Please help me.

[nickmorgan]

Hi everyone, my name is Nick.

I am a new member and I am in denial. I have been suffering for the last 3-4 years. And the time has come to get some help from the pro's.

My background:
I am 26, lead quite an active lifestyle, full time student, part time job washing dishes. I was diagnosed in 2007 and it hurt to hear those words. I love my food, drink less than a pint of alcohol per day (hardly ever because I don't like the taste). My long time girlfriend Mel has been a rock, stating that she will do everything she can to help. I am being stubborn and selfish and have only just realised that this is now becoming very serious. The problems have started to occur thick and fast.

My dosage:
This is odd. I have no clue how to work out what I need to inject and how to calculate carbs etc. I have no idea what the jargon means either. Whenever I test my sugars they are very high, sometimes not even reading because they are over 33.3....(not sure what the terminology is for this either).
I am still injecting though. I am injecting around 14-16 novorapid before each meal. I know this is wrong as this is still the exact amount that my diabetic nurse asked me to start off with around 4 years ago.

Writing this down has actually helped me realise how stupid I am actually being. I really just need some help. When I have been back to see my diabetic 'specialist' they have done nothing but patronise me the whole time. Although I know they are only trying to help, I really hate hospitals.

I am injecting myself in the stomach because the advise given was to inject below the belly button. I have noticed that my stomach has bulged slightly. I used to have a nice flat stomach, is there another site that would be better 'on the go' when in public and will be stomach bulge decrease?I cannot remember a time when my sugars have been less than 10. I really need some help but feel wrong asking people for help when I have been so stupid with my control. If I could see a solution written down in black and white it would feel amazing.

Also I play indoor football once a week. Although I take a fizzy drink with me I am worried.

I feel fine in myself generally. I am worried that when I am low I am damaging my body when I 'binge' eat a whole cake or a bag of chocolates to get myself to feeling normal. Oh God, even writing it makes me feel stupid.

I know I am ranting, but I feel I need to get it all down to give everyone the best possible outlook of my ways. Any help would be great.

Today is the start of my new year, I cannot wait to get my life on track, I just need a bit of friendly guidance.

Thank you all for listening to my life changing plea. Hope to hear from someone soon. Nick

 

[annettekp]

Re: Please help me...

Hi Nick

Joining the forum is an excellent start!

You really need to go and see your DSN ask for help and then listen to the advice given without feeling you're being told off! You could ask to on a DAFNE course to help you count carbs and get control back.

Just knowing you need to sort yourself out is the best place to start.

Good luck

Annette

 

[lovinglife]

Re: Please help me...

Hi nick welcome to the forum

I'm afraid I cant offer much advice as I am T2 not on insulin but just wanted to say you have come to the right place - we have some very knowledgeable T1's here that will be able to help you.

You have already taken the very big first step in coming here and telling your story so well done! - ask as many questions as you like and don't feel stupid - we have all been in your shoes at one time or another whether diabetes related or not.

I am sure a T1 will be along to give you help and advice and in the mean time have a good browse around the forum - it has loads of info and tips from all sort of people both T1 & T2 that I am sure you will find useful

 

[nickmorgan]

Re: Please help me...

Thank you so much for your reply Annette. I have just been refreshing the page waiting for a reply, haha. I have heard of a DAFNE course, and it is held quite close to where I live in Wales. The only problem with that being that they want a regular diary of my regular intakes and carbs before I can apply apparently. Its a vicious circle. I will be purchasing a book today called Diabetes for Dummies, hopefully it will explain most things I need in order to sort myself out. I should have done things like this sooner I know. Thank you for the advice, I will be updating with some progress soon. x

 

[nickmorgan]

Re: Please help me...

Thankyou for your speedy reply, I really want to be an active member of this forum. I will post up questions and changes I feel relevant to aide me in this process. Once again, thank you for your words of encouragement, hope it is not to late to sort my life out.

 

[TheScribbler]

Re: Please help me...

Hi Nick

Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. Those readings of yours are very high so it is great you want to do something about getting them down. You don't say what long-lasting insulin you ate on, but I have found the key to good control is to get that dosage right. Then you can concentrate on matching short-acting insulin to the carb content of the food you eat.

You need to circulate your injection sites. If you use one spot too much, not only can it become lumpy, but injecting can become painful as well. I've been told that insulin is absorbed quickest through injecting into the stomach, but you could inject into your thigh instead.

Good luck

 

[Frankie W]

Re: Please help me

Hi Nick
Your readings really frighten me, it is good that you have asked for help.
Please get in touch with your Healthcare Team. Take a copy of these mails with you and "STRESS" how worried you are and that you want to get this resolved urgently. They cannot help you unless you fess up.
It could be that the insulin you are on is not the right one for you and needs to be changed. What is your background insulin? Do you use a pen device or a syringe to inject? Try changing your injection sites, this could well be why you are getting lumps. You should rotate them every 3 days or so.
If you can't get to see your Diabetes Team please make an appointment to see your GP as they may be able to make an urgent referral and get you sorted out quicker.
Please take control as it seems up to now it has been controlling you.

