Having been a type 2 diabetic for 11 years, I suffered a bout of pancreatitis and some sort of kidney problem in late November which resulted in me being put in the ICU in an induced coma for 10m days and then another 12 days in hospital. I have from the start had very high triglyceride readings (60 at the highest.)
Whilst I was in the coma they put me on insulin and my trigs went to normal.
Now I have been put onto 2 different types of insulin (a "background dose) and insulin before meals (which I am finding impossible to manage.) My bg readings are very high all the time (in the teens and twenties.) Before all this happened my bg was 6.something in the mornings.
Am i
I a type 1 diabetic now? How am I ever going to get my bg readings down? Beleive me I have asked the diabetic team about this.
They have now given me a Libre2 device but it is having to tailor my insulin to my proposed meals which does not seem to be working. What do others do?
Hi Juliekem
I agree, believe me it's not always easy, but then again I've had a few more years than you to come to terms with it and also Coeliac for three years. I've added a few points which, hopefully will make sense on the diabetic side.
I liken being a diabetic to being on a military exercise and sadly you have to plan and think what could go right and wrong. Food is right up there and I've travelled all over sometimes on charity events (Round Table and later years Rotary International) and needing to know where your next meal will be and when is important. Now before I bore you to death hope the following will be of assistance.
Firstly your here and secondly your type 1 diabetic that's all great news if you think of the many that aren't. I've been type 1 like you since 12 years of age and it's not stopped me from doing anything or going anywhere.
3. Libre2 means your also on the best monitoring system, its absolutely brilliant.
Suggest setting alarms for both High and low blood to alarm you night or day. Waking at 3am is better than falling into hypo (low blood or hyper (high blood).
4. If high bloods are experienced, drink plenty of water (will help flush sugars from kidney and assistance to reducing high sugars). But not a long term solution
5. You mentioned...
They have now given you a Libre2 device but it is having to tailor my insulin to my proposed meals which does not seem to be working. What do others do? RATIOS SEE BELOW.
In practice your body clock often responds differently at certain times of the day called ratio's
6. Have you been explained about ratio's
If not you need to ask to speak to a Dafne nurse (at the diabetes centre) their usually brilliant at explaining libre and ratio's... only they will usually ask you to manually collect 3 days data before changing insulin etc.
7. I personally (for example) have 3 ratio's during the day.
Breakfast 2:1. Example only as carbs change with foods
60 carbs is 12 units of insulin for me
Lunch 1:5; to 1. 60 carbs is 9 units
Evening meal 1 to 1
Eg 60 carbs equal 6 units or 100 carbs is 10 units hopefully you understand concept.
I'm 59
7,000 to 20,000 steps a day and usually on the go most of the day, but take it from me the more you monitor and take note of what your eating the easier it gets. My balance has been made easier since March as we can't eat out.. I suppose you could say every cloud has a silver lining.
Stay safe and get to know your diabetes nurses or consultant well, they love tests and notes libre2 will help them tremendously
Hopefully some of the above will be of benefit
M