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Type 1, 26, male newbie questions

mykey

mykey

Member
Messages
10
Location
Nottingham
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Diet only
Hey guys,

So I just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, today. Not the best news I've had in my life but I'd rather know and do it right than not know and hurt myself!



They're starting me on basal bolus first thing in the morning. I don't know what this is, or any of the other names quite yet - still getting to grips with it all. Does anyone have any newbie tips? I'm not an anti-needle guy as such, but still get a little shivver at the thought of it! I know it's a bit early to consider a pump as I don't have any idea how my body would deal with the new routine, probably take a few months even a year to really suss out my situation but can anyone shed some light onto when a pump is a better idea than the injections?

I've also lost a bit of weight lately. My dagonsis came after losing weight, feeling tried and urinating constantly for a few days. As the insulin regime starts to set in, will I regain my lost weight? The doccys say I should do but it'd be nice to know how it feels from someone else who's been throught it. It's a really puzzling position to be in :(

In regards to the news I'll have to be strict with my food. First thing I thought is my diet is usually pretty good anyway, lots of porridge, lentils, veg, nuts and so on. I don't think I'll have to change much in the big scheme of things, gonna miss a few little treasured items though. All of this being said, was has strucky me as wierd is I've been craving sweet stuff loads, I went from not eating anything sweet for years to gorging on chocolate and sweets daily for the past 2 months. Guess my body was trying to give me a nudge in the right direction!

I hope you guys can help

Feeling a little tender about it all really, still hasn't sunk in.

Cheers

Mike
 
mykey said:
Hey guys,

So I just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, today. Not the best news I've had in my life but I'd rather know and do it right than not know and hurt myself!


y
They're starting me on basal bolus first thing in the morning. I don't know what this is, or any of the other names quite yet - still getting to grips with it all. Does anyone have any newbie tips? I'm not an anti-needle guy as such, but still get a little shivver at the thought of it! I know it's a bit early to consider a pump as I don't have any idea how my body would deal with the new routine, probably take a few months even a year to really suss out my situation but can anyone shed some light onto when a pump is a better idea than the injections?

I've also lost a bit of weight lately. My dagonsis came after losing weight, feeling tried and urinating constantly for a few days. As the insulin regime starts to set in, will I regain my lost weight? The doccys say I should do but it'd be nice to know how it feels from someone else who's been throught it. It's a really puzzling position to be in :(

In regards to the news I'll have to be strict with my food. First thing I thought is my diet is usually pretty good anyway, lots of porridge, lentils, veg, nuts and so on. I don't think I'll have to change much in the big scheme of things, gonna miss a few little treasured items though. All of this being said, was has strucky me as wierd is I've been craving sweet stuff loads, I went from not eating anything sweet for years to gorging on chocolate and sweets daily for the past 2 months. Guess my body was trying to give me a nudge in the right direction!

I hope you guys can help

Feeling a little tender about it all really, still hasn't sunk in.

Cheers

Mike
Click to expand...
Hya Myk.
I'm a T2 so can't help with the stuff you're talking about.
Welcome aboard.
Not many people around at this time of night to answer your questions.
Are you in the U.K?
 
Hi Mike!
I'm Kaitlynn I've had Type 1 Diabetes for 3 years now :)
To answer your questions about the pump I believe between 1-2 years after having diabetes is a good time to start considering a pump so you can get used to the routine and be more knowledgeable about how your body reacts to certain things... personally I'm working towards a pump right now! :)
As for the weight I was over weight before I got diagnosed and when I started feeling sick before I got diagnosed I wasn't eating, drinking lots of fluids, urinating a lot, and losing weight like crazy. After I started taking insulin my body kept losing weight but at a slower more healthy rate.
With your diet the doctors are going to be more strict at first and you might be pretty hungry (I was) but after a couple months my doctors said I was able to eat more carbs. But if you're craving something a good thing to remember is that you can have everything in moderation. Just don't go over board with it have a little bit.
Unfortunately it's going to be extremely hard to cope with at first but you'll get the hang of it! I'm young but I know a lot about this disease so if you have any questions or concerns I'm just a message away! :)
 
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@mykey

Hello Mike and welcome to the forum :)

There is a lot to learn to start with but the members on this forum will all help you and answer the many questions you will have. Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 140,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
Welcome! It is a lot of information to absorb but you will get there.

Basal-bolus is a flexible way of managing your blood glucose. You take a slow acting insulin(basal) that lasts for 24 hours. This counteracts the glucose your liver produces all the time. You then have fast acting insulin(bolus) with meals that counters the blood sugar spike after meals. It means you get to eat when you like and gives good control.

