Hi from a newbie (ish)

Hi Darren,

Glad you could join us mate.
I had a similar approach to yours for a long time - denial until you can't deny it any longer. I got away with it for about 15 years but I knew deep down I was only postponing the inevitable.
The good news, I think, is that when you do take control of it, you can make a huge difference very quickly.
Have a good look around the site, there are many inspirational stories of people whose lives have improved enormously. There's absolutely no reason why you can't be one of them.
Let us know if there is anything we can do to help and we'll do our best.

fergus

Hi Daz,
I don't want to sound unsympathetic but you're 35 and your attitude towards your diabetes has lost you your job, lost you your sex life, you have neuropathy . . . . and the next step for you will be amputation.

WAKE UP MAN - JUST HOW MUCH MOTIVATION DO YOU NEED???

Hello Daz,

:arrow: Your first target can be getting those Hba1c results down below 8%. Hba1c's above
8% are closely linked to the kind of problems that you've been having.

:arrow: Sticking to smaller portions of moderate and low G.I carbohydrates is a good way
to ensure more stable and predictable blood sugars. Therefore, tighter control doesn't
have to mean more hypos, in fact, if you do it right, it'll mean less severe hypos,
less often.

:arrow: Regular exercise is a non-negotiable part of being diabetic. Cardiovascular fitness
levels will also have a direct effect on the performance of "little Darren".

:arrow: Poorly controlled diabetes will often lead to important vitamins and minerals being
flushed through your body before they can be properly used. You may want to consider
supplements, particularly vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin B1 (thiamine).

:arrow: Dietary and/or supplementary antioxidants will help reduce oxidative stress (caused
by high blood sugars) which contributes towards the development of long-term diabetic
complications.

:arrow: If all this fails then just eat broccoli with everything.

Good luck,
timo.

Smart move Daz.
Ditch the sugars and the starches, but since you're type 1, do it gradually. Check your blood sugars before meals and 2 hours after eating. You can get your HbA1c down near 5 if you put the effort in.
If you base your diet around fresh meats, fish, eggs, cheeses, vegetables and nuts your insulin needs will drop dramatically, your blood sugars will become stable at normal levels and your neuropathy may still be reversed.
From what you've told us so far, there's not a moment to lose.

All the best,

fergus

Daz,

I switched to the low carb thing on 3rd September and have never looked back. I personally didn't take it slowly, just went hell for leather with it like I do everything else. I checked my bm hourly to start with, while I got a feel for the whole thing, but I seriously have never looked back.

My motivating factor here was the fact that my specialist told me if I don't get my HBA1c down by my next visit (which I postponed twice), he'll take the pump off me as it's obviously not working. (I'm actually seeing him on Thursday of this week) Big threat.

Anyway, since 3rd sept, my average bm has been between 7.9 - 8.2 which is not at all bad compared with the average pre-low carbing, which was around 15 - 20.

Anyway, Daz, you couldn't have hit on a better forum than this one for friendly, informed advice and support. Ask anything you like and you'll always get concise answers.

Start immediately with the low carbing and you'll see results within 24 hours, if you're anything like me.

Best wishes,

Hi Darren,

I'm so glad you've joined us here and I hope we can help you get on track.

One of my patients has almost reversed his very serious leg neuropathy. It took five years but he did it. Another made substantial reversals in his retinopathy and this was obvious much faster ie one year.

Instead of being worse off in a year or mores time you can look forward to reversing some of your complications. (Yes. Little Darren too!)