New Patient - Shock to the system

Hi, i'm sure there are a tonne of threads like this already and i'll have a proper look through the site shortly. I was directed here by someone who was also diagnosed and needed some help.

I was feeling a bit off for a while, and decided to ask for blood tests as i got this feeling i just had something going on and when the results came back by results were pointing only one way, diabetic.

I haven't actually been told what type i am yet, i think that comes in about 6 weeks according to the process.

At the time of the results my blood sugar was 19.x (can't remember the actual number) and i also had ketones in the blood. I had no idea what ketones even were before this. So, sent straight to hospital and ushered in to have some fluids and what felt like pints of blood taken.

So, even after a couple of bags of saline my levels weren't dropping enough, while in hospital they dropped to 16.3 but ketones were going up, peaking at 2.2. Lots of mild panic and a front row seat with the diabetic nurses. My H1ABC was north of 100 but i don't know what this means yet.

I've been home for a couple of days now and my levels are steadily coming down (latest 15.5 sugar and 1.1 ketones) but obviously still way too high.

I've been given the wee kit home and check my bloods 4 times a day and also been given insulin pens in 2 forms (fast acting and and long lasting).

I'm doing "OK" i think and i have my first appointment with the Diabetic people tomorrow and i believe will get a chance to speak to a dietician. I'll also use the thread here about what to ask at these sessions.

My head is all over the place but not so much about the meds and bloods etc; the hospital were great at explaining that. I'm more trying to figure out what i can and can't eat. I love my food and cook regularly but it's all the wrong stuff as i learn more.

Thanks in advance.

DJA.

becca59 said:

Hi @DJA-440 I think the most important thing is the correct diagnosis. They have given you insulin which suggests they suspect you are a type 1 If it turns out you are ultimately a type 2 then diet will become absolute key. I would be very wary at the moment about going very low carb whilst using insulin.
Many type 1s continue to eat whatever they wish and learn to match their insulin. Others like myself eat carbs in moderation. I would not personally eat cake, biscuits, sweets (apart from my Jelly Babies for hypos) and usually substitute potatoes and pasta. Then there are others who eat keto and use insulin. I personally found this a step too far as I found matching insulin to protein rises too difficult to manage. Be guided by your hospital team until you know more.

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Thank you. Having just returned from my first clinic this seems to be the recommended approach and i'll follow their instructions to the letter. My numbers are getting better but still too high. This morning was the first time it was under 14 but this afternoon after breakfast they were over 15 again with keto at 1.1.

I couldn't remember what my HbA1c was earlier but got that today, it was 101 when first "discovered". They have increase my Long acting insulin from 4 units to 6 units for the next wee while to see if we can get things moving a bit quicker.

The nurse was excellent, astonishingly knowledgable and well trained not only in what the condition is but how to handle people. I'm one of those typical men who will not believe a thing they are told until it's written down in front of them and i'm also very analytical and question every number put in front of me; for this reason i took my wife with me today to act as a filter for my stubbornness!

We started talking about if i'm T1 then how to compensate for carbs and "over cover"? i think she said if i'm having a meal and need to compensate.

Hats off to the NHS, they take some abuse but for how much they are under funded and staffed they are phenomenal. Even when i had to sit for 10 hours to be seen.