I also lost weight before being diagnosed and I have kept it off but whether you gain after diagnosis is probably more to do with how skinny you now are. As to the sweet cravings, when you are undiagnosed and are running high blood sugars it is because the body is not using the energy from the glucose because there is insufficient insulin. Loads of sugar but your body won't use it. Because of that it thinks it is starving so starts to burn fat and muscle for energy. Your body thinks it needs more energy so you start to eat more sugary things which makes the problem worse!

Good luck! You will be managing the condition in no time.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. It can be a lot to take in at first, feeling anxious and a little overwhelmed too. This is a great place for lots of helpful advice and support, also there are some other newbie type 1's. who probably feel the same.

Take care and all the best

RRB :)
 
hi mykey
welcome to the forum:)
it is an enormous amount to take in and can take a while to get sorted in your head.
just remember to take things 1 day at a time -- try not to worry --
we are all here to help with any questions you may have , to offer comfort if you get a bit low , and to laugh at some of the funny things we all get up to being D ( low blood sugar times ).

i have been diagnosed T1 for 42 years and I'm still here and happy with life !!:D
 
Hi and welcome. You're on the best insulin regime. If you haven't yet been told to count carbs for each meal you will be soon and this gives excellent overall blood suagr control. It will take a week or two for the GP/DN to get your dosage right. Try to keep the carbs down to avoid weight gain as the insulin will now enable the body to use the carbs. Be aware that porridge is not the best cereal as it's all carbs. Believe it or not something like eggs and bacon is better. Do come back with any questions.
 
Hi and welcome! I'm 7 weeks since diagnosis as a type 1 so what your going through is very much fresh in my mind!! When I first started out I wasn't told to count carbs, I was simply told take x amount basel (your long acting background) and x amount bolus with each meal (your shourt acting) I think this was just so they could get an idea of how my body reacted to insulin but after a couple of weeks like this and getting no where, still having high blood readings I was convinced there was something wrong! Then I joined here and leared about carb counting etc and it made a huge difference. Suddenly I started feeling like I was under control.

I lost lots of weight pre diagnosis, I was also told I'd start to see that going back on. I have, I've put on a stone since and I feel it! I'm very self concious of it and I'll be honest and say I've found it hard. But my main priority was getting under control, now I have that I will sort the weight out, although I'm still no classed as over weight anyway.

My main advice would be don't stress yourself out. Don't feel you have to have everything perfect straight away. Also don't feel you have to give up everything you enjoy, your allowed everything in moderation. Some chose to do without completely, I can't. I know I can't go the rest of my life without chocolate so I don't even try to. I just watch how much of it I eat and it's a treat now rather than part of my day to day life.

It's hard work but it does get better, If you ever need to speak to someone going through similar just message me.
 
Hey and welcome to the forum.

I was diagnosed 3 years ago, same symptoms as you, got nick named Mrs Stickymouth as couldnt talk properly as mouth was stuck to teeth through dehydration.. ! Was a proper whirlwind to start but as soon as you get your insulin doses right and settle down it will help you feel alot better, weight gain is inevitable as your body has been in starvation mode and will need to replenish cells but will settle down in a few months, just try to take it easy and if you can learn as much as you can.

Best advice to a recently diagnosed is to read and learn as much as possible, knowledge is definately power in this game ! ;)
 
Can't add much more to what's already been said Mike, but do keep in constant contact with your diabetes team and they will advise you on adjusting your insulin to bring your bg levels down and under control, once you settle in to things I recommend you purchase the book Think Like a Pancreas, its a great read with loads of information and advice for those who have type 1 diabetes.

Welcome to the forum btw :)
 
Hi mike, sorry to hear that you have just been diagnosed but well done for getting on the forum so quickly, I only just signed up after 14 years!

The weight should go back on after time. Honestly diabetes really isn't that bad. Eventually it just becomes part of your everyday life and routine and will be second nature. There will always be the odd things that throw your sugars off balance but you will get to learn how to deal with all that.

Anything that changes your life can be hard at first but diabetes helps in that you become more thoughtful about being healthy and you are regularly looked after by gp's and the hospital.

Of all the things in life I consider myself pretty lucky to have diabetes considering what others go through.

You will be just fine :) make sure you ask about the DAFNE course when you are more settled with your insulin, highly recommend that course.
 
