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Type1 newly diagnosed and struggling

Can I just ask a quick question?

After reading a bit in here, would my constant high BG levels of 12-18 (today) suggest that I am on the incorrect meds and that I need the other type of insulin as well, rather than just the lantus in the morning? Or does it have no impact at all? I eating low carb - around 50 a day.
I've read that the metformin has no influence on lowering BG? Is that correct? If so what am I taking it for? As in what does it do? - I realise it's usually given to type 2's.
I suppose in summary I'm thinking is high BG associated more with type 2's??
I will obviously pick this up in my in my appointment on Friday, but is it possible that I could be being treated for type 1 and type 2 until they are sure?!! - is that even a thing?
& would the high BGs suggest one or the other?

Okay I realise that was a LOT more than one quick question!

Thanks Fiona x
 
Well you aren't on a short acting insulin like Novorapid, so the stuff you take won't get you down towards normal BS range sorry. I don't think you'll get into any trouble before your appt. though. you won't go into like DKA or anything
 
TheBigNewt said:
Well you aren't on a short acting insulin like Novorapid, so the stuff you take won't get you down towards normal BS range sorry. I don't think you'll get into any trouble before your appt. though. you won't go into like DKA or anything
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Thank you, I will sit tight for Friday.
 

Yes, you need fast acting insulin on top of your basal. Basically your basal ensures your BG doesn't increase if you eat nothing. So if you start your day at say 5.8 in the morning and you had some basal (and the dose of basal is correct!!), you will be close to 5.8 in 6h time, granted you don't eat anything at all. If your dose is too high, your BG will be a lot less than 5.8 and if it is not enough, it will be higher than 5.8. The proper dose varies greatly depending on people, some have 5 units of basal, other 25-30... The basal usually lasts for one day (about 20h exactly) which is why it is called "slow-acting".

So when you eat your meal, lots of sugar goes into your blood and you need to clear it very fast. That is what you use the Bolus insulin for. It is a flash insulin that can clean a lot quickly. It usually lasts for about 4h but mine is done acting in about 2h30 usually. Again, it depends on people. The dose you take depends on how much carbs you ate that meal, and on people as well.

50g carbs a day is indeed quite low! Are you used to eat that little carbs? Or did you recently change your diet a lot to account for the condition?

High BG occurs in both type 1 and type 2!!! This is actually the EXACT reason they are both called diabetes! Because otherwise, the two conditions have quite little in common actually, their causes, mechanisms and treatment are quite radically different. Only the symptoms are similar enough. (I am a bit radical in saying that, there are some similarities, but to be frank there are 3 differences for one similarity...)

I find it weird they are treating you with both insulin and metformin, but nobody here is a doctor, so... Metformin is usually given to people with IR (insulin resistance) if I am correct? Others can inform you better than I on this, but I am almost certain metformin does indeed reduce your BG quite significantly.

Also keep in mind you probably have been in hyper for a while before diagnosis and consequently, your body will be probably off physiologically for a bit. It's like when you have a flu, even after you are cured you need to give your body some time to recover. Which may be why you are not yet fully on a normal treatment. My doctor at the time of diagnosis said it is like a lock with caramel in it. You need to clean all the caramel before starting to use the key (the normal treatment) efficiently.
 
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@Fionanewbie I'm not a medical professional but personally I think you're on Type 2 meds and that you'd be better off on the proper Type 1 meds (presuming your diagnosis is confirmed)

Type 1 in adults is far more common than it was thought, but for some reason some people are still treated as though they're Type 2s.

Metformin helps with nsulin resistance.mif you don't have that (it's usually associated with Type 2) then I'd ask why you're being given it.

Earlier in this thread, I advised you to eat normally. That's not just because that's what most Type 1s do, it's because only eating a minimal amount of carbs can gives a false impression that your Type 2 treatment is 'working' and delay the introduction of the necessary fast-acting meal insulin.
 
Hi Fiona!
God that's a shock to your system, I'm lucky in a way I was diagnosed at 4 so I've grown up with it. I can't imagine what you're going through, and everyone works their diabetes differently, so it's confusing.

Main thing is, you can eat normally. Just like you were before, but try to cut out any excess sugar. Carb counting is a good way to start. Sounds like a lot of work but it's not too bad. You need to figure out your ratios. I'm not sure how it works with tablets, but it works like this... for every so many carbs, you take a tablet? For me, every 6g carbs I eat I do one unit fast acting insulin.

