O/T Diabetes

[MikeySmall]

I too am in the Type 1 club. diagnosed about eight years ago at the age of 22.

As others have said, it's not a massive drama, more of an annoying niggle. Injecting isn't too bad as the needles are pretty small and very fine. My experience with the NHS has been very positive - make sure you make the kmost of the diabetes nurses in the early stages because they'll give you tons of information.

I can't claim my control is brilliant but that's mainly because I'm a bit of a fatty but it's certainly not too bad either. As others have said, you'll need to inject more if you're having something high in sugar or carb-heavy (I find takeaway pizza has drive my blood sugar crazy). It's annoying having a hypo at an inconvenient time like before playing football or while you're out with mates but if you take the right action you should feel much better in 10 minutes or so and people are pretty understanding.

My three pieces of advice:

Carry Lucozade or dextrose tablets everywhere without fail. Forgetting your insulin is very bad but you can head home and get in but forget your sweets when you're having a hypo and you could be in all sorts of trouble.

Remember to let the DVLA know. I got a massive bollocking from them when I forgot to tell them.

Make sure you check two hours after breakfast/lunch/dinner. Then if you've got it wrong you can use a corrective dose (check with your nurse about corrective doses - very important). You have to see it as something that will inevitably have peaks and troughts through your lifetime but taking action when things are not right is better than ignoring it (somehting I've been guilty of a few times).

Best of luck with it all.

Couldn't of put better myself. Hypos in the middle of the night are my favourite and then having a really high blood sugar in the morning and being ridiculously thirsty because of it!

 

[Drumstick]

Hospital went well yesterday although everything took a long time. I get my diabetes results either this afternoon or more likely tomorrow. Got the rest of the week off work. The nurses were fantastic and helped with my anxiety on the issue.

Thank you to everyone that has contributed to this thread and sent pm's. It means so much to me and NSC is great for lending support to people when they need it. I love you all!

I'm a student nurse and I spent a day with the diabetic specialist nurses recently, They're fantastic they know they're stuff and can be a fantastic resource to tap into. I'd imagine you'll be referred to them anyway but make the most of them.

 

[Durlston]

Got my blood test results back today and I DON'T have diabetes which is a massive relief. 6.7 after fasting and 6.3 after a glucose test which was a bit baffling. I would've thought the fasting one would be lower! However, I have IGT (impaired glucose tolerance) which has to be controlled by a healthier lifestyle change and lose a couple of stone in weight (I'm 14st 10lb and 5ft 11'). My doctor is going to monitor me because there is a strong possibility of developing diabetes in the near future unless I change my diet immediately which I'm going to do. No more chips, burgers, Ferrero Rocher, coca-cola, Pringles etc but am relieved I'm not diabetic.

Thanks once again to everyone for their help.

 

[Cornish seagull!]

Good news chap.

 

[Durlston]

Good news chap.

Thanks mate. I felt so bad feeling sorry for myself when you've been through something a thousand times worse. I'm so glad you're fully recovered now. You never moaned when you must have felt really awful.

To good health.

 

[Mileoakman]

Well done and good news. As a type 2 diabetic I know that although you can live with it, its much,much better not to have it. I also believe that its quite possible with a bit of lifestyle change to avoid or at least delay the onset of this. Sadly most of us find out when its too late so your one of the lucky ones. Good luck with your lifestyle changes.

 

[Cornish seagull!]

Thanks mate. I felt so bad feeling sorry for myself when you've been through something a thousand times worse. I'm so glad you're fully recovered now. You never moaned when you must have felt really awful.

To good health.

Don`t be daft mate any thing health related is a worry.

To good health

 

[wigman]

Im really pleased for you, i thought that reading of 6.8 would not be a worry.Take it as an eye opener and adjust your lifestyle a little and as i have said to you, do that and you will be fine.

 

[Lush]

Don't totally deny yourself those things you like, but make healthy choices more often than not.

That should fix things Great news!

 

[Matrix10]

Went to my meeting as I have previously mentioned on this thread, very informative, and I have learnt a lot regarding diet, the medication, and looking after yourself. I don’t think I started right when I was asked to introduce myself to the other members of the group when I stood up an said “My name is Tony and I am an Alcoholic………Whoops wrong meeting”
I don’t know if these meetings are an option in your area, lots of information from experts, and a lot of myths dispelled which the know it alls in the pub told me.
Only two meetings, next one on Tuesday, I hope you are coping with your diabeties.

 

[Durlston]

I don't know how I'm going to shift two stone of weight. I walk about four miles a day (I don't drive), have a physically demanding job and do press-ups and sit-ups regularly. It's just when I get home I eat tons of food. I'm following my diet sheet - it's ok to drink alcohol in moderation every day (which I didn't) but to avoid coconut.

The nurse said the situation as an example was similar to getting chest pains. The warning signs are there and to change lifestyle before a heart attack would come on. No more takeaways, plenty of rice, wholemeal bread, porridge, pasta, skimmed milk, chicken and fresh or frozen fish. Not things I eat regularly but I'll have to get used to them.

 

[Ralphingtonpuss]

I don't know how I'm going to shift two stone of weight. I walk about four miles a day (I don't drive), have a physically demanding job and do press-ups and sit-ups regularly. It's just when I get home I eat tons of food. I'm following my diet sheet - it's ok to drink alcohol in moderation every day (which I didn't) but to avoid coconut.

The nurse said the situation as an example was similar to getting chest pains. The warning signs are there and to change lifestyle before a heart attack would come on. No more takeaways, plenty of rice, wholemeal bread, porridge, pasta, skimmed milk, chicken and fresh or frozen fish. Not things I eat regularly but I'll have to get used to them.

Hi Mate,

Just read your thread, I work as a Paramedic so when I had seen you were being told you were diabetic with a 6.8 bm I was very surprised, we work on pre hospital as being 4-7 normal values. Although reading on in the thread I see this is now not the case and it is something different. 9 weeks ago I weighed 14 stone and 7 lbs and am about the same height as you. I now weigh today 12 stone 7 lbs after being on a diet called the Dukan Diet ( book cost £3.99 + posting from amazon) I am not saying you should do it but it did work for me, I also whilst on the diet ran 10k once a week ( this takes about an hour of someone's time, this is not running particularly fast.)

Hope this helps cheers

 

[Lush]

You don't have to turn into a food paragon, or even go on a special diet, just cut most of the crap (and we all know which food and drink is crap) and have tasty healthy things that you like instead.