Hi Mike,
This probably isn't a forum you ever wanted to be a part of but am impressed you've got straight onto it and you'll find invaluable information. Reading your post reminded me that I was diagnosed at your age and of how I coped with it. Like you I was fairly pragmatic I think and there is a lot of info to take in so as someone else said ,take it one day at a time. You'll get the weight back when stable again, this happens quite quickly, it sounds as though your ordinary diet is healthy and suited to the type 1 lifestyle but again, as a type one you'll find you can eat most things once you get and understand the insulin/ food balance. I was determined not to let the diagnosis change my life and threw myself into everything I could to prove it to myself, skiing, gliding, squash etc with degrees of success and failure, once I had convinced myself I went back to my lazy ways.

Basically once you get over the shock you'll be your old self again very quickly, watch out for all the 'helpful ' comments you are bound to get from friends and relatives, they generally really won't understand what you're going through and I had a few idiotic comments that were hard to take, you'll be ok again very soon.
 
Hey guys!

So I just got back from the diabetic team. Insulin pens, tests, instructions and all! Gave myself my first dose of novorapid at lunch and is wasn't half as bad as I thought, the needles are tiny :) I'm feeling a lot better about now I've been given the guided tour so to speak, my nurse was excellent and she really helped me understand everything. I totally understand the thick of it and I'm happy I'm not alone and it's well documented! I think it's the next 6 month journey ahead that'll really help me out. Everything from alcohol, exercise, getting a cold - all of those little details that only experience can really teach. Definitely a *deep breath in* 'just going to have to crack on' moment but I'm feeling ok all in all.

Looking forward to gaining weight. I'm 6ft 2 and under 12 stone so I look and feel pretty wirey at the minute, I'm just happy that the things that were wrong with me can be pin pointed down to something of a health issue. I almost thought I was just going crazy, being tired and unresponsive all the time! It makes so much sense now :)

I can see myself in a lot of the responses here! The advice is great and I can't thank you all enough. It's a pleasure to meet every single one you! And yep I'm from the UK, was just awake late yesterday :)

Mike
 
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So glad you're feeling more positive and had a good meeting with your DSN. I was diagnosed 5 months ago and it was such a shock, but I've had an enormous amount of help from the hospital and my DN at my practice and most of all from the smashing people here on the forum. The prospect of injecting myself made me shudder with horror, but it's painless once you get the hang of it and as you say the, needles are tiny. We're on a huge learning curve, there's so much to take in, but I try to take one day at a time. As far as weight, I lost a stone pre-diagnosis, but have managed to re-gain 11 lbs so far, so I'm sure you'll slowly but surely put the pounds back on. Do keep asking questions as there are a lot of very experienced people on this forum.
 
I was diagnosed type 1 this time last year when I couldn't see. My dsn got me counting carbs within two weeks and has been really supportive. The one positive thing I take from being type 1 is that I can eat whatever I want - within reason- and just count the carbs for it. also found three regular times for meals a day can help to start with. Everyone on this site are very nice and can answer most questions.
 
Hi mike, I'm new too, 6 weeks diagnosed. You sound like you are really being sensible about it, me too. I'm not as good as you with food, so struggling sometimes, but I have a food diary where I put my favourite meals in and amount of carbs they are. You will soon learn that you do need to count your carbs to your bolus insulin you take with meals. I needed to lose a stone and half, and have lost 11 pounds in 6 weeks, so am happy. I guess you need to put it back on, and you will don't worry. You body will get to a lovely healthy weight again before long, just eat quite low carbs. I'm not really low, I eat about 130 g of carb a day, and this is right for me, I'm actually healthier now in many ways.
This forum is fantastic and any worries you have, just post on here, like I'm about to.. I put on lots stupid questions, but no one ever makes me feel silly, it's like a secret club, the type 1s, lol
 
LaineyK said:
Hi mike, I'm new too, 6 weeks diagnosed. You sound like you are really being sensible about it, me too. I'm not as good as you with food, so struggling sometimes, but I have a food diary where I put my favourite meals in and amount of carbs they are. You will soon learn that you do need to count your carbs to your bolus insulin you take with meals. I needed to lose a stone and half, and have lost 11 pounds in 6 weeks, so am happy. I guess you need to put it back on, and you will don't worry. You body will get to a lovely healthy weight again before long, just eat quite low carbs. I'm not really low, I eat about 130 g of carb a day, and this is right for me, I'm actually healthier now in many ways.
This forum is fantastic and any worries you have, just post on here, like I'm about to.. I put on lots stupid questions, but no one ever makes me feel silly, it's like a secret club, the type 1s, lol
Click to expand...


I have yet to see even one stupid question from you yet, @LaineyK ! ;)

Signy
 
Ha ha heathen lass...I've got it on now, lol.. I love it!!! And as for a stupid question, I've just posted it.. LMAO!!
 
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