New on insulin

[Jlewis12351996]

So I've just been started on insulin (degludec) it's once in the morning with 8 units but apart from that I've been told nothing about what I can eat and when I can eat. I kept trying to ask but they kept brushing it off saying they'll explain later. I just have no idea what's safe and what's not safe to eat. Personally I don't believe I even need to be on insulin as my blood sugar readings are constantly in the 5-7 range sometimes even lower but according to them the average is up on it but im still getting those low levels

 

[Brunneria]

Hi and Welcome @Jlewis12351996

I hope you don't mind me asking, but could you give a little more info? It would really help people to give appropriate responses.

Your profile doesn't say whether you are type 1 or 2 or another type of diabetes, and you don't say how long you have had diabetes, although since you have posted in the 'newly diagnosed' section, it is probably fair to say that you haven't been diagnosed long?

 

[EllieM]

.Are you new to diabetes or just insulin? It amazes and shocks me that they can send someone home on insulin with no explanations about diet. I'm going to assume/hope you are T2 because you're on degludec alone.

So, the most important thing is to be aware of hypos. These are what happens if your blood sugar gets too low and your brain is starved of energy, causing confusion and ( potentially) unconsciousness. Hypos happen when your blood sugar goes below 4 and if this happens you need to take some quick acting sugar (eg glucose tablets, jelly babies), about 10g or 15g worth to start with.

Dietary advice depends on whether you're T1 or T2 - if T2 you have a chance of coming off insulin by reducing the carbohydrate in your diet - but you'll need to be careful not to go hypo because the insulin you're now taking needs carbohydrate to balance it.

So, some questions
1) T1 or T2?
2) Do you know your last HbA1C?
3) What sort of diet are you on now? Are you already low carb?

 

[Jlewis12351996]

.Are you new to diabetes or just insulin? It amazes and shocks me that they can send someone home on insulin with no explanations about diet. I'm going to assume/hope you are T2 because you're on degludec alone.

So, the most important thing is to be aware of hypos. These are what happens if your blood sugar gets too low and your brain is starved of energy, causing confusion and ( potentially) unconsciousness. Hypos happen when your blood sugar goes below 4 and if this happens you need to take some quick acting sugar (eg glucose tablets, jelly babies), about 10g or 15g worth to start with.

Dietary advice depends on whether you're T1 or T2 - if T2 you have a chance of coming off insulin by reducing the carbohydrate in your diet - but you'll need to be careful not to go hypo because the insulin you're now taking needs carbohydrate to balance it.

So, some questions
1) T1 or T2?
2) Do you know your last HbA1C?
3) What sort of diet are you on now? Are you already low carb?

No i am type 1 and have no idea what the test result was and not really on any diet I was diagnosed a year ago but not given medication as I was controlling it through exercise

 

[ickihun]

No i am type 1 and have no idea what the test result was and not really on any diet I was diagnosed a year ago but not given medication as I was controlling it through exercise

Excessive exercise or 3-5 times a week strenuous exercise. Or even just long walks everyday?
Have they said if you're still producing your own insulin? Still in honeymoon period of type1?
How many times have you seen specialist in this first year and what are they saying to you? No mention of why just one insulin not the normal 2?

 

[Jlewis12351996]

Excessive exercise or 3-5 times a week strenuous exercise. Or even just long walks everyday?
Have they said if you're still producing your own insulin? Still in honeymoon period of type1?
How many times have you seen specialist in this first year and what are they saying to you? No mention of why just one insulin not the normal 2?

I exercise every day some walking but mainly martial art stuff. Karate, Muay Thai, jiu jitsu that stuff and honestly I have no idea they haven't told me a **** thing I assume I've still been producing it myself since they've rarely been above 10 and specialist I've seen maybe once if that they mainly just make me see the dietician for some reason

Edited by moderator for language

 

[Jlewis12351996]

Hi and Welcome @Jlewis12351996

I hope you don't mind me asking, but could you give a little more info? It would really help people to give appropriate responses.

Your profile doesn't say whether you are type 1 or 2 or another type of diabetes, and you don't say how long you have had diabetes, although since you have posted in the 'newly diagnosed' section, it is probably fair to say that you haven't been diagnosed long?

Type 1 and for Almost exactly a year but not been on any medication

 

[ickihun]

Dietician advises on aspects of eating with insulin for type1s and type2s.

In your honeymoon period your eating structure may need changing to what dietician advises.
Ask your dietician about eating regimes for your type of insulin regime.

Once your honeymoon period ends you may need a fuller insulin regime no matter your exercise or carb/protein intake.
Go with the flow and don't give yourself unnecessary stress.
You shouldn't worry about what may happen if your body isn't ready for it yet.

Hopefully some type1s will be along with honeymoon period experience to give you some encouragement.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. This is most strange. You must insist on knowing your last HBA1C result as it will help show whether you should have been placed on insulin. It sounds like your surgery/clinic is not handling this at all well and that you need to take more control of what they are doing. They must discuss any medication with you and tell you any results of tests. A T1 is normally placed on the 4/5 injections per day Basal/Bolus insulin regime but as your HBa1C is presumably quite low they have started you on a simple Basal insulin regime. This may make sense assuming you need any insulin? Degludec is a 24 hour once-a-day insulin which helps keep the background blood sugar down. You can eat quite freely as and when you want but keep the carbs down to help control the average blood sugar. If your diabetes develops as it normally does with late onset T1 (LADA) then a second meal-time insulin may need to be added and that's when you need to be more careful to avoid hypos. Do come back for any more info and don't worry at the moment about eating. Keep testing your blood sugar as you have been and you will know if it becomes too low.

 

[EllieM]

Hi. This is most strange. You must insist on knowing your last HBA1C result as it will help show whether you should have been placed on insulin. It sounds like your surgery/clinic is not handling this at all well and that you need to take more control of what they are doing.

Agreed. I still can't believe they sent a T1 home with so little information! To @Jlewis12351996, I couldn't see your location on your profile, are you in the UK? If you are, you should also be aware of the rules re driving

You'll need to contact the dvla and tell them you're on insulin if it lasts for 3 months (they'll be an extra form to be filled in by your clinic). You'll also need to blood test before driving and only drive if your bs is at least 5. ALWAYS have sugar with you in the car as driving when hypo is incredibly dangerous (think drink driving x 100).

Good luck, in the long run you'll need to learn to count carbs and juggle your insulin amounts as you'll eventually stop producing insulin but it sounds as though your exercise has manged to extend your honeymoon period very well. (I had no idea that folk with late onset T1 could go on producing insulin for so long )

 

[Jlewis12351996]

Well just shows how I really don't need this stuff. I did nothing different to normal today food wise and took the insulin and normally before lunch my sugars are about 5-6 today they were 3.8...

 

[ickihun]

Well just shows how I really don't need this stuff. I did nothing different to normal today food wise and took the insulin and normally before lunch my sugars are about 5-6 today they were 3.8...

When are you back to see dn?
Are you always between 5-6? Do you reach 9s?
Are you underweight?

 

[EllieM]

The HbA1C is calculated on the basis of the amount of sugar binding to your red blood cells over the last 3 months, but it can be inaccurate for a number of reasons. I'd be pushing for another test if your blood sugars are OK, ask for (or even self fund) a continuous glucose monitor.