Newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic dentist

[tamara_p]

Hi All!
I was only diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a week and a half ago. I went to my Doctor because I had an appointment for my pill review and left finding out I had diabetes. I only mentioned some symptoms I was having as a 'by the by' to rule out my suspicion of having diabetes. I had been feeling very run down for about 4 weeks, constantly thirsty and needing the loo about 4-5 times a night! It didn't really sink in until a few days later once I saw the diabetic specialist nurse and I realised the reality of my new diagnosis. I am still extremely overwhelmed and emotional- finding it difficult to talk about it aloud. I do not know anyone else personally with T1DM, so that is why I found myself here- to see how others like me are coping.

I am a dentist so have learnt about diabetes in my studies, but I did not know exactly what it meant to one's daily routine. I have started on insulin. It was daunting at first- even though I give injections several times a day to patients- it was completely different injecting myself. I feel like I am getting more confident with the practical side, however I have completely lost my own self-confidence. I have taken off a few days from work since starting insulin as I am anxious to go back and get through a long and tiring day at work where I have to focus on my own patients, rather than worrying about myself.

I keep trying to look at the positives- I was diagnosed at an early stage so did not become seriously ill or end up in hospital- as I have read happened to so many others. I am lucky my husband is also a doctor so he understands more than I do about the condition. My family have been very supportive, though I am yet to share my diagnosis with my friends. I know I have a lot to learn

 

[AndyS]

Hey Tamara,

Sorry to have to say welcome to the club.

First off it does get easier. The first few weeks and months can seem very overwhelming so it is probably a good idea to try and just take things a day at a time for now.
Have you started keeping a diary of your BG levels, your insulin doses and food intake?

Probably the biggest thing to realise for now is that you can still have a mostly normal life, the only thing is you just have to thing about some things a little more carefully.
If you DSN or Specialist has not mentioned and kind of structured education programme like DAFNE then I can highly recommend that you start asking about it. In the meantime there is the BDEC online course (do a search of the forums for the link) which will get you started on carb counting and dose adjustment.

For now however I do recommend that you do not go making any changes to your doses until you speak to your DSN or specialist if they have not covered dose adjustment and carb counting with you.

I am sure @daisy1 will be around at some point and will post the intro for new members but please feel free to ask anything you want to know. There is no such thing as a silly question and you will be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable group of people on this condition. Also you will almost always find someone who knows pretty much what you may be going through.

Best of luck and sorry to have you aboard.

/A

 

[wiserkurtious]

Hi All!
I was only diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a week and a half ago. I went to my Doctor because I had an appointment for my pill review and left finding out I had diabetes. I only mentioned some symptoms I was having as a 'by the by' to rule out my suspicion of having diabetes. I had been feeling very run down for about 4 weeks, constantly thirsty and needing the loo about 4-5 times a night! It didn't really sink in until a few days later once I saw the diabetic specialist nurse and I realised the reality of my new diagnosis. I am still extremely overwhelmed and emotional- finding it difficult to talk about it aloud. I do not know anyone else personally with T1DM, so that is why I found myself here- to see how others like me are coping.

I am a dentist so have learnt about diabetes in my studies, but I did not know exactly what it meant to one's daily routine. I have started on insulin. It was daunting at first- even though I give injections several times a day to patients- it was completely different injecting myself. I feel like I am getting more confident with the practical side, however I have completely lost my own self-confidence. I have taken off a few days from work since starting insulin as I am anxious to go back and get through a long and tiring day at work where I have to focus on my own patients, rather than worrying about myself.

I keep trying to look at the positives- I was diagnosed at an early stage so did not become seriously ill or end up in hospital- as I have read happened to so many others. I am lucky my husband is also a doctor so he understands more than I do about the condition. My family have been very supportive, though I am yet to share my diagnosis with my friends. I know I have a lot to learn

these are all normal emotions when been diagnosed,like most things with time its get easier.BIG HUG!! from me to you

 

[Prem51]

Hi @tamara_p and welcome to the forum. It is a shock when you get that diagnosis, and does take some time to get your head around it all. I'm Type 2 so don't know anything about Type 1, but there are a lot of T1s on the forum who will be able to give you good advice and support.

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi All!
I was only diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a week and a half ago. I went to my Doctor because I had an appointment for my pill review and left finding out I had diabetes. I only mentioned some symptoms I was having as a 'by the by' to rule out my suspicion of having diabetes. I had been feeling very run down for about 4 weeks, constantly thirsty and needing the loo about 4-5 times a night! It didn't really sink in until a few days later once I saw the diabetic specialist nurse and I realised the reality of my new diagnosis. I am still extremely overwhelmed and emotional- finding it difficult to talk about it aloud. I do not know anyone else personally with T1DM, so that is why I found myself here- to see how others like me are coping.

I am a dentist so have learnt about diabetes in my studies, but I did not know exactly what it meant to one's daily routine. I have started on insulin. It was daunting at first- even though I give injections several times a day to patients- it was completely different injecting myself. I feel like I am getting more confident with the practical side, however I have completely lost my own self-confidence. I have taken off a few days from work since starting insulin as I am anxious to go back and get through a long and tiring day at work where I have to focus on my own patients, rather than worrying about myself.

I keep trying to look at the positives- I was diagnosed at an early stage so did not become seriously ill or end up in hospital- as I have read happened to so many others. I am lucky my husband is also a doctor so he understands more than I do about the condition. My family have been very supportive, though I am yet to share my diagnosis with my friends. I know I have a lot to learn

Tamara -welcome aboard.

I'm not T1, but have gone down the same clinical training route as you (although I have not practised for many years). Whilst you and your husband may be many years younger than I, I would urge you not to rely too heavily on what you learned about diabetes at Uni. In my opinion, scant doesn't begin to cover it, once you're on the inside track.

Before long you will likely have a better understanding than your husband, although I guess that very much depends which area of medicine he works in on a daily basis.

If you are in a clinical role still, you may find you need to do a little forward planning, in order to manage any swings in your bloods (erm,.... Particularly of a downward nature), but you'll get there. But, the great news is you are intellectually in the right place, to take on board what you need to know.

Good luck with it all.