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Please can someone help I'm scared

Mgulliver1

Mgulliver1

Newbie
Messages
1
Location
Bournemouth
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm 16 and have been diabetic for 3 years but can't seem to grasp the control of good blood sugars.My father was diabetic and has recently had a double transplant (kidney,pancreas) because he got kidney failure due to poor control and is also blind ironically you would think this would be enough for me to grasp the importance of good blood sugars but that's not all I have seen my dad do through he had constant fits from Hypos which scared the hell out of me when I was just a Young kid which is where my constant high blood sugar come from through pure fear that I too will have a fit and I am just so scared. I need help and tips to get my blood sugars good and normal in order for me to live a healthy life .its the worst at night time when I can't go to bed on anything lower than 14 as I fear I will hypo in the night please help me before it's to late :(
 
Hi Gulliver, welcome to the forum. The good news is it's possible to get good control, and avert the high risk of complications. The bad news is there is a lot of controversy in the best way to go about this. I will give you my suggestions, and allow you to make your own mind up, based on the evidence.

I have found my blood sugars have been so much more stable by following a low carbohydrate diet. It means making some fairly big changes to the way you eat, but the rewards are well worth it. This video explained huge amounts to me.
I would also suggest you read Dr Richard Bernstein's complete diabetes solution. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00FOQS66U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1397999322&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY165
If you do decide to try low carbing, you will probably need to adjust your insulin and do lots of blood testing to keep things safe. This forum has a section dedicated to low carb diets where you can get tips and recipes for tasty low carb food. Before I started following this way of eating I could not cook at all, so it's very possible even without amazing food skills!

You are already on your journey to good diabetes control, and I am so sorry to hear about the problems you and your father have experienced. Keep up the good work you started by posting here and in a few months you will be amazed by how far you have come. Best of luck!
 
Hi Gulliver, I am so sorry you have had such bad experiences at such a young age, I am not surprised you are scared. I am Type2, so not in a position to give you any advice, but you have made a good start by joining this Forum. There are some very lovely people on here that will offer you advice to help you get your blood glucose under control and help with how to deal with night time hypos. If you click on the Forums at the top of this page you will find there is a Forum for Children and Teens, worth having a look so you can communicate with someone your own age.

If you have any questions please ask, you are not alone and hopefull with the help from members here you will soon feel less scared and more able to cope.

Best of luck!

Marilyn x
 
no wonder you are having a hard time, your dad has had terrible complications. I'd be petrified too, I'm surprised your aren't going to bed with a BG of 20 and setting the alarm every hour.
everyones diabetes is different, your diabetes is different than your dads and is probably the main thing I want to tell you.
I guess you haven't had a hypo for a long time, when you have had one before, how did it go?
It might seem hard but have you been able to share how you feel with your mum & dad and Dr & nurse?

You probably know already but, I saw there is an anonymous diabetic help line if you want to talk on the phone to someone
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Talk-to-someone/
I found a teen one too
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/My-life/Teens/Help-and-support/We-can-help/Careline/
 
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My advice to any type 1 trying to get back in control is to test regular, record carbs eaten, dosage, extra activity.
Whatever diet your on, its obvious to limit amount of high sugar foods, drinks, alchohol, as well as high fat/sugar combos like pizzas/cakes/chocs.
Eat at meal times, with small snacks only if needed for extra activity or raise levels to prevent hypos. By not snacking between you will learn very quickly changes need to quick acting insulin, and timings. Eat your last meal by 7pm and you will learn quickly what your basal does through the night from 11/12 pm till morning.
your not wrong being wary of hypos but, your current levels are too high, start by reducing your numbers to between 6~9 to gain confidence of having reduced numbers and hypo free.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
There's no 'quick fix' to it..... BUT.... if you're a bit regimental and keep good records of your blood tests, insulin amount and foods, then it will become automatic to you and MOST times you will get it right.
There are lots of diabetics with wonky results.
Keep talking to your professionals and attend your appointments.
Keep smiling and Good Luck
-x-x-x-
 
Great link Charles... Have toyed with the idea if low carbing and done it a few days at a time before. But always fall off the wagon. Needs proper consideration and planning; that's my aim this time. Off to read Dr Bernstien again :)


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Hello hun... Firstly it's good your here as we can all share our experiences and your deffo not alone! When I was a teen I went weeks without checking my blood sugar... I wanted to just be 'normal' like my friends, but it is SO important to take control of your diabetes and you can live a normal life!
I know what you mean about hypos.... I had a fit in my sleep and was unconscious and I'm still paranoid about night time hypos but I find a blood sugar of 8 is a good level to go to bed on... Try it and see how you feel. You can even set an alarm for a couple hours later and test your blood if you want to. Don't worry, diabetes is a bit*h but with a little hard work you can feel better in no time :)


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I'm kind of in the same boat at the moment! I had really good control to start with (Had diabetes sine I was 13) but since I was 17 it has been very up and down at the moment down! I am finding it really hard to get back into the swing of things. I think your worry is really understandable, and like you, I worry so much about the long term effects but I can't seem to stop :( . Best of luck and I hope you know you're not alone! x
 
Barbiebandit said:
I'm kind of in the same boat at the moment! I had really good control to start with (Had diabetes sine I was 13) but since I was 17 it has been very up and down at the moment down! I am finding it really hard to get back into the swing of things. I think your worry is really understandable, and like you, I worry so much about the long term effects but I can't seem to stop :( . Best of luck and I hope you know you're not alone! x
Click to expand...
Hi barb, I'm a new T2 so I know didly squat, thats olden talk for F'all, but from reading this forum I know you are not alone in being a young woman, whose having trouble keeping the BG under control and hitting an emotional wall
 
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Hey, i had a similar problem a few years back I've had type 1 diabetes for 7 nearly 8 years no and I'm 19 and still have my up and down days.
It is a stressful situation you are in especially with the experience you've had with your dad (so sorry about that by the way) but you've made a good start by asking for help...
What i did was talk to my nutritionist and diabetes nurse and doctors and explained how the whole thing frustrated me, they told me to test more regularly and make sure i did my correction doses if needed, i also got told by my nutritionist that the foods i was eating may have been low GI (slow releasing energy) so the insulin i took may not have been sufficient enough to cover what i had eaten so to take two smaller doses and test later on and see if that helped and it did. Im not saying what worked for me will work for you but ask your doctors and nurses, you may need to go on the pump if you aren't already, as i know quite a few diabetics who had a similar problem to and once they went on it they had the best control of their diabetes in years.
I hope this was helpful for you :)


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hi Everyone, so glad you youngsters have all managed to connect up and support each other, you all sound pretty positive which is brilliant, you have done the right thing by joining the Forum and asking for help. It definitly helps to share your experiences and know that your are not alone.

Well done, look after yourselves.

Marilyn x
 
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