to 50 plus years.
And it is not your fault that this condition happened to you.
I was 13 when diagnosed, 52 years ago.
It is not news that I could deny, put on the back-burner or ignore.
It is a shock and we all react in our own ways to the news and how our lives are changed.
Having witnessed the developments in treatment over 52 years the outlook now for T1D (as we call
the polite version)!! is so much better.
My specialist, if you were seeing him for the first time, would be advising you (amongst other things)
to ensure that you worked out a good retirement plan for whatever your normal age for retirement would be.
The outlook is that good.
Things to do:
Breathe - breath-holding and rapid breathing prevent brain staying in gear to best cope and solve things.
Read, learn, ask questions at a pace that you can manage: get the basics first, books can follow as you see what
more particular further help you need - one step at a time
The Home page of this site has lots of information to read: for example, you could browse through Type I Diabetes,
and Living With Diabetes sections, noting particularly things like blood test ranges, blood glucose meters. diets
and hypoglycaemia. Hypo- = low, -glyc- = glucose (blood sugar), -aemia- = in the blood.
High blood sugar is hyperglycaemia. Also a bit about ketones.
Whilst my blood sugar levels (BSLs) were high when I was diagnosed, with treatment with insulin there is the risk
of hypoglycaemia, low blood sugar or 'hypos' as we tend to call them. Hypos carry their own risk to our health so
knowing about them , how to recognise them (and for your friends, family to do so) and what to do about them
is important
.
As you read and learn, and experience your condition try to note down any questions, and if you cannot readily
obtain an answer, ask your health team - whoever you relate to best. It is up to your health team to devise various
plans to help you with things like illness: Sick Day Plan - what to do with testing blood, insulin etc
You can of course ask here also as you are doing - we can support you, point you in the right direction,
make suggestions but cannot provide health professional advice or opinion.
We all make mistakes - learn from ours can save you a heap of trouble !!!
Know that we have all asked the simple, obvious questions at some point so there is no question too simple to ask.
All are relevant and we know that it is best not to take anything for granted - so sometimes things
might be explained too simply for you, as each of us will have had different learning experiences and education
about our diabetes and other things.
Your questions, repeated or expanded on, can help ensure you receive whatever info you need, in the manner that
best suits you..
Some questions maybe about facts, weighing up one option of treatment vs another
others about feelings and emotions - all are welcome.
So.
# one step at a time,
# ask and learn (the art of learning is demystifying confusion about something).
# realise that emotion is part of the reaction and how you deal with all this
# garner support - friends, family, health team and sites like this
# read, learn, question - important things first, facts and feelings
# look after the present to help the future
# other things to follow will be healthy habits re diet, exercise, interests, hobbies etc all in good time
Best Wishes.
......Hang in there...............Mistakes.............Not every day...........Keep............... ..Nothing, nothing
things will improve......................................will be perfect.......... Reading............ ..is impossible
...
.............. .... ....... 
- Messages
- 13
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi @Craigwer Welcome to the forum
How are you feeling and how were you diagnosed ? It's a lot to take in so take things easy, if you can keep a diary or record of your results so you've got something to discuss your your team when you catch up with them then this will help with getting your doses adjusted. Use this forum, there's a lot of support here and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how trivial or dumb they sound, so hope to hear more from you soon
I went into my local walk in centre which was in the hospital for a different issues i was suffering with for 7 weeks.Hi @Craigwer Welcome to the forum
How are you feeling and how were you diagnosed ? It's a lot to take in so take things easy, if you can keep a diary or record of your results so you've got something to discuss your your team when you catch up with them then this will help with getting your doses adjusted. Use this forum, there's a lot of support here and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how trivial or dumb they sound, so hope to hear more from you soon
my Hba1c was 132 mmols , heart rate was high and my blood pressure was high so they kept me hostage for a week. great staff and the food was good to lol.
- Messages
- 13
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
had my first low blood sugar reading it was 3.1 scary my body kept shaking like my body was being flooded with adrenaline.
i took some gluco tablets but it still took quite a while to go back to normal.
Questions
1. Do i need to make an appointment with the opticians ? (i don't wear glasses)
2. Do i need to get flu jabs ?
3. Should i get a diabetic ID
i took some gluco tablets but it still took quite a while to go back to normal.
Questions
1. Do i need to make an appointment with the opticians ? (i don't wear glasses)
2. Do i need to get flu jabs ?
3. Should i get a diabetic ID
kitedoc
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,783
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- black jelly beans
Hi @Craigwer, (again from my reading and experience, not as professional advice or opinion:
Hypos can be nasty experiences as you have found.
Analysing why it happens is important - discuss it with your health team and
see if that your hypos can be prevented, more easily predicted or at least lessened.
Your questions: all great questions to ask and show that you are learning and thinking ahead:
1) Vision: 2 perspectives (pun not intended)
a) My understanding of eyesight and diabetes is that high BSLs cause the lens (or focusing apparatus)
of each eye to swell and over time the brain reinterprets your vision to improve the image we see.
When insulin is introduced to bring BSLs back to near normal this upsets the apple cart.
Often the vision gets blurry again as the brain struggles to keep up with the change in the lenses
becoming less swollen.
So trying to get spectacles say, to deal with this blurring is not helpful as the vision will become
clearer as BSLs settle and the brain adapts. People have mentioned three weeks and sometimes longer
for this adaption to stabilise. After that any vision issues that may need spectacles can be addressed
(and save the cost of getting specs prescribed too early)!!
b) Raised BSLs over time can cause eye damage. The idea of routine checks of one's eyes is to look for
such damage and observe the effect of changes from treatment of any such damage over time.
