Diabetes - Any Tips?

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes today after having my blood screened last week.

Anyone else here have it that has any tips?

I bought a big book on it and have a pack from my doctor to read.
Starting the whole blood glucose testing tomorrow before going to a specialist soon to show me how to use insulin etc etc.

Sorry to hear. I can recommed the old addage (slightly modified): test early, test often.

My wife has been a type I for almost 40 yrs. I would find a good support group. Learn to count carbohydrates, and look into an insulin pump. My wife has one at it made a tremendous improvement in her control and improved lifestyle.

my daughter has it too...its really scary at the start isnt it ? but honestly it quickly becomes a way of life and the regimens of treatments are so good these days... good luck..find a doctore you are really happy with , and a support group or a nurse....
dont look into too many internet stories - you ll scare yourself !!

The every day glucose level test is good for acute, quick measurement, but the one test you really need to pay attention to is the glycosylated hemoglobin, that would really show how well your diabetes is been controlled.
Remember to keep candy around when you use insulin.

Yeah, test often.

Diabetes itself isn't that hard to deal with, it's the possible complications (losing toes, blindness) that come with not taking care of yourself properly.

Cheetah, I'm really sorry to hear this.

Apart from daily tests as everyone mentioned, I think that eating regularly and knowing what you eat is important.

A support group in your area is great idea as well : you'll hear from others all sorts of practical tips that maybe a doctor might not think of.

Im seeing a specialist in the near future to take me through it all. I just tried unsuccessfully to measure my blood glucose, it kept saying apply blood.. but I was.. maybe not enough. going to leave it until I see the specialist as I dont HAVE to use it yet. As far as I have read so far I will need regular doses of insulin most likely, and switch to a low GI diet - not so bad.

Hopefully you can get away with taking the pill instead of the shoot.

First thing to do is not panic. Diabetes is a word and NOT a sentence. Ask your GP to refer you to an Endocrinologist who will manage things like six monthly glucose checks, kidney function etc etc.

You have to have confidence in your medical advisers and the are many traps in this low GI diet thing. My GP much prefers a low carbohydrate diet and he should know as he was a heart surgeon with type 1 and monocular degeneration which resulted in him going back to GP.

Don't worry about the insulin injections. They are a snap with the new modern equipment, simple easy and no pain whatsoever.

Yeah, im learning alot - I've been referred to a Endocrinologist with an appointment next week.

Are you overweight? Losing weight can dramatically help your condition.

Definitely not overweight, I weigh 51kg and im 178cm tall, should be at least 65-70.

Have a


when your blood sugar is low.

My daughter (10 years old) was diagnosed 1.5 years ago. We switched her to using an insulin pump, which has been wonderful.

My girlfriend has it too. She also can't eat gluten or she'll eventually become insulin-intolerant. So pray you don't get that too!

I personally would hate the pump. My girlfriend refuses to have it also. She would much rather inject herself 4 times per day than having a bag of insulin hanging from her all the time. The only advantage I can see from it is that you don't have to remember to inject yourself (although after 3 weeks it should become habitual anyway)

Sorry to hear that you have it though. My girlfriend feels for you =P She says it's horrible for the first few weeks but once you start doing it without thinking, well, you don't think about it!

I have to admit the insulin pump does not really appeal to me. Id rather get used to the injections! It will definitely be horrible for the first few weeks. Im keeping an open mind and reading all the material I can find on it. I am seeing a specialist next week too!

cheetahastra said:

I have to admit the insulin pump does not really appeal to me. Id rather get used to the injections! It will definitely be horrible for the first few weeks. Im keeping an open mind and reading all the material I can find on it. I am seeing a specialist next week too!

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What started it? Why did you get tested? How bad is it? Are you over weight? (no offense meant by the last question). My dad is diabetic and a friend/coworker is too. My dad has know for probably about 10-13 years and isn't really so bad. His is normally a little high which makes him grumpy, but he doesn't fluctuate.

On the other hand, my coworker is horrible. He's like 30-35 and known since he was 15-16. His will go from 300-30 in a matter of hours some days. Physical work can make it drop quick for him too. He's a skinny guy, so that wasn't what caused it for him. There's been some times where we've almost had to pour coke down his throat because it's dropped so low and all he can do is moan and make noises. We try not to let that happen and from experience can tell when he's starting to act spaced out that he needs a good dose of sugar. Fortunately his wife works with us too and knows how to take care of him in a pinch.

Cut out sugars, watch your diet, loose weight if you're over weight (like, any at all...20 lbs over weight is still 20 lbs over weight and weight control can go hand in hand with controlling diabetes in some cases), know how to monitor your moods and changes in perception. If you think it's low at all, test it. It's better to be bleeding from a finger than sitting on the floor having no idea what's happening. And just get continue on with your life.

cheetahastra said:

I have to admit the insulin pump does not really appeal to me. Id rather get used to the injections! It will definitely be horrible for the first few weeks. Im keeping an open mind and reading all the material I can find on it. I am seeing a specialist next week too!

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I agree with you the last thing i want is one of those pumps and all the attending problems, but, sometimes they are necessary to maintain a decent level which is important in the long run.

I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for about 35 years now. I was a bit luckier than you, i didn't develop it until about 40, but pretty much the same routine works for both. Learn to test your levels from 3 to 4 times a day and try hard to maintain a decent level of 90 to 110. It isn't easy as i am sure you have already learned because everything you eat almost seems to go right to sugar. And even when you don't eat!!!

A good test meter is essential. The new meters today are great, only takes 5 seconds to get a reading and you only need half the amount of blood the old meters of 40 years ago took. And most of them will allow you to take blood from your forarms instead of out of the finger tips which is a great help too as the old fingers tend to get rather tender when your testing 3 and 4 times a day.

Sticking in that old needle is the hardest thing to do, at first, but when you learn how there ain't nutin to it... The old tummy is a good place to start as you usually will have a little fat there to work with and when done properly you can be watching it go in and not even feel it... the tops of your legs above the knees is also a good place to inject. Now and then you will hit a nerve, but just back off and move over an inch.

Your life has changed somewhat now. Like the fellow said a few messages ago "diabetes is a word, not a sentence". You can live with it and you can pretty much live a normal life, you just have to keep on it and don't let it get out of hand. A good endocrinologist can be of great help to you in gaining and maintaining control so pay attention when he/she tells you something.

Good luck my friend, here's to a long and healthy life.