@T1Dstinks and @dogdemon or whoever needs help!
Anyone needing help ask away. There are lots of people here that are always willing to answer any questions. And there is usually someone that has been through or wondered the same thing at some point.
Anyone can always ask me and I am more than willing to try to help. You can private message me if you prefer too. I will always help any way I can to whoever needs it. This disease is hard at the beginning, and is a huge learning curve at first but it does become easier. I was left on my own pretty much at the beginning and I had to learn from others.
I was 46 when I “got” diabetes, although in my case I was misdiagnosed as a type 2 for over 8 years. It sounds like your pancreas gave up quicker @T1Dstinks than a lot of LADA’s. usually it’s a slower process when we get type 1 when we are older.
Just some basic information when you are new to this.
The best thing to get is a CGM. A Libra will work and is more affordable if your insurance doesn’t cover all or any of it. But a Dexcom is the best. A cgm gives you 24/7 readings and is really useful for what your blood sugars are trending. It also saves your fingers from so many finger stickings.
Blood sugar levels can be erratic at the beginning because your pancreas is usually still trying to work some and so your blood sugar levels can change day to day. It makes it harder to have good control. Starting a long lasting insulin and fast acting insulin can vary per your doctor and your needs but you will end up needing a long acting insulin which is suppose to cover the glucose your liver puts out and a fast acting one based on the carbs you eat.
Sometimes with a fast acting they start you out at a preset amount, but the quicker you learn to carb count and be able to adjust the amount of insulin to what you eat, the better off you will be.
Contour who makes glucose meters used to offer people in the US a free “kit”, meter, strips and lancing device to type 1’s, maybe type 2’s too. I think they still do but I am not sure, you could try to call them, extra meters are always helpful.
And one of the most important things is always keep a hypo treatment available where ever you go and by your bedside. I use shelf stable OJ by the bed and carry vegan gummy bears in my purse. At 2 carbs each, it’s easy to know how many carbs you are downing. Smarties and skittles are also popular.