The general rule is that damage takes time to happen so it not usual in people recently diagnosed with T1D.
So as a general rule, unless there are unusual symptoms or problems with one's vision, an eye examination
will occur in due course but not as an urgent thing to be done right now.
You coud remind you health team if there has been no such examination within say, the first 3 months or so.
For more info relevant to you now on diabetes complications like eye damage and the importance of
excellent BSL control, i would suggest you type in "DCCT" into the Forum page question box upper right.
There will be two topics - please ignore the one about conversion of units of BSLs and please look at the
DCCT ones about Diabetes Control and Complications Trial of 1983 onwards.
2) Most authorities recommend flu jabs for diabetics - In Australia here I get a free jab each year (as do
others at greater risks of flu complications - > 65 year olds, asthmatics and other chronic chest conditions,
pregnant women, others with low immunity from illness or treatment etc). Others have to pay for the jab,
But many work organisations arrange flu shots for their staff as it has been proven to reduce absenteeism.
3) Another great question to ask! If you think about your recent hypo - how easy was it it get help, use a phone?
What if you became unconscious? Who would know that you were diabetic?
That is why many of us obtain things like ID bracelets, neckwear etc. I am not familiar with exactly what types
of these things are available in the UK. I use one called "Medic Alert" and find it excellent.
The important criteria is that the service that goes with the ID 'jewellery' runs 24/7 so that at any time there is a
reliable contact point with your basic medical info - health conditions, allergies, medication etc.
Police officers and ambulance officers are trained to look for such IDs on people.
Whilst an ID as a permanently tattoo on one is an option some choose, if it is not linked to a service with
all your relevant info it is not likely to be as useful.
Of course one has to remember to wear the bracelet, or necklace/dog tag everywhere !!
Please keep asking questions !!!
Hypos can be nasty experiences as you have found.
Analysing why it happens is important - discuss it with your health team and
see if that your hypos can be prevented, more easily predicted or at least lessened.
Your questions: all great questions to ask and show that you are learning and thinking ahead:
1) Vision: 2 perspectives (pun not intended)
a) My understanding of eyesight and diabetes is that high BSLs cause the lens (or focusing apparatus)
of each eye to swell and over time the brain reinterprets your vision to improve the image we see.
When insulin is introduced to bring BSLs back to near normal this upsets the apple cart.
Often the vision gets blurry again as the brain struggles to keep up with the change in the lenses
becoming less swollen.
So trying to get spectacles say, to deal with this blurring is not helpful as the vision will become
clearer as BSLs settle and the brain adapts. People have mentioned three weeks and sometimes longer
for this adaption to stabilise. After that any vision issues that may need spectacles can be addressed
(and save the cost of getting specs prescribed too early)!!
b) Raised BSLs over time can cause eye damage. The idea of routine checks of one's eyes is to look for
such damage and observe the effect of changes from treatment of any such damage over time.
The general rule is that damage takes time to happen so it not usual in people recently diagnosed with T1D.
So as a general rule, unless there are unusual symptoms or problems with one's vision, an eye examination
will occur in due course but not as an urgent thing to be done right now.
You coud remind you health team if there has been no such examination within say, the first 3 months or so.
For more info relevant to you now on diabetes complications like eye damage and the importance of
excellent BSL control, i would suggest you type in "DCCT" into the Forum page question box upper right.
There will be two topics - please ignore the one about conversion of units of BSLs and please look at the
DCCT ones about Diabetes Control and Complications Trial of 1983 onwards.
2) Most authorities recommend flu jabs for diabetics - In Australia here I get a free jab each year (as do
others at greater risks of flu complications - > 65 year olds, asthmatics and other chronic chest conditions,
pregnant women, others with low immunity from illness or treatment etc). Others have to pay for the jab,
But many work organisations arrange flu shots for their staff as it has been proven to reduce absenteeism.
3) Another great question to ask! If you think about your recent hypo - how easy was it it get help, use a phone?
What if you became unconscious? Who would know that you were diabetic?
That is why many of us obtain things like ID bracelets, neckwear etc. I am not familiar with exactly what types
of these things are available in the UK. I use one called "Medic Alert" and find it excellent.
The important criteria is that the service that goes with the ID 'jewellery' runs 24/7 so that at any time there is a
reliable contact point with your basic medical info - health conditions, allergies, medication etc.
Police officers and ambulance officers are trained to look for such IDs on people.
Whilst an ID as a permanently tattoo on one is an option some choose, if it is not linked to a service with
all your relevant info it is not likely to be as useful.
Of course one has to remember to wear the bracelet, or necklace/dog tag everywhere !!
Please keep asking questions !!!
WuTwo
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,867
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
-
People whose attitude says "Me, my opinion, my desire is greater and more important than anyone else"
And to whom the principle of ahimsa is a closed book that they refuse to open because it would make life more difficult for them.
I have a pin-badge on my bag, and (if I remember to wear it) a bracelet.
I also have an ICE app on my phone. It incorporates a widget on the lockscreen that emergency services can tap and see all my medical details and my emergency contacts. Reaching any of the contacts is a one-touch button press.
I also have an ICE app on my phone. It incorporates a widget on the lockscreen that emergency services can tap and see all my medical details and my emergency contacts. Reaching any of the contacts is a one-touch button press.
Robinredbreast
Oracle
- Messages
- 18,448
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Bullies, Liars, Trolls and dishonest cruel people
