I'm a Type 1 Diabetic AMA

[ch0c0milkrox]

Doubt this is very interesting but just in case there's any newly diagnosed about

Hi,
Sorry if this seems rude but do the complications related to diabetes worry you?

It's not rude. Initially yes but I've had it 17 years now and I don't give them a second thought.

I already have one complication it's messed with my ability to digest food correctly and so my diet is quite limited... basically I can digest food that isn't great for diabetics.

Sod's law.

I admit I do sometimes worry about my eyesight and am always relieved when they've been photographed and results are good

Oh that's good to hear that your results have been good!
When were you diagnosed? Was it a hard adjustment at the beginning?

Sorry about your additional complication re limited diet.
Ignoring this complication (if you don’t mind!), how should I cater for type 1 diabetics? Just as normal and expect them to monitor their intake/insulin, or are there things I can cook which are especially diabetic friendly?
Along similar lines, do you allow yourself sugary foods ever or do you try to avoid sugar completely?
Thank you!

I was 17 and doing my AS levels and my Mum had just split with my Step Dad so with all that going on I just got down to it. Hit me about a year later and I've had lots of ups and downs. I can say I still haven't fully accepted I have it and get upset about it a lot.

Thanks for answering my questions OP!

Most type 1s will say they can eat anything only thing they can't eat is poisoned food. Most of us count our carbs and dose adjust. We hate special diabetes food and can get annoyed about it (though I appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness)

And it's not just sugar all food converts to glucose in the body so yes I eat chocolate etc but as a treat.

But with catering for type 1s nowadays anything goes. It's good to just be treated the same.

Diabetic foods also give you the shits

I'm so happy to see this thread. I'm 2.5 months in and was fine to begin with. Starting to struggle now!!

Don't know what to ask though but will be reading with interest!

My sons type 1 diagnosed 5 years ago aged 11,
He wears a pump, do you? How do you find clinic? My sons transitioning to adults in October I’m dreading it as the children’s team is so good,
Do you drive? How do you deal with alcohol that really worries me my cousin is also type 1 he’s 22 and has gone into coma after drinking but he also doesn’t look after himself

My husband has type 1 so I’ll ask - when you are hypoing or high and it’s putting you in an awful mood how can someone get you to check your blood sugar without making you feel like you aren’t allowed to have feelings or be upset without it meaning it MUST be your blood sugar?

How often do you hypo/ go high?

When were you diagnosed? What happened?

Hi, when you have a hypo, how low do your levels go?

DH is type 1 and over the years he goes lower and lower. Regularly down to 2 and we have known him to even go down to 1. Something.

@eggofmantumbi

I'm so happy to see this thread. I'm 2.5 months in and was fine to begin with. Starting to struggle now!!

Don't know what to ask though but will be reading with interest!

Oh bless you!
Trust me it does get easier it become routine in some respects testing blood/injecting.

The hard part is all the other factors that mess with blood sugar!!!

@Crazycakelady17

My sons type 1 diagnosed 5 years ago aged 11,
He wears a pump, do you? How do you find clinic? My sons transitioning to adults in October I’m dreading it as the children’s team is so good,
Do you drive? How do you deal with alcohol that really worries me my cousin is also type 1 he’s 22 and has gone into coma after drinking but he also doesn’t look after himself

I used to wear a pump I wore one for 10 years but due to scar tissue and insulin no longer absorbing I had to come off. It's been two years of hell now and it's healed nicely so I'm going back on the list to get a new one poss next year.

There's lots of talk about adult clinics being bad and yes I've been to an awful one. That said I know lots of people who are fine in their clinics. I'm now at a new hospital they are great. Always there to chat, do all the tester required in one appointment good for work purposes.

I don't drive and yes because of diabetes as I am terrified of being hypo and not knowing. This is my own fear and I know so many type 1s who drive. I was learning when diagnosed and can drive just need some lessons again and maybe one day I will

Alcohol I've learnt best to have no big bolus of insulin in system. So if I'm going to be drinking at 8pm I will eat about 5pm and then take no further insulin. I only drink wine or vodka which neither make me that high and mix with a Diet Coke. Then I'll eat a snack of crisps or slice of toast if I'm at home drinking and then test before bed. If high like over 13 I correct but only half usual correction but if below I tend to leave it. Rather wake high than risk a low and not wake up.

