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Posted 7/19/2005 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi i found this forum whilst searching for diabetes chat rooms.

I'm 27 now but was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic when i was 12 years old. I have spent a long time trying my best to ignore my condition but now things seem to be coming to a head.

I'm finding my diabetes almost impossible to control, although i think that the stress in my life really isn't helping but recently i've gotten really worried about how the years of neglect might be damaging me.

To be honest i'm kinda freaking out about it but just don't know what to do, it's like i've gotten into a cycle of mismanagement but have no idea what to do to start putting it right.

I've started testing my blood glucose which up until recently i would easily go a year without doing once. I also now have developed a fear of injecting as my hypo symptoms are not reliable like they used to be. I know this is my own fault and i'm getting what i deserve for being so irresponsable with my treatment but i am at least now trying to make an effort.

My sugars are all over the place varying from being scarily high like in the 30's when i wake up, to being really low, for example 2.5 this morning (my target range is 4-8). When i wake up with low sugars i often don't inject until the evening because i'm scared of crashing, but this leads to very high sugars which i know are harming me.

I basically need a complete overhaul, my insulin was changed after my previous stuff was discontinued, i'm now on Humalog Mix 25. At the end of last year i did request an appointment with my consultant but all he would offer me was a new insulin that you inject 4 times a day. I tried that system when i was a teenager and it led to nasty lumping that still hasn't gone away, also i desperately don't want to inject more times a day as i've gotten into an awful habit of not injecting as it is. He basically refused to offer me any other help and i walked away feeling like i'm being left to sort this out by myself, but i don't know how to.

Sorry for the long intro, but hopefully i'll get back on track if i can really focus on it.

Posted 7/21/2005 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Chloe,
Do you have any diabetic teaching available through a health center or teaching hospital near you? I have had diagnosed diabetes for about 10 years but when I started on insulin last spring I had to re-take all of my instructional classes about diet, exercise, medication and emotional aspects of diabetes management. I learned a whole new bunch of stuff and basically started over.

If you can't find some classes I've found an online site with excellent diabetic guidelines for you to learn from.
Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Guidelines for Diabetic Patients This site has lots of good info on exactly what amounts of which food groups to eat. Some of the information is a bit technical since it's written for heath care workers but you should be able to get what you need from it.

Also, there are a number of diabetic help sites that want to help you lose weight and fix your diet and they are pretty low cost, $15 to $25 per year. Some offer personalized menus and lists for the grocery store. Do a google search for diabetic guidelines or diabetic menu help and browse thru them. Find one that you understand and work from there. I use one I bought online from CalorieKing.com and it helps me count carbs, protein, fats and fiber. It's easy to personalize and add my foods that have nutrition statements on the package.

Hope this helps. I'll answer anything I can, but mostly you need diabetic teaching about portion size, times to eat, foods to choose and when to do what. You might be able to find something helpful at your local library, too. Good luck, and keep us posted on how you're doing.
Posted 9/20/2006 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Awwww thanks Jeannie, sorry i lost this forum and just found it again, terrible i know!

Well, things seem alot better i must say, the thing that seemed to make all the difference was leaving my job which was causing terrible stress and i didn't feel safe there. I started eating meat again last september to see if that helped. I thought it did but i also stopped working in september last year so yeah. Anyway, i'm back to vegetarian now and i've totally changed my eating habits so that i no longer eat refined foods ()white pasta, rice, bread) and eat loads more veg, but especially beans and pulses and so far it's going great.

I'm still having issues because having AD/HD it makes being organised to remember everything (like medicating, eating etc) a big issue. Heigh ho, getting there. Oh i'm, also taking supplements which seem to be doing good in general, evening primrose oil, flax seed oil, high strength vitamin c timed release, brewers yeast, silica, and a hair skin and nails formula which reads just like a really good multivitamin.

Oh going back to the refined v wholefoods thing.....i did notice that when i was eating white rice etc i was always hungry, but now i stay satisfied much longer and dont need to eat as much of it to feel full. Also, when i did eat some white pasta recently (pre-made goats cheese and pesto tortelloni....too yummy sounding not to be tempted by! lol) my blood sugars went up much faster.