Best of Luck
Frankie W

 

[AndyS]

Re: Please help me

Hi Nick,

Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. Don't be too hard on yourself, you have already taken an excellent step by admiting to yourself that it is time to get serious obout your condition.

I was only diagnosed 18 months ago and I know how much of a shock that was for me. Like you, I LOVE my food.

Let me see if I can break this all down a bit.
Calculating your insulin dose:
1) This is a useful site to get you started on DAFNE http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
2) Speak to your Diabetic Specialist Nurse (DSN)
3) Try and get yourself signed up for a DAFNE course (DAFNE = Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating)

Be aware that there is no quick fix.
Since everyone is different there is no fixed set of instructions you can follow that will make everything perfect for you so you will need to do a littel trial and error.

It took me the best part of 6 - 12 months to really get to grips with things but I now mostly live a normal life. I more or less eat what I feel like and do all the activities I used to do before I was diagnosed.

The help is there and you have made an excellent step realising you need to take charge of this, now you just need to build up the support links. Lucky for you this is an excellent one

Best of luck

Andy

 

[Catherine_h]

Re: Please Help Me...

Hi Nick

Well done you for taking the first steps towards sorting out your diabetes.

I have been diagnosed about 18 months and am getting used to it all.

You need to give your diabetic nurse a ring now!! (no time like the present) to arrange an appointment - I'm sure they will be happy to sort out your medication.

You say you feel well now but wait until your insulin is sorted out you will feel so much better!

Take care

Catherine

 

[dectjoh]

Hi Nick - I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago and am trying to get my head around it all. I am looking at the whole thing as a mathematical problem which just needs to be solved several times a day. I have a very logical mind and this kind of approach is helping to detach me from the emotion of it all - most of the time anyway! My team of nurses is lovely and I honestly think that your team will think more of you if you can be honest with them than they will do if you continue in denial. At the end of the day, denial wastes their time and puts you at serious risk at the same time - no brainer? Be brave, bite the bullet. Tracy

 

[alaska]

Almost exactly 2 years ago I was in a similar position in that I took stock and faced facts that my diabetes was out of control.

The things that helped me were as follows:

• Getting a good routine
  Getting the basics right (I had a problem with forgetting injections)
  Writing down my results each day

I told myself to try and keep this up for a month if I could.

I managed to keep to this and my blood sugar improved a lot and became a real platform which I have since been building on.

About 2 weeks into this first month, I also cut down on my carbohydrate intake which made it easier for me to control my blood sugar.

I would recommend first concentrating on the basics and meanwhile, arrange to see your healthcare team to arrange a way for you learn about carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment.

Good luck Nick

Edmund

 

[alaska]

... Also, the over-snacking is likely to be your body's reaction to being outside of the right numbers. I was doing the same thing for a number of years. Skipping meals and being either too high or low on sugar were generally what I found to be two of the main causes for this.

 

[neilshots]

Nick

I was only diagnosed T1 about 6 months ago. But as some of the previous posters have said getting the insulin dosages right does seem to be the key particularly the long lasting insulin.

I have also found that getting into a routine with diet timings of readings and a bit of carb counting has also really made a difference. I'm not perfect I still manage the odd treat here and there mainly to prevent me getting really cheesed off with the having diabetes thing.

You should get in touch with your diabetic team though, if they are anything like mine they will help if they can. This place is the right place to find things out too, I don't post much but I do look in every day, I have learnt so much from here its unbelivable. Its also great to know that you are not the only one in the same boat. So ask away there are plenty on here that seem to know a thing or two about diabetes and also that everybody is different in how they manage it.

Neil

 

[noblehead]

Re: Please help me...

Thank you so much for your reply Annette. I have just been refreshing the page waiting for a reply, haha. I have heard of a DAFNE course, and it is held quite close to where I live in Wales. The only problem with that being that they want a regular diary of my regular intakes and carbs before I can apply apparently. Its a vicious circle. I will be purchasing a book today called Diabetes for Dummies, hopefully it will explain most things I need in order to sort myself out. I should have done things like this sooner I know. Thank you for the advice, I will be updating with some progress soon. x

Keeping a diary of blood glucose readings, insulin doses and carbs consumed is a prerequisite to enrolling on DAFNE and thereafter, only by recording your results can you analyse where you are going wrong...... or right for that matter.

Never read the book but heard some good things about Diabetes for Dummies, hope things improve for you soon!

Nigel

 

[nickmorgan]

Right. Here goes. My update on the day so far.
Firstly, thank you everyone for your concern and your feedback regarding my plea.

Today I have been a very busy boy......

.....I went to WHSmith and ordered my first book on Diabetes called 'Diabetes type 1 for Dummies'. I did laugh, I didn't know there was such a thing. I feel that the £14.99 price tag was well worth it. Should be here within a week, fingers crossed.

Next, I made an appointment with my DSN <<<< Yep, thats right, abbreviations already.
She said that because I haven't been to see them in over a year I would have to be re-referred to the Clinic. So....I phoned my GP and arranged an appointment for the not to speedy 18th of Jan to firstly have a blood test and secondly look at a diet plan and show me how to control my carbs.