Obviously being sensible not to get too drunk and always tell people you're with about your condition and carry gluco tabs etc..

I knocked myself out vomiting in a loo in a hotel room alone aged 22 my BF eventually realised I wasn't coming back to the party came found me and my BG was 2.1 so put me off and have been very sensible since!

The next day bloods usually run lower so be mindful.

@DieAntword

My husband has type 1 so I’ll ask - when you are hypoing or high and it’s putting you in an awful mood how can someone get you to check your blood sugar without making you feel like you aren’t allowed to have feelings or be upset without it meaning it MUST be your blood sugar?

My DP and I been together 14 years he knows if I'm high or low before I do. Mostly. I'm an evil being when high and also emotional cry a lot. I don't mind people telling me to test if I'm low I'm more accepting of their help/concern but if I'm high and told to test I get a bit angry. When I'm
Back to normal I feel awful and hate myself a lot for being so mean to people when they're just concerned.

So really I'm not sure there is a good way. I know some people say "do you need to eat" "is it time for your insulin" I think I'd still be annoyed

My mum when she phones always asks "how are your sugars" I know she just cares but internally I'm like grrrrrrrr and say "fine"

@eggofmantumbi

How often do you hypo/ go high?

When were you diagnosed? What happened?

Right now I'm high a lot a lot going on in life and frankly diabetes is a bit of a mess but working on it. Hypos about 1 a week. When I had tight control was way more about 10. But never really low serious ones just in the 3s.

Night hypos are my worst I feel so hungry I usually eat the entire kitchen

I was 17 back in 2001. Lost about 2 st in a month always thirsty stopped eating non stop weeing and then being sick. Mum thought I had an eating disorder

@scarletbee

Hi, when you have a hypo, how low do your levels go?

DH is type 1 and over the years he goes lower and lower. Regularly down to 2 and we have known him to even go down to 1. Something.

The longer you have it the less hypo symptoms you get I think the body gets used to it. If you have tight control you can go lower if you're high a lot you feel them more.

One way to get symptoms back is to run high for a few weeks like between 10/12 but I know not everyone likes to do that.

Right now I feel them in the 3s but back when I had my insulin pump I wouldn't feel them til the low 2s and yes sometimes been walking around normally to discover I'm in the 1s

It's pretty scary isn't it!

Thanks for the questions guys! Can I ask you one about your husbands/children with type 1? Do they get grumpy if high and low? I'm really trying to stop it as I
Annoy myself and most likely everyone else too!

Great to see this thread - DD (9) was diagnosed just a few weeks ago and actually it was a relief to get the diagnosis as her behaviour had been deteriorating for several months, along with various other symptoms, then the weeing / drinking and constant hunger kicked in and I had NO idea what was wrong, though was quite sure there was something. DD cried because she thought she'd have to live on hummus and carrots forever, and it was just before her birthday. Anyway, we have an amazing diabetes team and things are settling down.

My question - do you have any go-to meals or top tips?

Hi,
I'm back again!
How does your diet now compare to your diet before?
What do you snack on?
Thanks!

Do you find it difficult to manage your weight?

What things affect your blood sugar that you think most people wouldn't realise!

DH was diagnosed in Jan this year (when I was 36 weeks pregnant) so it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. He’s been funding a libre for himself over the last couple of months and has found it helpful to see patterns, and it’s helped him time his insulin better, but has also found it can make him a bit obsessive. Have you used one?

Also, the diabetes care he’s received so far has been close to zero. Who do you see/how often? He sulks about not getting any help, but refuses to push it when the GP

@Rainshowers if your DH has a libre he should definitely be referred to the hospital diabetes team. Everyone with T1 should really be anyway. they may be happy to fund the libre for him.

OP how much effort and time does all the injecting/testing/hypoing etc etc take in your average day?

Also have you ever used your diabetes to stay slim?

Im type 1 too.. what do you hate the most about day-to-day living with type1?

Type 1 here too. Do you have children?