Just when you think you know your diabetes...

[bivry29]

Hi, I am a 22 year old Type 1 Diabetic, diagnosed at age 10. Like most of you fellow diabetics, I've been through a number of insulin regimes and approaches to eating. From Mixtards to Basal/Bolus; moving to bolus insulins that work faster and basal insulins that are more level than ever before. Changing foods to those that are wholemeal, nothing with more than 10g sugars per 100g, identifying foods that are considered healthy superfoods but still way too sweet for me e.g. dried fruits, having to put up with eating 'diet' foods only because they're the only ones that are low enough in sugar. Wondering if I should cut out artificial sweeteners completely, take more vitamins, stop snacking between meals.

In the last few months I've noticed that I can't get away with anything outside of a regular regime. It feels like I've become less sensitive to my insulin i.e. lantus. I've increased it from 22 units to 24 units about three weeks ago and nothing much has changed. I'll be honest, each high blood sugar, I am able to connect it to a preceding action such as eating a bit more than I anticipated or grabbing a snack that wasn't planned, but bloody hell my body has never reacted to these spontaneous eating incidents so badly! I am leaning towards this being me passing the peak of my youth and now experiencing the fall in metabolism (Hyperchondriac?)

I'm not looking for an answer per se, but rather others that are in the same boat, feeling like you got yourself figured out and then being thrown off and frustrated about it.

 

[Pneu]

All I can say from my 13 years of experience is that diabetes has one mean curve ball! You can do exactly the same for months and then wham.. it all goes **** up... sometimes there's an explanation sometimes there isn't...

I deal with this by keeping records.. I have spreadsheets in various forms going back years now with 1000's of readings and records of insulin taken, carbs eaten, etc... I find these are useful as a reference and can often help me spot a trend or a problem as it develops rather than after the event..

All I can say is stick at it... yes its frustrating and yes it can be confusing but your body will change and develop over time and I think that changes to diabetes management are just normal.. if a bit irritating!

 

[noblehead]

bivvry,

As I understand it and from personal experience basal/bolus isn't really suitable for snacking between meals unless exercising or covering with extra insulin. I don't snack between meals unless my bg is dropping or carrying out exercise, like you a 10g/1CP can see me rise 2,3 or 4 mmol.

 

[Laubie]

Yes I have been in a similar postition!

DAFNE helps - try to do the course if you can as. although I thought I knew everything there was to know because I got arrogant at having been diabteic for a long time, it really helps.
For me, just changing my perspective on how insulin and food interact and set guidelines for snacking, exercise, alcohol. It really does help!

I am now also on a pump. I resisted for a long time, butso glad I have it now! Now I bolus for EVERY carb I consume.I feel more in control of my condition and, as a result, my condition has become better controlled.

Take care and know that no one is perfect and we all have slip-ups (like that entire easter egg I ate last year and didn't bolus for at the time...) and we are all constantly changing. There won't be a particular moment in your life when your Diabetes 'changes'. Like getting older and your metabolism slowing. It can happen at any point, sometimes on a daily basis!
I know that if I am low-carbing my metabllism gets so slow and I have to bolus sometimes twice at the ratio I normally would!