New type 1 diagnosis

[mick196572]

Hello @mick196572 the blurry vision is normal and will disappear in the next week or so, in regards to bringing your levels down, yes it should be done gradually to help you adjust to 'normal' blood glucose ranges.

It may not be possible on your current doses to bring them down so hence why regular reviews to adjust are important, in time you will take ownership of your control and do this yourself as you'll know how your body responds to insulin/carbs better. A bit of a curve ball to throw into the ring is that you may experience a 'honeymoon' phase when your pancreas becomes a little less stressed and squirts out some insulin too - this can last a few months but is temporary and you will find that your insulin needs can vary alot during this time, I found it a pain and couldn't wait to become more dependent on insulin as my control stabilised more then.

Try to keep a diary too if you can as this stage it's very useful to track your insulin taken/times and blood glucose readings, you can use an app like 'diasend' to record and this can be emailed to your nurse/team with your results if you're having a phone conversation to review, it gives them a better picture of what's going on and will ultimately help you manage this better.

Thank you i have a one touch teveal to take my readings and i keep all dosage and levels tecorded here as well. This makes it easy to look back on as well

 

[Juicyj]

That's good @mick196572 it's so useful at this stage to track it all, it will help in keeping you on track and make better informed decisions regarding your insulin management.

If you're thirsty for knowledge also have a look at this site: https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/ it's free and a good guide to type 1 management.

 

[mick196572]

That's good @mick196572 it's so useful at this stage to track it all, it will help in keeping you on track and make better informed decisions regarding your insulin management.

If you're thirsty for knowledge also have a look at this site: https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/ it's free and a good guide to type 1 management.

Thanks il look now

 

[daisy1]

@mick196572
Hello Mick and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 well over 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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 blood glucose 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[mick196572]

@mick196572
Hello Mick and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 well over 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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 blood glucose 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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

Thank you for all the info. I have a lot of reading to do when my eyes are better. It is the food that confuses me at the moment . I have read that i need carbs and also that they are not good for me. I will gwt there

Thanks again

 

[Scott-C]

I have read that i need carbs and also that they are not good for me.

Hi, Mick, it's probably fair to point out that daisy's advice sheet is pretty much aimed at T2s and there is only a brief nod to T1s when it says the advice may be of use to "other types".

There are major differences between T1 and T2 biology which make a difference to our approach to carbs.

T2s still make insulin but their bodies don't use it properly, so glucose levels will rise regardless of how much insulin they are making, so it makes sense for them to limit carbs.

With T1, we don't make insulin, so we have to inject it. Once we've done so, it doesn't work in the same way as naturally produced insulin (most pancreatically produced insulin goes straight to the liver), and it can still be a tricky balancing act, but injected insulin will lower bg as we tend not to be insulin resistant like T2s.

That means we have a whole lot more latitude with carbs.

I thnk T2s often make the mistake of thinking that because carbs are bad for them, they are bad for everyone.

There is a place for low carbing with T1s, I'm not knocking it as a strategy, but it would be wrong to regard it as the only strategy.

Many of us find we can eat moderate amounts of carbs with no real difficulties.

The strategy I use is not to think what can I eat so as to minimise insulin use, it's what do I want to eat today and how much insulin do I need for that.

During the week, I have lunch at a sandwich shop next to my office. Various options: different stews/curries/hot pots with brown rice (about 50 to 60 g), range of 25 salad bowl options, baked potato (60g), or paninis (50g).

I don't count any of those as excessively carby, but many low carbers would and they would be stuck with the salad bowl options of coleslaw, mushrooms, cheese and spinach.

I've noticed a few posts from T1s who were dx'd a year or so ago, they went for the low carb option, and now, a mere year later, they are sick fed up of it.

Try thinking about what you cam maintain in the long term, and I'm talking decades here.

If you're led down the Bernstein route, remember that he rules out any fruit except avocado, and even onions are "too sweet"....