Anyway, thankyou for your very kind post, and sorry i'm so late getting back here!!

Posted 9/20/2006 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Chloe,

I have been a type 1 since I was 14.  I am now 48.  I understand how you feel.  When I was young I did everything but take care my diabetes.  I just started checking my blood sugars last year. Yes, I went 33 years without checking them. I would not recommend that type of lifestyle for anyone.   I did eat right and take lots of vitamins and herbs.  I think that is what has kep't me alive so far and in good health.  I don't feel Hypos (lows) like yourself and I also tried the 4 shots a day thing with Lantus and Humilog.  It about killed me from the LOWS (and I was checking my sugars 4-6 times a day).  I went back on good old NPH and Regular insulins and test my BS 4 times a day (I can feel the lows a little bit on NPH and REG).  If I am low I eat a candy that is made from dextrose (smarties). two rolls of smarties will raise my BS by 40 points (I am on the American system of keeping BS between 80 - 120).  I can be as LOW as 40 and not even feel the LOW and carry on a conversation and nobody thinks anything is wrong with me.  That is why I check my BS 4 times a day, it helps me stay above 80.  It sounds like you are doing all the right things (checking BS, eating right, taking Vitamins).  I have stopped eating rice, white bread and potatos.  This has helped me keep my sugars down.  Exercise also helps me very much.  I exercise about 1-2 hours after dinner every night for 30 minutes.  I am now starting to gain weight and still need to lose about 10 - 15 pounds.  I have found that I can lose weight by reducing my night shot and NOT EATING a big snack before bedtime (why take a night time shot if it only makes me have to eat a big snack to cover me from having a low that I can't feel in the middle of the night).  I have already lost about 15 pounds doing this with out making my BS go high in the morning (it takes checking and knowing how to adjust my insulin and snack at bedtime to do this, as this could be dangerous for people who do not know how to do it). For me it is really checking my BS and and eating accordingly or taking some extra insulin to keep me under control.  Sorry I rambled on and on, but I thought it might be useful for you to hear how other people like yourself are handling this irritating little problem we have.  Try and keep the stress down and check those BS and eat or take insulin accordingly.  I use 1 unit of REG insulin for every 40 points I need to bring down my BS.  Talk to a different DR and see if you can find someone to work with you.  Keep up the good work you are doing and you will learn how to live comfortably with this.

Bob

Posted 9/21/2006 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Chloe,
I would very much like you to notice that you were diagnosed when you were a CHILD and then you grew up. Insulin dependent type 1 diabetes is a complicated disorder. You had to "mature" your way into handling it and it sounds like you are doing fine. Have you ever considered a pump? Do you have a new endo? Do you have any diabetic friends?

One of our members (who I believe is Type 1) has found it easier to do his food plan by including chicken and fish because he had troubles with his numbers when he was vegetarian. If you read thru the past posts you will probably find his and you can write to him about it.

Funny what you said about the brown rice. Whole grains take longer for the body to physically digest and break down so they 'time release' the carbs they contain. That's why you feel less hunger with them. Glad that you found stuff to work for you.

Anyway... I'm rambling here. Welcome back. Hope you can get something positive out of the forum. We have more and more Type 1's joining, many who are younger than you, so you are in good company.
Posted 9/22/2006 8:57 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Chloe,

We sound so similar!!  I am 27 and diagnosed with type 1 when I was 12.  I went through a few years of totally not looking after myself (i.e. during my teenage years I just didn't want to face it anymore, then went to uni and completely ignored it).  The worst thing is to be scared of this.  That is not the way to get control - by only looking after yourself because you are worried of the complications.  This will just freak you out (as it did me!).  You can learn so much about diabetes but this is more than just knowing diabetes, it's about learning what your body responds to!  There are a few posts that will be useful if you look back, especially the one about diatetes burn out.  I also stopped injecting enough insulin because I was so scared of having a hypo (especially after I was taken to hospital in an ambulance - that really knocked my confidence) but we just have to get back on that horse, so to speak, and keep trying. 

Keep coming back for support when you need to, and it sounds like you are being a lot more positive so that's great!!

Claire x

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