I also mentioned to Viv (my DSN) that I had been advised to get information on a local DAFNE course. She was very impressed that I had heard of the course and said that she will refer me after she had seen me. I cant wait to get myself sorted out.

I am not impressed with my monitor. I have done some research and found that mine is easily one of the bulkiest. It is a OneTouch Vito and looks a bit chunky. Although it works properly and I really like the display, it doesn't have a backlight and I need some advice on good ones with a bit of a gadgety feel to them.

I really want to change my injection site. I have always injected into my stomach, I vary between left and right sides but it is going lumpy and does hurt sometimes even with a fresh needle. So, I would like to inject somewhere else. A friend (who is also T1) suggested I inject into the fatty part of my tricep. Will this hurt? Will my arm get lumpy? How effective is this site, if at all?

I have also looked into carb counting, which looks very complicated at the moment so I will be leaving that for a while. How much to inject for every 10g of carbs maybe?

By the way, just to let you know I am on Levemir for my long acting insulin before bed I inject 24 Units.

I will be starting my new schedule tonight. I am going to test before each meal, state what I had for each meal and test 2 hours after for each meal. I will then put up these results on this forum in 1 week.

Tonight I have a game of 5-a-side football. I could really do with some advice. What to do beforehand if I am low/high etc?

Another answer to a quick question - I use a silver Penfill with replaceable cartridges.

Today I also spent a little bit more money and purchased quite a fancy Filofax. I am hoping that this will aide me in keeping a thorough record of my results so that I can see progress for myself and also show my DSN when I see her on the 18th.

I feel very lucky to have found this site and the pleasant people who have already replied to me.
A very welcoming feeling has hit me. I feel part of something special and I am going to stick with it and beat it. 'I WILL NOT BE CONTROLLED', (I actually shouted this, haha)

Cheers everybody and a Happy New Year as well.

Nick

 

[cugila]

Have a read of this post from yesterday........it's about exercise such as Football.....

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=18805#p171027

 

[HLW]

Firstly congratulations for starting to take control of your diabetes, I know it is hard!

Re: blood glucose meters, you can go and have a look at them in a chemist, to compare the sizes etc. My recommendations: I like the lancet device that comes with the accu-chek aviva nano (and the aviva I assume), the multiclix lancet, it is by far the best (out of 3 different ones) that I have used. Whatever meter you choose I would really recommend this lancet device.
The meter itself (aviva nano) I like too, but one of the other ones I used was much the same just slightly bigger (I don't remember the name - it was blue if that helps!). The Optimum Exceed I have (I use it to test ketones) on the other hand is totally pants. It's slower, it needs more blood, you have to faff about with a coding strip (the nano has a coding chip too, but it's less diddly), and the strips are individually wrapped in foil. The nano looks much better too.

I have to admit my total ignorance re: anatomy, I have no idea which part of the arm the tricep is. I was told I could inject into the outside of my upper arms, if that's the bit you mean (I can't hold the pen still with just one hand though so have to use places I can reach with both hands). I was also told 4mm needles are best for this to ensure you don't get muscle by mistake, and that the shorter needles help prevent the formation of the fatty lumps.

I use stomach for short acting, thighs for long acting.

You can inject other places too: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/insul ... ation.html mentions some.

Insulin to carb rations vary, I think you might have to experiment.

 

[AndyS]

Go Nick, go!

Injection sites. You should ask your DSN, they usually have a sheet with all of them.

I use stomach, triceps, thighs and buttocks, so pretty much all of them. It took me a while to work up to all those locations.

Keeping a log of everything, your sugars, your insulin doses, the carb content of the food you eat (check the labels. Look for total carb count not sugars. You may need some accurate scales for those that only give Carbs per 100g)
As was said earlier the DSN will need to see this to help adjust and also for your DAFNE course.

I got fed up with carrying around a diary and found a free app for my Android phone called OnTrack that allows you to track everything.

Testers, I use the OneTouch range. UltraSmart at home and Ultra Easy for out and about.

Good luck and keep the momentum going.

A

 

[nickmorgan]

Hey hey Guys and Gals. Today I am feeling lifted....I have been keeping a diary. I just realised that my last entries and questions were very long. I will keep them shorter from now on. Right, I realised after talking to a friend that I have been doing something stupid. Just before my dinner which was at 6.20pm I tested my blood : it was 27.9. I made the mistake of injecting 20 units and then eating whereas I should have just injected and not eaten until testing later. This makes perfect sense.
Before footie at 9.30pm I tested : 11.1 so I left any injections, I did have a whey protein shake during football, came home and tested at 11.30pm and it was 11 when I tested again. I am so so so happy with my one day progress. Cant wait to get up to test myself. I am going to inject 24 units of Levimir before bed. Thanks everyone. I will be looking at new meters tonight and I shall be buying one tomorrow.

 

[HLW]

I tested my blood : it was 27.9. I made the mistake of injecting 20 units and then eating whereas I should have just injected and not eaten until testing later.

It's OK to combine the correction dose with the meal dose and then eat I thought? Thats what I do if it is high when I test before a meal. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.