 

[mick196572]

Hi, Mick, it's probably fair to point out that daisy's advice sheet is pretty much aimed at T2s and there is only a brief nod to T1s when it says the advice may be of use to "other types".

There are major differences between T1 and T2 biology which make a difference to our approach to carbs.

T2s still make insulin but their bodies don't use it properly, so glucose levels will rise regardless of how much insulin they are making, so it makes sense for them to limit carbs.

With T1, we don't make insulin, so we have to inject it. Once we've done so, it doesn't work in the same way as naturally produced insulin (most pancreatically produced insulin goes straight to the liver), and it can still be a tricky balancing act, but injected insulin will lower bg as we tend not to be insulin resistant like T2s.

That means we have a whole lot more latitude with carbs.

I thnk T2s often make the mistake of thinking that because carbs are bad for them, they are bad for everyone.

There is a place for low carbing with T1s, I'm not knocking it as a strategy, but it would be wrong to regard it as the only strategy.

Many of us find we can eat moderate amounts of carbs with no real difficulties.

The strategy I use is not to think what can I eat so as to minimise insulin use, it's what do I want to eat today and how much insulin do I need for that.

During the week, I have lunch at a sandwich shop next to my office. Various options: different stews/curries/hot pots with brown rice (about 50 to 60 g), range of 25 salad bowl options, baked potato (60g), or paninis (50g).

I don't count any of those as excessively carby, but many low carbers would and they would be stuck with the salad bowl options of coleslaw, mushrooms, cheese and spinach.

I've noticed a few posts from T1s who were dx'd a year or so ago, they went for the low carb option, and now, a mere year later, they are sick fed up of it.

Try thinking about what you cam maintain in the long term, and I'm talking decades here.

If you're led down the Bernstein route, remember that he rules out any fruit except avocado, and even onions are "too sweet"....

Thank you. That sounds a good way to go. I will try that to start. Hopefully over time i can work it out

 

[becca59]

@Scott-C @mick196572 here here! There is so much more to managing Type 1 than a low carb diet. I mentioned on another thread someone’s results they posted on a Facebook site showing what just eating protein (chicken in this case) did to overnight blood glucose levels. They went up far more than a type 2 would consider acceptable. A type 1 would still have to inject insulin to cover that rise. It is all about eating healthily and managing diet within your own capabilities. Low carbing will not give a utopia of results for a type 1. There are too many other variables. The weather this week for one! Who snuck that in in February.

 

[mick196572]

@Scott-C @mick196572 here here! There is so much more to managing Type 1 than a low carb diet. I mentioned on another thread someone’s results they posted on a Facebook site showing what just eating protein (chicken in this case) did to overnight blood glucose levels. They went up far more than a type 2 would consider acceptable. A type 1 would still have to inject insulin to cover that rise. It is all about eating healthily and managing diet within your own capabilities. Low carbing will not give a utopia of results for a type 1. There are too many other variables. The weather this week for one! Who snuck that in in February.

I have a lot to learn

 

[Knikki]

@mick196572 bit late to the party so a belated Hello and Welcome to the forum. Won't add anything more as there has already been a fair bit of good advice given.

As a side we are always learning even us that have grown up with T1 and don't forget that no question is daft, the more you ask the more you know

 

[mick196572]

@mick196572 bit late to the party so a belated Hello and Welcome to the forum. Won't add anything more as there has already been a fair bit of good advice given.

As a side we are always learning even us that have grown up with T1 and don't forget that no question is daft, the more you ask the more you know

Thank you

 

[Circuspony]

Hi and welcome! I had a great consultant appointment in my first few weeks who told the this:

- yes, you will feel awful for a while after diagnosis. Your body has been running high sugar levels and we're making it go cold turkey. It's ok to feel rough!
- everyone is different. My mum has a friend in her 70s who has been T1 since a child with no apparent complications. Consultant said that's like comparing a 90yo who smokes 40 a day and saying they're fine so you can smoke too. Some of us will struggle more than others.
- insulin is here to help you love your life. Keep eating chocolate.

Sadly that consultant has gone to another job now!!