Hi! Recently diagnosed T1

[CarlyB]

Hi everyone,

I'm really excited to join this community.

In late 2014 I fell pregnant but without knowing this had a diabetes test. Results came back raised. Found out I was pregnant and diabetic in the same week! Big shock.

After some time in hospital and being treated for gestational diabetes, I had a pregnancy including lots of metformin and small doses of insulin. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy in June 2015.

My blood test following the birth came back as I was pre diabetic. 8 months later I got ill and got back to testing my bg levels regularly. Saw that I was hitting 14/15s. So after more tests my results came back as type 1 but in the honeymoon phase. Still producing some insulin but it will soon stop. I'm being well looked after by the diabetes team at my local hospital but I sometimes feel down about not being able to have treats when I want! I know it's such a 1st world issue but I'm sure I will get used to it. My biggest challenge is getting my head around the idea that soon I will stop producing insulin and could potentially get ill. It's like sitting on a rollercoaster slowly going up to the top and waiting for the big drop.

I tried to inject my levemir into my thigh a few days ago and it really hurt and became itchy. I have now had a bruise there for 4 days. Is this normal? I haven't been injecting for long so can't be due to using a particular site too much.

Looking forward to chatting. Thanks

 

[Mrsass]

Hi Carly! Glad you are being well looked after by your diabetes team, they really can make a lot of difference! Sounds like you've got a great positive attitude & that will really help you with having diabetes!

With you being on basal/bolus I assume you carb count? There is no reason you cannot have treats when you want - obviously common sense if your bg is high don't, but if you're well controlled and inject for what you are eating you will be fine

Glad everything was ok with your pregnancy and baby was well, I'm currently 34w pregnant with my first baby

The injection in your thigh could have just been a bad spot, may have been near a nerve/vein/muscle etc was it a brand new needle? I'm on a pump but when I was on injections it would occasionally happen to me, I would alternate between injecting in my thighs and my stomach, you will soon get used to it.

Please ask any questions you may have, there is loads of people that can answer them no matter how silly they may seem

Abbie


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[himtoo]

Hi @CarlyB
welcome to the forum

your analogy about the rollercoaster did make me smile-- I have been climbing to the top ( awaiting the huge drop) for over 43 years
( being serious -- if you look after yourself and be in control of the D -- not letting it control you )

you could maybe try your bum for the levemir ( absorption should be similar to thigh but might not bruise as easily -- although having the odd nasty bruise is one of the probs with the thighs --) and as @Mrsass says changing the needle every injection can help too

keep posting and it is lovely to have you on the "team"

all the best !!

 

[noblehead]

Welcome to the forum @CarlyB

Don't worry about coming out of your Honeymoon Period, with careful management you won't get ill and once you get use to carb counting you will find you can have the occasional treat. Best wishes.

 

[catapillar]

Wow @CarlyB thats quite a journey!

There's no reason you can't have a treat, you just have to make sure it's a treat worth injecting for (lemonade, not worth injecting for, I asked for soda water! Cake, yeah I can totally be persuaded to inject for the right bit of cake).

Not producing any insulin doesn't mean you will be ill! I don't make any insulin, I'm not ill. My main complaint at the moment is that I can't walk because I overdid it at my kettle bell class last night!

Normally the injections don't hurt. Do you have 4mm needles? Use a fresh one each time? Some times you can just hit the wrong spot, but it's rare & it is just bad luck. The worst injection I ever did was injecting into my thigh when I didn't have my glasses on, I managed to inject into my skin cos the needle wasn't in properly, instead of under my skin like how you are supposed to, made myself a lovely little lump of insulin in my skin & made me realise how very short sighted I am.

It takes a fair bit of effort to control & sometimes that can feel like hard work, but there are tonnes of people on here who will understand that & be able to offer support and tips

 

[CarlyB]

Hi Carly! Glad you are being well looked after by your diabetes team, they really can make a lot of difference! Sounds like you've got a great positive attitude & that will really help you with having diabetes!

With you being on basal/bolus I assume you carb count? There is no reason you cannot have treats when you want - obviously common sense if your bg is high don't, but if you're well controlled and inject for what you are eating you will be fine

Glad everything was ok with your pregnancy and baby was well, I'm currently 34w pregnant with my first baby

The injection in your thigh could have just been a bad spot, may have been near a nerve/vein/muscle etc was it a brand new needle? I'm on a pump but when I was on injections it would occasionally happen to me, I would alternate between injecting in my thighs and my stomach, you will soon get used to it.

Please ask any questions you may have, there is loads of people that can answer them no matter how silly they may seem

Abbie


Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum mobile app

Than

Hi Carly! Glad you are being well looked after by your diabetes team, they really can make a lot of difference! Sounds like you've got a great positive attitude & that will really help you with having diabetes!

