Newbie type 1 and freaking out

Welcome @cezli84 and sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.

But, you have certainly come to the right place for support and information about it all so don't be afraid to ask any questions. As I've said to others it is a real shock and emotional rollercoaster coming to terms with it all and getting used to the injections and testing your blood on a regular basis. It will take time to understand it better but the most important thing is that you are checking your blood glucose levels, recording your levels and taking your injections when you need to. What regime are you on?

Are you sure you are injecting correctly? Did your diabetic team show you what to do for injections?

Others will be along to welcome you and offer any advice. For now, I will tag @daisy1

Hi and welcome. Try not to panic as it takes time to accept absorb and adjust.

@daisy1 will be along soon with the excellent guide for new members.

I'm t2 so not much help with your question, but loads of other t1 members who eill be able to answer.

You aren't alone in this and it should get easier in time

Sorry, I didn't suffer pain when on Lantus but I seem to remember reading that some did.

Maybe it's one of the ingredients of Lantus.

What about injection technique or needle size? Do you get any pain with short acting?

Have you told your DSN about your problem?

@cezli84

Hello and welcome to the forum

As tagged above, here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. 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 150,000 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.

Hi,
it is a shock and a steep learning curve but once you learn it shouldn't stop you doing the things you want to do.
(you can't join the army but I suspect at 31 you don't want to)
Neither the injections nor the finger pricking should really hurt much. Sometimes you hit a nerve and it hurts more than usual but not every time.
I would as the earlier poster suggests ask someone to go over your injection technique. If you aren't already using 4 or 5mm needles then ask if you can change to them. They are tiny
Lantus does have a reputation for stinging if used cold straight from the fridge but like all insulins can be kept for 28 days at room temperature once opened.
For the finger pricks, make sure that you are using the lowest possible setting for you ; unless you are a guitarist or do some other work that makes the skin hard that probably isn't much above the lowest.
Make sure that you are testing at the side rather than on the pad of the finger.

It will get easier with time so persevere @cezli84.

As for the lantus stinging, just make your diabetes team aware of this and they may change you to an alternative basal insulin such as Levemir or Tresiba.

cezli84 said:

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to respond. My regime at the moment is novorapid fixed doses of 8 units with each meal and lantus 14 units. My diabetes specialist showed me with a dummy pen to make sure i do it correct. I started with lantus in my leg but when i mentioned about the pain, she suggested i try it in my belly. It does sting on occasions but as well as in my leg, 5mins after taking it, it hurts for a good 10mins. I think she will change me shortly to levemir. I only now use 3 fingers on both hands for bg tests and on the side not the top as i did at the start. Its taken a lot of adjusting but hopefully il get there soon, its not going to go away.

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Hello cezli84 - I'm new here as well - and have already found out more from your post and this site than I found from the hospital (especially the info re: different insulin injections,(Lantus, novorapid, levemir) Big Thanks, I had thought there was only one insulin type before.I'l talk to them again tomorow.

Where the injections go is up to your personal preference - Have seen a few comments on the site saying different things ( like the 3 daily going into the upper leg and the slow release overnight insulin going abdomen - or vice versa). I think as long as you take it, it is up to you. Good luck.

Hey guys I am sorry to hear your battles. All these posts are awesome!!
Do you ever use any natural cream for the bruising just to ask? Anyone at Holland and bartt would be able to help you with bruising. I also have used vit e cream for years as it reduces scaring like bi oil. I have always found that the skin can get challenging after a while so give back to it works for me. Also have you considered with a little help of injecting in your arm? Or bottom? They can be great places and I was once told (no quoting me thou) that the arm is closet to your heart so pushes the insulin quicker. Don't know if that helps but you are all honestly doing an awesome job!!!

cezli84 said:

Hey scallion, glad i have helped with info although i am not knowledgable enough to give any advice, levimir is the other long lasting nyt one which they are goin to put me on in a couple of weeks so hopefully it will react better with me. Fayefaye1429 i have not even considered any creams so thank you for that, i will make a list of everything i need to equip myself as there is so much you have to think about!! I feel so alone and this group is helping. My specialist is great but i cant get in touch at any given time but here, theres always someone. Thank u everyone

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Your very welcome. I hope things get better for you and I can say for me my support is here for you

Sounds a tough week! Don't worry diabetes is only a slice of us it doesn't define who we are I find. I find I have days sometimes where it's a pain but then I have quite a spell of its fine. I am 15 years into it now and I can say for me the pump has helped loads. All I can say is if you need to cry do, boxing helped me a lot as I got a lot of frustration out of me, gets friends and family involved if you can. That helped loads for me. Even if you don't want to say to them maybe a list of what hypo means and hyper whT you need when in trouble then your mind is at ease they know. My mum ran around like a crazy person so having that helped. I guess it's finding systems to help you and giving yourself permission to be

Hey again @cezli84 sorry to hear about your difficult week but I'm glad you have found helpful information and support here on the forum.

I felt like that during the first weeks of diagnosis, that feeling that my life and personality had changed completely because of T1 diabetes. It is just getting over that initial emotional downer and then realising you can control it once you have a good understanding of some basics associated with it all. It is frustrating when you hypo and when you are trying so hard to keep good glucose levels but it will come with time. A few weeks ago I hypo'd for three nights in a row and I felt awful and yet it was something so basic as reducing my insulin that needed to be done. Even though it's not nice going through such experiences it gives us a much better understanding, and as said many times on this forum it is about trial and error to see what works best for you, your body and lifestyle

I can echo what teacher has said. Do you mind me asking where you live? Just wondered if meeting other diabetics in the area might help? I wouldn't say your stubborn at all. I feel d is like grieving for what your body was. Have you heard of Elizabeth kurber Ross? She did grief stages in the 50s called the cycle of grief. It rang true with me when diagnosised so I thought I would just mention it not pressure to look at it. I just went through some time grieving for what my pancreas use to do for me but I soon found ways for me how d could benefit my life

I am sorry to hear your in pain with it. Have you tried your bottom? The feet appointment is ok really. Before had I give myself pedicures and remove any hard skin, cut nails etc just what you would do in a beauty salon or girls night on so don't worry as they can help. Mostly eyes and feet are just once a year appointments but you will be told. Trial and error I know sucks but it does get there and I guess having d does for me anyway make me really aware of whT affects my body