Sounds like if you're consistently high (above 7) you may need an extra unit of Lantus. I was on this until recently, it's amazing the difference 1 unit can make.

You need to work out your correction dose. For every mmol above 7 when you check you do a set amount of insulin/take a tablet. For me, every 2 that I am above 7 I do 1 unit of correction. This will bring me back within target

Safe to exercise, but make sure you take your kit and some fast acting glucose with you. A sugary drink would work fine - lucozade have dropped their sugar content by half so it's not as effective as, say, Coke... or there's glucose tablets. Aerobic exercise drops the blood sugars quite a lot depending on your fitness levels, so check before, during and after.

Work at bringing your sugars down before any more drastic changes, like major dieting. One thing at a time. It will be easier if you carry on with your current diet, then slowly acclimatise into a new diet (if you want to), slowly changing your dose as you go. Only do this once you're comfortable you can control it.

Good luck, and all the best


Sent from my SM-T555 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
Hello Fiona.

I was diagnosed mid June and was treated as a type two for a few weeks. My sugars were in the high teens but I managed to gradually get them down. They had me on type 2 meds for a few weeks until I was told I wad type 1. They stopped the medication straight away and put me on a small 4 unit dose of Lantus (basal) insulin per day, which I take at 8.30pm. I am still producing my own insulin so they just kept me on this small dose.
I was at the hospital two weeks ago and they are happy with my sugar levels. The main problem is that I need to put on the weight I lost in the weeks before diagnosis. To help me do this the nurse suggested me taking a few units of novorapid (basal) insulin before one meal a day, just to increase my food intake.

It's been 3 months for me and I have learnt a lot through different sources, but I'm at the point now where it's getting confusing and harder to judge things as there is so much info to take on board.

The eating side is trial and error, I was eating chicken and salad every day/meal and burgen bread with peanut butter on as this food didn't raise my sugar levels as much. Cereals are unfortunately no at the moment as they create huge spikes for me, but everyone is different.

I've just started being a bit more adventurous with food. Ravioli on toast is really adventurous for me. Few units of novorapid and im ok.

It's a huge shock to the system and it takes over your life. Hopefully like others have said on this forum it gets easier as you learn new skills.

The Think like a pancreas book is good, but it's a lot to take in and as I've found I can only read so much of it before i forget it all. It's a good reference to have and it looks at treating our life long condition in different ways.

Im 42 and my world ended when I was told, but gradually I'm coming to terms with it, and I'm sure you will, especially with the help from the people on this website.

I have a million of questions per day I could bore people with, but I will save them for a later date when I will need some good advice about being a type 1

Good luck

John



Sent from my SM-G930F using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
Hi @Fionanewbie I was aged 39, it was after a week of skiing, I lost around a stone in weight, had thrush, couldn't speak properly as my mouth was so dry, was drinking and peeing for england, the doctor looked like he'd hit the jackpot when he said it was diabetes and type 1 so it was straight off to hospital.. how did you find out about your diagnosis ?

Reading both 'Diabetes Solution' and 'Think like a pancreas' helped hugely, however at this stage don't rush into changing your insulin doses as you will need to discuss this on Friday with your nurse/consultant. Also don't panic about your raised BG levels either, they will come down once you are on the right insulin and your daily needs have been assessed correctly by your health team, good luck for Friday and please let us know how you get on.
 

Hi Fiona

I was diagnosed when I was 33 (now 36) so feel where you're coming from. I haven't read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating. I think a low GI cookbook would be a great start for you and really helps to start getting your mind about the sensible way to eat (choosing foods that fall into this category are healthy and filling so should reduce opportunity for hypos). As for my favourites, apple smothered in peanut butter is a lovely snack, carrot sticks and hummus, cheese is carb free, nuts are also good (it sounds depressing I'm sure!!! It gets easier!) and also if I'm more hungry eggs and most meats.

To help me in the beginning I also bought a book called type 1 diabetes for dummies which was great.

Until you get an opportunity to get more advice, maybe download the carbs and cals app to help you start managing your diabetes. As a rule I use one unit of insulin to 10g of carbs and that app really helps me out. I do carbohydrate count though and have insulin before each meal.

I don't know if this is helpful. I wish you luck on this journey. Keep using the forum. I still find the advice of the masses genuinely brilliant xx
 
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