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Diabetes

7 replies

lenaw · 25/11/2008 17:46

My DH just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Any advice will be greatly appreciated - I am in a bit of a shock.

OP posts:
misi · 25/11/2008 19:25

what sort of advice are you looking for?

it will be a big intrusion to start on all your lives, but once under control, it can make the whole household healthier if a few rules are followed.

there are so many things you can do that I could write pages and pages so anything specific?

lenaw · 25/11/2008 20:50

Thanks misi, I'm just trying to come to terms with it really. DH upset about it as he generally eats healthily and exersices, so I'm trying to keep positive... He is having CAT scans tomorrow and that scares me. I had this idea that people with diabetes cannot eat sugar at all? Trying to read about it but sort of going over my head at the moment.

OP posts:
paddyclamp · 25/11/2008 21:52

Hey i've had type 1 since i was a little kid!

Is he on 4 shots a day or 2, cos that will make a big difference to his diet. If he's on 4 it's better as you get much more freedom.

It's not a case of no sugar any more, pretty much a case of eating a normal healthy diet without goin too mad on sugar. After a bit you get used to adjusting insulin to fit in with diet.

How old is he?

misi · 26/11/2008 13:14

lenaw, diabetes care has changed dramatically over the years, diabetes is not the scary problem it used to be as long as advice is followed (not like my grandad who had type 2 and when he fancied a cream cake, he would take an extra pill to compensate )

It is unusual in my experience to have CAT scans but I am not up on newly diagnosed diabetics at the moment and what tests they have but I wouldn't worry about it as it shows they are looking after him which can only be good.

everything in moderation is the key phrase.
there are so many good books out there that can help with food/diet etc. on the shelf at the side of me, I can count at least 20 books on diabetes without delving too deeply so there is plenty of choice to suit your needs.

the best thing I can say to my clients with diabetes is to take this in a positive way and use it as a good excuse to be healthy and for the family to be healthy too. if everyone in the house eats like a diabetic should, 1 it is easier to as everyone eats the same and no special diets, and 2, you find eating healthier like this improves everyones health and 3 DH gets support and help without it being a drain on everyones emotion.

just remember, diabetes, if managed correctly and sensibly is not the life threatening condition it once was, with increased awareness and treatments, the severity of the complications of diabetes are greatly reduced nowadays, the only notable problem I ever found was that half the fridge shelves are taken up with ''insulin pens'' and vials which meant I had to get my mum a bigger fridge

so the important thing is to look at the positives on this, there is help, support, new treatments out there to get you through this but also, think of this as the beginning of a new healthier lifestyle for you all, one that will benefit the whole family.

ps my mum does have the odd cream cake and eats biscuits and she can eat her favourite veg, the parsnip too!! (when you get round to reading the glycaemic index charts, you will find out why I mentioned the parsnip )

bramblebooks · 26/11/2008 14:24

my ds2 has t1 diabetes and we eat healthily, but whatever we want! Sugar is our friend as it's sorted him out with many a hypo. He was on injections with food (a good management method). He now has an insulin pump, which is just the best thing ever.

The next few weeks will feel a bit of a roller coaster, but you'll soon get the hang of it together. x

nosweetsthanks · 21/03/2011 22:41

Hi i have just joined and am a mum whose husband has type 1 and 3 of our 4 girls have type 1 as well. Its hectic at times and they make fun that i'm the odd one out when our oldest girl is away. I think humour is the key in managing but the are times when i feel i'm losing the plot.

Mandy2003 · 22/03/2011 14:30

I like your username Smile - most appropriate in your household I should think!

I am a born-again Mumsnetter (after a break from the boards since 2003). I have had Type 1 diabetes for around 45 years.

One thing that you will probably need to be aware of Nosweetsthanks is the effects of hormones at puberty with your girls. I don't know if the new insulins are better, but I spent about 2 years with the most horrific night time hypos for a year or so which I'm absolutely certain was hormonal.

The biggest positive difference in treatment/acceptance of diabetes that I've noticed over the years has been the wider appreciation of a Low GI diet, which of course I've known about all my life. Also, that a little sugar (as part of a meal) is fine, and not - as in the words of one consultant when I was a child - poison!

The biggest negative was the introduction of the early synthetic insulins - vicious stuff which meant your blood sugar could be normal one minute and within an hour, with no warning signs, you'd be in hospital in a hypoglycaemic coma!

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