With you being on basal/bolus I assume you carb count? There is no reason you cannot have treats when you want - obviously common sense if your bg is high don't, but if you're well controlled and inject for what you are eating you will be fine

Glad everything was ok with your pregnancy and baby was well, I'm currently 34w pregnant with my first baby

The injection in your thigh could have just been a bad spot, may have been near a nerve/vein/muscle etc was it a brand new needle? I'm on a pump but when I was on injections it would occasionally happen to me, I would alternate between injecting in my thighs and my stomach, you will soon get used to it.

Please ask any questions you may have, there is loads of people that can answer them no matter how silly they may seem

Abbie


Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum mobile app

Thanks Abbie for your advice.

Oh great congratulations! Well if you have any questions about a diabetic birth then feel fee to ask too. I was very much looked after during birth .

They don't want me to carb count for at least a year yet because my bloods aren't settled. Once they are then they will show me how to.

Ok that's useful to know about the sore sites. Thank you again. I will definitely ask more questions.

Oh, can you add friends in here? Or follow people that you have spoken to?

 

[CarlyB]

Hi @CarlyB
welcome to the forum

your analogy about the rollercoaster did make me smile-- I have been climbing to the top ( awaiting the huge drop) for over 43 years
( being serious -- if you look after yourself and be in control of the D -- not letting it control you )

you could maybe try your bum for the levemir ( absorption should be similar to thigh but might not bruise as easily -- although having the odd nasty bruise is one of the probs with the thighs --) and as @Mrsass says changing the needle every injection can help too

keep posting and it is lovely to have you on the "team"

all the best !!

Thanks very much @himtoo. I'm glad to have brought a smile to your face! Lol.

Wow 43 years?? I was told by the team that I have days/weeks/months before my insulin stops producing. So to hear from you is great!

 

[CarlyB]

Wow @CarlyB thats quite a journey!

There's no reason you can't have a treat, you just have to make sure it's a treat worth injecting for (lemonade, not worth injecting for, I asked for soda water! Cake, yeah I can totally be persuaded to inject for the right bit of cake).

Not producing any insulin doesn't mean you will be ill! I don't make any insulin, I'm not ill. My main complaint at the moment is that I can't walk because I overdid it at my kettle bell class last night!

Normally the injections don't hurt. Do you have 4mm needles? Use a fresh one each time? Some times you can just hit the wrong spot, but it's rare & it is just bad luck. The worst injection I ever did was injecting into my thigh when I didn't have my glasses on, I managed to inject into my skin cos the needle wasn't in properly, instead of under my skin like how you are supposed to, made myself a lovely little lump of insulin in my skin & made me realise how very short sighted I am.

It takes a fair bit of effort to control & sometimes that can feel like hard work, but there are tonnes of people on here who will understand that & be able to offer support and tips

@catapillar thanks for your advice. It sounds like I must have done what you did with the injection because I had a lump of insulin under my skin.

Yes I use 4mm needles and I change them every time. I must have just had bad luck.

I do find in general that it's hit and miss whether the injections hurt or not. I hope that's normal.

 

[himtoo]

Thanks very much @himtoo. I'm glad to have brought a smile to your face! Lol.

Wow 43 years?? I was told by the team that I have days/weeks/months before my insulin stops producing. So to hear from you is great!

Hi @CarlyB -- two big smiles in 2 days
I might not have worded my original reply to you very well

I sort of meant the general rollercoaster of life -- not the specific insulin producing one

But I am generally pleased to be here after 43 years with D

 

[Mrsass]

Than


Thanks Abbie for your advice.

Oh great congratulations! Well if you have any questions about a diabetic birth then feel fee to ask too. I was very much looked after during birth .

They don't want me to carb count for at least a year yet because my bloods aren't settled. Once they are then they will show me how to.

Ok that's useful to know about the sore sites. Thank you again. I will definitely ask more questions.

Oh, can you add friends in here? Or follow people that you have spoken to?

You can follow people but on my app I don't quite know what the point in following people is as i don't get notified if they post or anything like that so not sure how that all works

Are you finding it ok not carb counting or are you having swings of highs and lows?

I have been well looked after so far in pregnancy, starting to feel a little nervous now as I've my last growth scan on 23rd and will find out then when I'm getting induced, she was measuring a little on the large side at my 32w scan at the end of April so hoping I don't give birth to an absolute bruiser lol xx


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[CarlyB]

You can follow people but on my app I don't quite know what the point in following people is as i don't get notified if they post or anything like that so not sure how that all works

Are you finding it ok not carb counting or are you having swings of highs and lows?

I have been well looked after so far in pregnancy, starting to feel a little nervous now as I've my last growth scan on 23rd and will find out then when I'm getting induced, she was measuring a little on the large side at my 32w scan at the end of April so hoping I don't give birth to an absolute bruiser lol xx


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I've worked out how to follow people but yeah, not helpful if you don't get notifications about their posts!

Tbh my bg levels aren't too bad. They are slightly high in the mornings before breakfast and I get random 10s and 11s but not very often. I know there is no point in carb counting yet until I stop producing insulin and know where I'm at then. At the moment every day is different with how much insulin I'm producing myself so I've just got to go with the flow .

