The Honeymoon Period ...

[SherwoodT1]

Hi all. I was hoping the community could tell me about some of their experiences of T1 during the honeymoon period.

I've recently been diagnosed (Late June '22), and appear to be very much in the honeymoon phase - I'm presently injecting an average of 12 units as a daily total of basal and bolus insulin. Even then, it seems like I am constantly needing to feed the insulin I inject. I've raised this with my diabetes team, and they've suggested to decrease my dosing even further, to 4 units of basal insulin and a carb ratio of 1:60. I suppose, I'm just baffled that I am so sensitive to insulin right now and it's quite honestly the opposite of what I expected in the first days of diagnosis. It'd be comforting to hear this is entirely normal at this stage of my diagnosis!

I'd love to hear other people's experiences during the honeymoon period.

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @SherwoodT1 , I think mine was around 8 months, i spoke with a t1 consultant who believed it could last up to a couple of years, however for me it was a gradually development to insulin dependency and there were times where the function of the pancreas would clash with my insulin calculation which was a pain to deal with as levels were yo-yoing alot. Getting doses right and learning as much as you can during this period is really helpful, before full blown dependency hits.

 

[SherwoodT1]

Hi @Juicyj. Oddly, that is comforting to hear. I've certainly been struggling with the clash of my natural insulin production and dosed insulin. Namely the sporadic nature of what I produce!

It's been fairly disheartening to be doing your best to get it right, only to have back to back hypos for no obvious reason. If it weren't for my positive antibody tests, I'd be questioning my diagnosis - silly I know! Thank you for sharing your experience!

 

[Deleted member 527103]

Couple of years?
My honeymoon period was more than 8 years.
This might sound scary but it was fine. It was just that over 8 years I would need to review my insulin dose every few months and increase it slightly.
After 8 years, it stabilised and now it is more like a need to decrease it for a few days when I have a exercise spurt or increase it for a few days when I am unwell or stressed.

 

[Ipodlistener]

Hey! I'm a year in now. Started on 14u of basal. Now only 3u basal. Getting the basal rate right was my biggest break through. Because then it makes the bolus of 1:15g carb easy. Sometimes you'll get times like breakfast. Where you'll have to eat your meal over a few hours. Instead of all at once like normal people. This is how it works for me. But I like to be 100 or close Time In Range

 

[SherwoodT1]

Hey! I'm a year in now. Started on 14u of basal. Now only 3u basal. Getting the basal rate right was my biggest break through. Because then it makes the bolus of 1:15g carb easy. Sometimes you'll get times like breakfast. Where you'll have to eat your meal over a few hours. Instead of all at once like normal people. This is how it works for me. But I like to be 100 or close Time In Range

Hi there! I started on 14u to begin with - although this was only very briefly while still in hospital. I've since been on 6u of basal. But, I've just been advised to lower this even more, to 4u, and to use a 1:60 carb ratio. I have to say, basal changes are a bit of a mystery to me. I'm surprised at how it impacts glucose levels based on the last couple days I've had.

 

[Ipodlistener]

Hi there! I started on 14u to begin with - although this was only very briefly while still in hospital. I've since been on 6u of basal. But, I've just been advised to lower this even more, to 4u, and to use a 1:60 carb ratio. I have to say, basal changes are a bit of a mystery to me. I'm surprised at how it impacts glucose levels based on the last couple days I've had.

I personally only make changes in 1u amounts with basal then wait 48hrs before making another. (This is not advice) just info as I'm not a doctor. The way I understand it. Basal is to counteract the glucose your liver puts into your blood. As the only time I go low. Is when I have alcohol. As the liver processors that instead of producing glucose. If I was a pump user I would suspend bolus for this. A helpful tip from this is. 1u of alcohol normally takes 1hr to be processed by the liver. So as long as you know what your drinking. It's another calculation we can make for a roundabout when we are safe time. However everyone is different. I'm a very active person walking 7+ miles a day also.

 

[Ipodlistener]

Also I had a fortnight off work not long back. Not doing a lot. When I returned to work and being v active I was a lot more sensitive to my bolus insulin. No two days are the same for intake of food. My bolus has been the same since about April. As I'm active at work I only bolus at main meals. As food I eat at work disappears through the exercise I'm doing.