• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

How do you control your diabetes?

J

JuliaSoua

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,

My name is Julia and i am new on this forum. My husband has diabetes type 1 for 15 years (he is 29 yo). He has macular oedema and retinopathy, both because he is not keeping the diabetes under control. He is going on regular basis to Barnet Hospital and although he went for more than 1 year and a half they've just recently done the fluorescein angiography. He also had injections in his eye for the macular oedema.

For the diabetes control he goes to Edgware Hospital, where to be honest it's a waste of time. He is taking humulin (3 times/day) and levemir (once per day), same quantity no matter what he is eating. Nobody explain to us that you can adjust the level of insulin according to what is he eating and how to calculate what you eat.
We ask the GP to be reffered to a dietitian, but instead she sent us to a counselling meeting. I've requested again explain what i want exactly and she seemed offended but promised she will do it. We need help, i am searching online what can we do and where should we go, but we cannot afford to treat all this private.
Bottom line - we don't know how to keep it under control and the GP and diabetic nurse are not of too much help.
Please help!
 
Hi Julia,

I'm not too sure what your husband has apart from the retinopathy, but I'm assuming it's not good and it's because of his poor control?

Is he willing to take steps to change himself and his control? Is he on the forum himself?

When you spoke to the DSN/doc what did you ask for?

Abbie xx
 
Hi Abbie,

The only problems he has are the complications with the eyes and i've read few things where it says can be treated as long as he is keeping it under control.
To be honest he is most of the time in denial and refused to talk about it and deal with it. And this is the main problem why we are here now. But the latest eye check ups wake him up and he is willing to work on himself and to take control of his diabetes. As i am as well, because it is my problem too, as i am his wife and i am mostly responsible with cooking/food.

Initially i was going with him to the dr and always were general things, i've asked her tell me exactly what can he eat, what he cannot. What we should do in case of... Even when i asked to be referred to a dietitian she sent us someplace else. And now i called her and almost shouting until she agreed to refer us. Also she never mentioned before he can adjust the level of insulin according to what he is eating.

I've asked to see a different eye doctor as well.

But we need to speak to someone who can teach us about counting carbs and adjust the level of insulin.

Many thanks for your reply.
 
Take a look at the following which is an on-line version of the DAFNE course:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/


Also do ask about the DAFNE course, it will help immensely with regards to his ability to adjust his insulin to the food he eats, as well as other aspects of type 1 diabetes.
 
The course that Nigel suggested is an excellent way of learning about carb counting dose adjustment.
There is a free e book from Diabetes UK https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/literature/information-books/carbs-count-e-book.aspx
(I don't think that the meals they use as examples are necessarily good models but the method works for all meals)

A book that many people have found useful is Think like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner

Learning these things is not something to be done overnight, it takes time to adjust and learn how your body responds. Also as your husband has retinopathy he should be careful about reducing his glucose levels too quickly. This website from the Good Hope Hospital ophthalmic department explains why (and it is something to discuss with his own ophthalmologist if possible) http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/retinopathyprogression.htm

What to eat can a matter of controversy amongst people with diabetes . I think most of us would agree that it is better to eat mostly foods that are in a fairly natural, unprocessed state rather than manufactured food that comes with a label on.
Personally, I also try to eat balanced meals with main meals more or less like this http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/create-your-plate/ Although there are times when I vary the pattern and eat more or fewer grams of carbohydrate or bigger amounts of meat (for example when eating out) I have found that some consistency from day to day helps me to have good control.

But of course the most important thing is wanting to change, that really has to come from him.
 
 


Thank you! It really helps all these information and for him to realise how many people are in his situation and they cope with the situation and go on with their lives. Also i think now more than ever he is motivated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…