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Newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes I'm a bit worried n confused

C

chloe_campbelll

Member
Messages
22
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Needles lol
Hi I'm chloe Ian 17 and just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and I'm now insulin dependant I'm a bit confused and worried I would like some help and advice thanks
 
Hi Chloe

Welcome! Plenty of us T1 here. What are you worried about? Is there anything in particular you are worried about, or is it just the stress of the diagnosis?


Blogging at drivendiabetic.wordpress.com
 
I have just found its a lot to take in, there's so much I need to learn. I also have a fear of injections relying on my mum to give me my insulin. Hope that one day soon I will be able to do everything on my own as I'm finding I'm not going out with my friends as much as I'm worrying about getting my injections


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Take 1 day at a time. It is a huge shock when you're diagnosed, but you'll find you adapt. When were you diagnosed?


Blogging at drivendiabetic.wordpress.com
 
All very very new then!

I was diagnosed a year ago. Thankfully I adapted very well.

Knowledge is power with this condition. Take your time and read lots. Learn how carbohydrate will affect your body and you will slowly work out how you should dose your insulin.

I don't have a fear of needles so I can't imagine how hard it must be for you in that respect.


Blogging at drivendiabetic.wordpress.com
 
I'm sure you'll be fine, Chloe.

And actually things are not so difficult to take in - I mean there isn't really so much to take in - as some might have us all believe.

I like things simple. (I'm sometimes a bit simple myself.)

Please ask me a question or two, whenever you like..
 
Last edited by a moderator:
chloe_campbelll said:
Yeah .. Oh really that's good you've adapted thou, hope I do too. Yeah I guess it will take time I have a lot to learn.
Thank you so much for your advice !!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...

The more practice you get the easier things seem. Can you test your own blood glucose or does you mother do that for you at the moment too?


Blogging at drivendiabetic.wordpress.com
 
Hi and welcome. Yes there are many on the forum who inject. Do ask questions over the coming weeks. I inject in the stomach and find 9 times out of 10 it's painless. You'll soon find the best places and move them around a bit. Keeping the carbs down will avoid any weight gain and minimise the number of injection units needed which all helps avoid any inflammation. I've had no problems at all over the last year since starting. Insulin types and 'regimes' do vary so when you get used to yours do ask any questions in the T1 forum and we can try to help
 
Those clunky 'pen-injectors' people are now automatically given (young children too), I don't use them at all.

For one thing, I can't see what I'm doing because they're so big and fat: I cannot see the injection site.

So I just use what any nurse or doctor would use: a simple disposable syringe.

They are far simpler and more comfortable to use. (The smaller, the better - because 'smaller' means 'more accurate': I use 0.3 ml syringes.)

But you may well find that medical professionals will discourage you from trying anything so unorthodox.

I normally inject in my thigh or buttock.

If I inject in my stomach area, I find the effect to be more rapid in onset.

But that can sometimes be useful, if that's the effect that I want.
 
I use pens, my cousin uses syringes. It is entirely personal preference.

As you are wary of the needles I would probably advise using the pens as they seem less "clinical". I have no problem seeing the site when using them. Mine aren't clunky at all.

Doing your own testing is a great step! Just take your time with the injections


Blogging at drivendiabetic.wordpress.com
 
Personal preference, indeed.

The 0.3ml syringe is the size of a fine cigarette, and half the weight.

Also, you might like to try an alternative method of testing.

In addition to the meter, I also use visually read strips, which are available on prescription. (http://www.betachek.com/uk/) Glucoflex-R are readily available from your chemist.

They are much simpler to use and easier to carry around than a meter.

And unlike a digital read-out, I find that the visually read strips have a feel about them - which is nice.

But to make the best use of them, one's blood-sugar needs to be fairly well controlled. For in the case of the visually read strips especially, the lower the reading, the more accurate the reading.
 
I like that the pen doesn't really look like an injection so it's not as scary .. Thanks for all your feedback!! Another thing I tested my blood glucose levels this morning before breakfast and they were at 10.3 but then before lunch they had went up to 18.2 .. Is there anyway I could bring them down ??


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Oh! And I don't use those nasty, spring-loaded gadgets to get the blood sample, either. (For a small child especially, I imagine they must be frightening merely on account of the snapping noise they make.)

I just use the bare lancet, which is of course exceptionally sharp on its own.

And I gently jab the side of my finger.
 
chloe_campbelll said:
I like that the pen doesn't really look like an injection so it's not as scary .. Thanks for all your feedback!! Another thing I tested my blood glucose levels this morning before breakfast and they were at 10.3 but then before lunch they had went up to 18.2 .. Is there anyway I could bring them down ??
Click to expand...

Are you on basal/bolus? If you are then you can include a correction dose with your meals, as your newly diagnosed I would speak with your DSN about it first.

btw, welcome to the forum and it does get easier over time, the first few months are by far the worst :)
 
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