Hello everyone,
Well, it's been a very long time since i've been on the forum. I've been taking time out to, shall we say 'sort my life out', and finally after 16 years we're seeing some positive results.
I've gone right back to basics with the diabetes, such as reading up on exactly what happens with your cells and how different foods are released and affected in your body, the best/worst foods to eat etc [It was never really full explained to me as a child so i've had to self learn over the years].
It all started when my Fiance got me into the gym and running. I never used to do much as I was fearful of going hypo and being alone in the gym, and it did happen, I kept having hypo's and highs which really upset me because I thought this isn't fair, why can't I do normal things. I've been on a pump for about 3/4 years which definitely helped compared to the MDI's but I think I became very complacant with things and then eventually stopped counting carbs and going back to guessing insulin bolus's and thinking I can get away with an entre box of chocolates/crisps or both haha.
I tried everything to help my control, stopped eating so much bad foods and then started building my basal's up to the correct doses depending what I was doing in work and at home. I now use my patterns feature on my pump and flip between them for a work profile and a weekend profile. I then started endlessly weighing out all sorts of foods and then cranking the numbers on my calculator to work out my bolus and finally started to see improvements. I then started taking it further and learned which foods needed extended bolus's and what would help me survive a run or a gym session etc
The exercise funnily enough has helped me to keep my sugars semi stable and I seem to not need as much insulin running in the background, I just couldn't fathom out the highs and lows - literally I could be 5.5 before a run, post run I would be about 17 - 20 and then crash to 2! I'd even do a good run having stable sugars throughout, lowered my basal an hour before but then 2 hours later I would be sky high.
Now I can happily report my sugar levels are maintaining between about 5-9 (most of the time), the running/gyming has helped me lose a healthy amount of weight. And I think I finally appreciate that even though carb counting can be a pain in the bum (especially if your maths is as bad as mine) it really does pay off especially combined with your pump.
I'm a lot comfier with my diabetes and am now pushing the boundries by going on hikes, camping, running long distance and trying to do all the things I never thought I could.
I don't think people realise how much work we diabetics have to put in to maintaining good control and trying to live a healthy lifestyle as well.
I just wanted to share this with you all. You, afterall, where the ones 18 months ago that inspired me to do better.
I hope anyone reading this who is struggling with their diabetes can look at this with a bit of hope and maybe be inspired to not give up or to fight to carry on with the daily challenge.
Thanks for reading my post
Jo xx
Type 1 Diabetes 16 years
Insulin Pump for 3/4 years
Well, it's been a very long time since i've been on the forum. I've been taking time out to, shall we say 'sort my life out', and finally after 16 years we're seeing some positive results.
I've gone right back to basics with the diabetes, such as reading up on exactly what happens with your cells and how different foods are released and affected in your body, the best/worst foods to eat etc [It was never really full explained to me as a child so i've had to self learn over the years].
It all started when my Fiance got me into the gym and running. I never used to do much as I was fearful of going hypo and being alone in the gym, and it did happen, I kept having hypo's and highs which really upset me because I thought this isn't fair, why can't I do normal things. I've been on a pump for about 3/4 years which definitely helped compared to the MDI's but I think I became very complacant with things and then eventually stopped counting carbs and going back to guessing insulin bolus's and thinking I can get away with an entre box of chocolates/crisps or both haha.
I tried everything to help my control, stopped eating so much bad foods and then started building my basal's up to the correct doses depending what I was doing in work and at home. I now use my patterns feature on my pump and flip between them for a work profile and a weekend profile. I then started endlessly weighing out all sorts of foods and then cranking the numbers on my calculator to work out my bolus and finally started to see improvements. I then started taking it further and learned which foods needed extended bolus's and what would help me survive a run or a gym session etc
The exercise funnily enough has helped me to keep my sugars semi stable and I seem to not need as much insulin running in the background, I just couldn't fathom out the highs and lows - literally I could be 5.5 before a run, post run I would be about 17 - 20 and then crash to 2! I'd even do a good run having stable sugars throughout, lowered my basal an hour before but then 2 hours later I would be sky high.
Now I can happily report my sugar levels are maintaining between about 5-9 (most of the time), the running/gyming has helped me lose a healthy amount of weight. And I think I finally appreciate that even though carb counting can be a pain in the bum (especially if your maths is as bad as mine) it really does pay off especially combined with your pump.
I'm a lot comfier with my diabetes and am now pushing the boundries by going on hikes, camping, running long distance and trying to do all the things I never thought I could.
I don't think people realise how much work we diabetics have to put in to maintaining good control and trying to live a healthy lifestyle as well.
I just wanted to share this with you all. You, afterall, where the ones 18 months ago that inspired me to do better.
I hope anyone reading this who is struggling with their diabetes can look at this with a bit of hope and maybe be inspired to not give up or to fight to carry on with the daily challenge.
Thanks for reading my post
Jo xx
Type 1 Diabetes 16 years
Insulin Pump for 3/4 years