Hehe I was scared of giving birth to a massive baby too. Luckily he arrived 2.5 weeks early on his own and weighed 7lbs1. He still managed to get stuck though lol.
Is she your first baby?x

 

[catapillar]

I'm not sure there is no point in carb counting while you are honeymooning. If your still producing insulin it's certainly not helpful to be committed to fixed insulin to carb ratios. But you might find it helpful to be aware of the carbs you are eating - you can still go with the flow (I certainly do because my insulin sensitivity changes with my menstrual cycle) but carb counting might be help navigate a bit more, maybe?

I know that they usually say it's not helpful to go on a DAFNE course until 12 months post diagnosis. But I think that's just because they think it's more useful once things are maybe a bit more settled.

 

[Daibell]

Than


Thanks Abbie for your advice.

Oh great congratulations! Well if you have any questions about a diabetic birth then feel fee to ask too. I was very much looked after during birth .

They don't want me to carb count for at least a year yet because my bloods aren't settled. Once they are then they will show me how to.

Ok that's useful to know about the sore sites. Thank you again. I will definitely ask more questions.

Oh, can you add friends in here? Or follow people that you have spoken to?

Hi and welcome. You might want to challenge the 1 year wait before carb-counting? I suspect they are waiting for you to come out of a honeymoon period but if you don't carb count your blood sugar won't 'settle' anyway. I was started on carb-counting the day I was started on NovoRapid. Explain that you are keen to have very good blood sugar control and that you've been told it's essential.

 

[Mrsass]

I've worked out how to follow people but yeah, not helpful if you don't get notifications about their posts!

Tbh my bg levels aren't too bad. They are slightly high in the mornings before breakfast and I get random 10s and 11s but not very often. I know there is no point in carb counting yet until I stop producing insulin and know where I'm at then. At the moment every day is different with how much insulin I'm producing myself so I've just got to go with the flow .

Hehe I was scared of giving birth to a massive baby too. Luckily he arrived 2.5 weeks early on his own and weighed 7lbs1. He still managed to get stuck though lol.
Is she your first baby?x

I would agree with the others suggesting to push to be put on a carb counting course sooner than in a year, once you know how to carb count it can easily and quickly be adjusted, but just injecting 'blind' for a year while waiting for your honeymoon period to end will probably result in a real mixture of highs and lows.. There is lots of info on here if you type carb counting into the search you could have a little read about it if you haven't already

I was only 3 when i was diagnosed so I'm glad I didn't have to contend with the honeymoon period and luckily for my parents apparently it didn't last too long so they soon knew what was going on with levels/dosage etc

Yeah she's my first and I keep saying my last as I've had horrendous hypermesis through most of the pregnancy, if I'd only had to cope with the diabetes I think it would have been a breeze I can deal with lots of lows and constantly adjusting my pump but the sickness has been awful, lots of trips to hospital being dehydrated & having ketones because of it, tried loads of medication and nothing worked so in the end I've just had to grin and bare it lol been ok the last 2 weeks though so maybe she's allowing me a nice time before she comes haha xx


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[CarlyB]

I'm not sure there is no point in carb counting while you are honeymooning. If your still producing insulin it's certainly not helpful to be committed to fixed insulin to carb ratios. But you might find it helpful to be aware of the carbs you are eating - you can still go with the flow (I certainly do because my insulin sensitivity changes with my menstrual cycle) but carb counting might be help navigate a bit more, maybe?

I know that they usually say it's not helpful to go on a DAFNE course until 12 months post diagnosis. But I think that's just because they think it's more useful once things are maybe a bit more settled.

Ok thanks for that!

 

[CarlyB]

Hi and welcome. You might want to challenge the 1 year wait before carb-counting? I suspect they are waiting for you to come out of a honeymoon period but if you don't carb count your blood sugar won't 'settle' anyway. I was started on carb-counting the day I was started on NovoRapid. Explain that you are keen to have very good blood sugar control and that you've been told it's essential.

Ok that sounds like a good idea. I want to plan for baby number 2 in the near future so very keen to get my sugars under control. Thank you

 

[CarlyB]

I would agree with the others suggesting to push to be put on a carb counting course sooner than in a year, once you know how to carb count it can easily and quickly be adjusted, but just injecting 'blind' for a year while waiting for your honeymoon period to end will probably result in a real mixture of highs and lows.. There is lots of info on here if you type carb counting into the search you could have a little read about it if you haven't already

I was only 3 when i was diagnosed so I'm glad I didn't have to contend with the honeymoon period and luckily for my parents apparently it didn't last too long so they soon knew what was going on with levels/dosage etc

Yeah she's my first and I keep saying my last as I've had horrendous hypermesis through most of the pregnancy, if I'd only had to cope with the diabetes I think it would have been a breeze I can deal with lots of lows and constantly adjusting my pump but the sickness has been awful, lots of trips to hospital being dehydrated & having ketones because of it, tried loads of medication and nothing worked so in the end I've just had to grin and bare it lol been ok the last 2 weeks though so maybe she's allowing me a nice time before she comes haha xx


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Sounds like you've had a hard time of it! Well done for getting through it!x