Hi I was diagnosed as type 1 About 2 weeks ago after ending up in hospital with diabetic Keto acidosis, is just had a urine infection. It was such a shock, I’m just getting used to it, the diabetic nurses have been great. My eyesight isn’t right though they say it should get back to normal. I’m due to go back to work next week which I’m finding a bit scary. I have the freestyle libre which is good but there seems to be a big difference to that and when I do the finger prick test. Any advice is welcome.
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Newly diagnosed
- Thread starter Kaz2girls
- Start Date
porl69
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- Pontypool, South Wales
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
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Hi @Kaz2girls and welcome to the club no one wants to be in!
The Libre is measuring interstitial fluid and not blood so the results will be around 15 - 20 mins behind a finger prick test. Also under 4mmol and over 10 they are very inaccurate. If you are finding a huge difference then a phone call to Abbotts to report the issue is in order.....they are very helpful and will replace a sensor that is a long way out!
As for your eye sight, yeah it will get better as your BGs come back into line and you get yourself into a diabetic "routine" as such.
The Libre is measuring interstitial fluid and not blood so the results will be around 15 - 20 mins behind a finger prick test. Also under 4mmol and over 10 they are very inaccurate. If you are finding a huge difference then a phone call to Abbotts to report the issue is in order.....they are very helpful and will replace a sensor that is a long way out!
As for your eye sight, yeah it will get better as your BGs come back into line and you get yourself into a diabetic "routine" as such.
- Messages
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- Worcestershire
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- Hypos, rude people, ignorance and grey days.
Hello and welcome @Kaz2girls 
Well your in the right place for support - here you have lots of experienced type 1's who can help support you
It's alot to take in at diagnosis, just make sure you have a chat with your employer and make them aware of your condition, the important part is giving you the opportunity to manage your condition in the workplace, so a safe place to test and inject (and not a loo!), what to do in case you are experiencing a low blood sugar event, my personal advice is to tell someone close to you at work what to do in the event you go low as it helps to feel supported when you have a hypo, so someone to hand you glucose and check in every 20 mins to make sure your ok.
It takes time to get used to things, but you will, getting back to normal as much as you can is a priority and work helps to normalise things, so hope this goes well for you.
Well your in the right place for support - here you have lots of experienced type 1's who can help support you
It's alot to take in at diagnosis, just make sure you have a chat with your employer and make them aware of your condition, the important part is giving you the opportunity to manage your condition in the workplace, so a safe place to test and inject (and not a loo!), what to do in case you are experiencing a low blood sugar event, my personal advice is to tell someone close to you at work what to do in the event you go low as it helps to feel supported when you have a hypo, so someone to hand you glucose and check in every 20 mins to make sure your ok.
It takes time to get used to things, but you will, getting back to normal as much as you can is a priority and work helps to normalise things, so hope this goes well for you.
Marie 2
Well-Known Member
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- Type of diabetes
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Honestly, it gets easier as time goes on. It's just a steep learning curve at the beginning.
The Libre can be off, for most people it only is off by a lot the first 12-24 hours you wear it. But some sensors are off more than others and if it stays off by more than 20 or 30% you can call Libre for a replacement. It will cut down on meter testing and is invaluable to show your responses to food, exercise etc by it's trends alone, If it's headed up you know you might need a correction or to wait to eat. Or if it's headed down you might need to eat something right away. As @porl69 has said it measures interstitial fluid which is going to be about 15 minutes behind your meter.
At the beginning you are in what we call your honeymoon period, it varies how long you are in it. But it can even last years. It's where you still make some insulin, and slowly you stop. This can be a more difficult period sometimes because one day you need more insulin and another your pancreas decides to help and you need less. But over time you will slowly need more insulin.
I don't know if you are on set doses right now. They sometimes start you at set doses. But learn to carb count, you will need to know eventually anyways and the sooner you learn the better control you will have.
And the most important thing is to always keep a hypo treatment within easy reach at all times. Jellie babies work or glucose tabs. I suggest juice or something else easy kept by your bed. And some kind of hypo treatment in your purse to take with you.
The Libre can be off, for most people it only is off by a lot the first 12-24 hours you wear it. But some sensors are off more than others and if it stays off by more than 20 or 30% you can call Libre for a replacement. It will cut down on meter testing and is invaluable to show your responses to food, exercise etc by it's trends alone, If it's headed up you know you might need a correction or to wait to eat. Or if it's headed down you might need to eat something right away. As @porl69 has said it measures interstitial fluid which is going to be about 15 minutes behind your meter.
At the beginning you are in what we call your honeymoon period, it varies how long you are in it. But it can even last years. It's where you still make some insulin, and slowly you stop. This can be a more difficult period sometimes because one day you need more insulin and another your pancreas decides to help and you need less. But over time you will slowly need more insulin.
I don't know if you are on set doses right now. They sometimes start you at set doses. But learn to carb count, you will need to know eventually anyways and the sooner you learn the better control you will have.
And the most important thing is to always keep a hypo treatment within easy reach at all times. Jellie babies work or glucose tabs. I suggest juice or something else easy kept by your bed. And some kind of hypo treatment in your purse to take with you.
I hope you are re finding your way around the new routine of daily injections. Fantastic advice from the others above, that’ll really help you. Best of luck with work and agree with hypo treatments by you, as you may find your numbers are different in work than at home. I’d let people know you are type 1 too.
As for the Libre, I self funded a few times (waiting to see if can get presicriotn, lots of loops to go through) and I found one sensor was spot on, one was more out by up to 2-4 which is a lot! I had caught it on the door frame and couldn’t see that it was actually hanging a little loose. So the firmer it is stuck on the better in my case! As others dais there’s a delay as it’s the fluid not blood.
But the consultant said to me it was more for looking at patterns. I found it really useful to see what my levels did at night, as I’d no idea before. I also found it reduced my anxiety about hypo when I knew was going to be more active or out and about.
Also reach out to your nurses if you need advice or aren’t sure if doses need tweaking etc, really helps having someone given advice and monitor.
As for the Libre, I self funded a few times (waiting to see if can get presicriotn, lots of loops to go through) and I found one sensor was spot on, one was more out by up to 2-4 which is a lot! I had caught it on the door frame and couldn’t see that it was actually hanging a little loose. So the firmer it is stuck on the better in my case! As others dais there’s a delay as it’s the fluid not blood.
But the consultant said to me it was more for looking at patterns. I found it really useful to see what my levels did at night, as I’d no idea before. I also found it reduced my anxiety about hypo when I knew was going to be more active or out and about.
Also reach out to your nurses if you need advice or aren’t sure if doses need tweaking etc, really helps having someone given advice and monitor.
