New to type 1

123gw456 · Jul 7, 2015

Good afternoon all.
Over the last 3 years i have been a type two.
We have tried all of the tablets and diets possible.
I lost 2 stone over this period but started having hypo's because sugar levels varied from 3% to 20% no regular pattern at all.
So now i am type 1 and started using insulin via the pen starting on 12ml and moving up 15ml.
My weight is starting to level off and my sugar levels are now between 7.8% to 11.7%.
I am limited to the amount of exercise that i can do because of two mayor heart attacks over the last seven years.
Could any body in help me as i am willing to try anything to try to cure this or get my sugar levels into single figures that my nurse wants.
Also how far should my insulin doses go to.

Emily95 · Jul 7, 2015

There is no cure for type 1.
Are you type 2 now on insulin or have been given a type 1 diagnosis?

Atalay · Jul 7, 2015

No cure, but good life is possible. You will take insulin till the end, if the doctor has already diagnosed you as T1.

Doctor will probably watch you for a few days measuring the nutritional intale, level of activity, and give you the right doses for a whole day.

Then you will track your lifestyle yourself and be your own doctor: Watch what you eat, how much you exercise, and see where your blood glucose level goes. You will get used to that and wont get stressed. Best thing to do is to look for more info about T1 diabetes around these forums.

Funny, this type of lifestyle forces me to live healthy as a T1. I accepted it and live like a normal person. I hope you get off all the stress or worries about T1 quickly.

4ratbags · Jul 7, 2015

Hi I am only a Type 2 but from other reading threads I have noticed that even some Type 1s follow LCHF. I dont know if you have tried it in the past or not but it might ve worth a try.

himtoo · Jul 7, 2015

hi there
welcome to the forum
having had 2 heart attacks you will most likely have other tablets to control blood pressure and cholesterol.
for a start you need to use your meter and loads of test strips so you can see how your body is affected by different foods.
minimum 6 tests per day - before each meal and 2 hours post each meal --this will give you a clear idea of what you blood sugar is doing after you eat.
keep records and talk to your DSN for adjustments to your doses as needed.

donnellysdogs · Jul 7, 2015

Have you had it confirmed that you were misdiagnossd as a T2? Because you are needing insulin that does not necessarily make you a type 1 without your GP doing a GAD and cpeptide test.

The only reason I ask is because there is a difference. Some type 2's have actually come off insulin and or tablets etc by altering their eating and lifestyle.

If you are type 1 then there is nothing besides technology to help us.

Many type 2's (and type 1's) have improved their live's dramatically by changing food options. Even type 1's can use less insulin and lower levels with less carbs.

Daibell · Jul 7, 2015

Hi. I suspect you are on an initial insulin regime. Based on experience you can be moved on as necessary to the Basal/Bolus regime with two insulins and this will enable you to get blood sugar levels right. See how you go and ask for your insulin regime to be changed with carb-counting if needed to maintain levels.

donnellysdogs · Jul 7, 2015

Depends what insulin you are using.. Doses generally are increased initially every 3 days but you need to test, test, test.

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

Emily95 said:
There is no cure for type 1.
Are you type 2 now on insulin or have been given a type 1 diagnosis?

Ihave been tested and i am type 1

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

donnellysdogs said:
Depends what insulin you are using.. Doses generally are increased initially every 3 days but you need to test, test, test.

Thank you for your answer

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

donnellysdogs said:
Depends what insulin you are using.. Doses generally are increased initially every 3 days but you need to test, test, test.

The nurse as advised me to increase by 1ml every week.

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

Daibell said:
Hi. I suspect you are on an initial insulin regime. Based on experience you can be moved on as necessary to the Basal/Bolus regime with two insulins and this will enable you to get blood sugar levels right. See how you go and ask for your insulin regime to be changed with carb-counting if needed to maintain levels.

Will discruss this my nurse on next visit

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

himtoo said:
hi there
welcome to the forum
having had 2 heart attacks you will most likely have other tablets to control blood pressure and cholesterol.
for a start you need to use your meter and loads of test strips so you can see how your body is affected by different foods.
minimum 6 tests per day - before each meal and 2 hours post each meal --this will give you a clear idea of what you blood sugar is doing after you eat.
keep records and talk to your DSN for adjustments to your doses as needed.

Thank you for help as my nurse as advised me only to take two

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

donnellysdogs said:
Depends what insulin you are using.. Doses generally are increased initially every 3 days but you need to test, test, test.

Thank you for your advice and i will start doing this and keeping a record

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

donnellysdogs said:
Depends what insulin you are using.. Doses generally are increased initially every 3 days but you need to test, test, test.

Thank you for your advice and will start to do this

123gw456 · Jul 8, 2015

donnellysdogs said:
Depends what insulin you are using.. Doses generally are increased initially every 3 days but you need to test, test, test.

My nurse as adviced me to increase by 1 ml each week

donnellysdogs · Jul 8, 2015

Ultimately you are under your nurses advice.

We don't even know what insulin you are on...so if nurse saying increase 1ml every week then that's what she want you to do. However, the qty of testing advised is stupidity in itself.
You need to test getting up, pre
Meals and 2 hrs after and before bed as a minimum.

You need to see if eating causes your levels to soar or stay within limits or dropping.

If you drive you must test within 2 hours of getting behind the wheel. To be honest you would be best to test immediately before. You must also inform DVLA you are on insulin.

himtoo · Jul 8, 2015

Hi @123gw456
@donnellysdogs is 100% spot on -- as a type 1 you are required to test before you drive. ( every time and at 2 hour intervals on a longer journey )

if you are not testing 6-8 times per day you will have no idea what your blood sugar is doing in between injections and meals.

your nurse could do with being asked this -- "would you drive your car without a speedometer ? "
more test strips should result from the embarrassed silence .

Daibell · Jul 8, 2015

donnellysdogs said:
Ultimately you are under your nurses advice.

We don't even know what insulin you are on...so if nurse saying increase 1ml every week then that's what she want you to do. However, the qty of testing advised is stupidity in itself.
You need to test getting up, pre
Meals and 2 hrs after and before bed as a minimum.

You need to see if eating causes your levels to soar or stay within limits or dropping.

If you drive you must test within 2 hours of getting behind the wheel. To be honest you would be best to test immediately before. You must also inform DVLA you are on insulin.

Hi. I think the need to test when on insulin varies a lot between individuals. I agree in the early days you need to test often but some days I will only test once or twice. I always test within 1/2 hour of driving (DVLA requirement) and every 2 hours during driving. Some days I will test perhaps 4 times but that's unusual. I'm lucky as I'm fairly predictable.

himtoo · Jul 8, 2015

Daibell said:
Hi. I think the need to test when on insulin varies a lot between individuals. I agree in the early days you need to test often but some days I will only test once or twice. I always test within 1/2 hour of driving (DVLA requirement) and every 2 hours during driving. Some days I will test perhaps 4 times but that's unusual. I'm lucky as I'm fairly predictable.

@Daibell this is true for you as you have been doing it for 10+ years.
I myself test religiously because I am wanting to avoid complications after 43 years with this D and in a way this is the only life i know now.
a person new to type 1 and insulin needs a routine to establish how the body reacts to insulin and differing events in life.
there is time later on to lessen the testing regime if circumstances are agreeable.

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