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

My Partner has Type 1 Diabetes

GeorgiaEJH

GeorgiaEJH

Newbie
Messages
1
Location
Essex
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello guys. I'm new on this, so bear with me!

So I've recently got with my partner, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the end of December 2012 (he was seventeen). He's been coping really well with it people tell me, as I've only known him since June 2014. He's nineteen, I'm eighteen. The first date we went on was to a restaurant, and he had to inject. I've known people in my family who have Diabetes, but I'd never seen them inject before. He was quite nervous, he tells me now, about that date, and worried what I'd think about him having to inject. When he told me I was surprised that he was nervous, I mean now it's natural and of course necessary. However, then, this was last July, and now I still feel quite ignorant about Diabetes. I was completely fine with his injecting, but it made me realise I needed to support him more. I know the basics, though I feel I should know more so I can fully support him, you know? I love him so much and I want to be there for him, as he lives on his own, because his Mum died in October 2011 and his Dad is away. He has literally been having to support himself for years. He's been through a lot, and I feel I should learn more about his Diabetes, as it's a big part of his life now. I sometimes, also, forget that he has Diabetes, ah that sounds bad, I don't literally forget, but I forget it can affect his mood, that's what I forget to realise, as he's only just told me it can. He can get headaches and start shaking, and I really do forget that, as when he does get angry or is over sensitive I do the selfish thing and just don't support him through it. Recently, the past couple weeks, he's measured his blood sugar levels before meals and its readings (mmol/L) have been really high, like between 8 and 10, and he's really been worrying about it. I'm not always with him as I live with my Dad and in my last year of Sixth Form, so I worry about him. He stresses and I've read that that really doesn't help.

Basically, I worry that I'm too ignorant to be able to support him. Should I research type 1, so I can understand it more, so I can be more sensitive and understanding towards him? I really do love him, and I want to support him as much as I can.

If anyone can give any advice, anything at all, I'd be really grateful. I figured this was the best place to ask. Thank you.
 
That's good of you to want to find more. The basics with diabetes is that it is a management issue really; you have to manage what you eat and how you deal with it and what your medications are.

There should be no reason why it prevents him doing anything.

I'm sure that there are good over views on Type 1 diabetes on the internet; have a google to see what you can find. I'm sorry that I don't have any specific recommendations; I've been a Type 1 for 30 plus years (gulp) so have links to lots of very technical stuff rather than overviews.

On the bloods; 8-10 is quite high but not drastically so.

On the lows; if he has too much insulin/not enough carbs then he will hypo. That will mean he is sweaty, shaky, confused and aggressive. That needs immediate glucose to get him back to normal.

Then what you need to do is discuss this with him; my wife and I have an agreement that whenever she asks me to test my blood sugar I do it. Even if I 'know' I'm fine.

That way if I'm being a grumpy sod I can show her my normal blood sugars and say; "See woman! It's all your fault I'm fine!" Or if I'm low then I can deal with it and say "See woman! I'm hypo, it's not my fault!"

Best

Dillinger
 
@GeorgiaEJH

Hello Georgia and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information we give to new members which should be useful to you. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 130,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
GeorgiaEJH said:
Basically, I worry that I'm too ignorant to be able to support him. Should I research type 1, so I can understand it more, so I can be more sensitive and understanding towards him? I really do love him, and I want to support him as much as I can.
Click to expand...


I think that's a great idea Georgia and admirable of you for wanting to expand your knowledge on your partners condition.

The web is full is full of information and you can also find some good books on diabetes in your local library, does your partner stay in contact with his diabetes team, if not he should get in touch with them about his pre-meal readings as they are higher than they should be. Good luck.
 
Hi and welcome. Do get your partner to join this forum if you can but he may be reluctant as some are. It sounds like he is having some problems getting his insulin balanced and there can be many reasons for that. The shaking you mention is possibly what is called a hypo when the blood sugar goes too low due to too much insulin. The readings you have given of 8-10 mmol before a meal are a bit too high but not excessive. The reading 2-3 hours after a meal should be at or below this range where possible. There are quite a few types of insulin and 'regimes'. Some 'regimes' give better control than others but involve more injections so it's trade-off depending to some extent on the person. If you want to post again on the T1 forum with more details we can possibly let you know more and what sort of questions he may need to ask his GP/nurse. Yes, having a lower-carb diet will always help as it can reduce blood sugar swings unless he has been advised to have a fixed amount of carbs at each meal. We can give general T1 advice on that forum but have to be careful we don't give specific advice
 
Hi

Wow, you are phenomenal yourself....

First off, levels of 8-10 on a shorter term basis are not catasphrophic. Especially for an under 20 male (ir female)........

However it seems like some adjustments could be made for slightly lower blood levels.

Diabetes to any person is individual. I would recommend this site to your BF but don't become disheartened if he isn't interested or doesn't see joining up as a good idea.

We support partners, parents, friends of diabetics too.

Taking an interest is fantastic. However, I would suggest that you find out from BF how he would like yo to deal with a bad hypo if he had one.... For instance my hubby used to check on me from a distance.....he'd make sure I was okay but hated how abusive I could get. However, I got abusive (not knowingly) because he didn't stay with me and assure me.. So bless him, he did more if what he thought was right but unknowingly was making things worse for me!!!!! Which then impacted on him!!!

Also, actually consider that before you start eating that he should be doing a blood test and injection first.... Again.. It drove me mad that my hubby started eating before I could. Emphasising that I was different...

Just small things can make a difference.

I think it is wonderful that you are here asking. What a wonderful girlfriend to have!!
 
Hi Georgia
Wellcome to the forum some great advice above.
And well done you for wanting to learn more.

My partner is a lifelong T1 and I'm only a recently diagnosed T2 so I know a bit about your fears and concerns. Been there got the T shirt as they say.
As you get to know your boyfriend better you will be able to notice the signs when things are not right it can be daunting at first but you will get used to it.

Have you been with him whilst he has suffered a Hypo
That was and still is to me the most frightening thing but we learn to deal with it and the most important thing I learned was if in doubt call the ambulance.

Sorry if I've frightened you a bit but that's the reality of loving aT1

Stick around ask questions nothing's too daft to ask
 
Back
Top