Sorry if my post seems a bit, confusing, my thoughts are very mixed up right now.
I'm 24, and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on 15/4/2012. So far, I'm on NovoRapid and Lantus. My HBA1C, when tested was 11.3%
I am a bit confused with my diagnosis though. I had finished my university classes for the day, and the rest I don't remember. I remember in hospital, I was told my glucose had fallen down to 1.3 and I had fainted. This started a 10 day hospital stay, that for 6 days, I have no idea what happened. I was told that I am Type 1 Diabetic, and was taught how to give myself insulin, received my scripts, and sent on my way. I have an appointment with my GP next Tuesday, and I'm so mixed up that I'm afraid that I won't be able to think clear enough to get any of my questions asked.
I always thought that when diagnosed, the blood sugar was high, not going low?
By definition, diabetes is high blood sugars, not low. Low blood sugars like you showed are a side effect of insulin. I have no explanation why you would drop to 1.3 if you weren't on insulin yet.
I suggest writing down your questions to ask your GP next Tuesday.
Maybe you had not eaten in a while, stressed too much about school, did too much exercise that day and all of that combined dropped your sugars an insane amount. It is rare to be diagnosed because you were having a low, but not entirely unlikely. Diabetes is, in a much simplified description, an imbalance of sugar in your body, and from now on you will be in charge of keeping that balance!
Keep on reading around TuDiabetes, get more info, talk to your doctor... if you need help with questions, start a list here, maybe we can help you fill it up. For example: what is your insulin/carbohydrates ratio?, do you know how to use a Glucose tester? Did they make you see a dietitian to teach you about carbohydrates/proteins/fiber/fats and how to read labels?
I know is a lot to take in, but we are here to help! No question is a silly question, so fire away :)
That is pretty unusual, but D can take some strange twists and turns. Take a deep breath, maybe a couple. We ALL have been in your shoes. It is overwhelming at the beginning. You can do it though. There is a lot to learn and as you do that it becomes less and less daunting. Read the posts and blogs. Ask questions. Check out Blood Sugar 101.com for an easy to follow tutorial on how your body works. Write down your questions for the doctor. And remember, yiu are the most important member of your health care team.
With an A1C of 11, it is clear that you have been experiencing high blood sugars and I think Shawnmarie is right that your low might be a drop after a high (possibly exacerbated by stress, exercise or not eating).
I agree with Randy that a deep breath is called for. There is a lot to absorb in this news, and a lot to learn. But you've come to the right place to do it. For now, just know that your life has definitely taken a left turn here, but that with proper support and knowledge you can still live a full and happy life. Let us know how it goes.
Thank you for the advice, Chris. I have a long list already to ask - lol - just too afraid that I will mess it up!
Maycri, that day, I had actually skipped my midday meal, for I had a big test, and took too much time. I won't do that again. ;) Normally I do some running every morning, but that morning, I did not - I woke up way too late to do so. So far, I'm reading everything I can get my hands on, for I have the rest of this week out of classes thanks to all of this happening. My Lantus dose is 6 units daily. As far as my ratio for NovoRapid, the hospital told me to use 1 unit for every 15 carbohydrates, they said this will be adjusted when I start working with my GP, but I'm really not having to use it on some days. I have days that all I use is the Lantus, but other days, I use the Lantus and NovoRapid. It gets very confusing and fustrating. They let me check my sugar, after they knew I could do it myself. The dietitian came and talked to me, and checked up with me after - she gave me plenty to read.
Hello Shawnmarie, I do agree, it is all very overwhelming right now. I'm enjoying the ability to be on this site to learn about this disease.
You already are starting out better than most of us. And don't fret about the doctor. There is no wrong. It really is all about learning. This appointment is just another point on the learning curve. I always think of more questions as soon as I leave their office.
I think that if you are dx'ed and in the hospital w/ an 11ish A1C, they might "fix" it with IV insulin, until it gets cleaned out? I'd think they'd tell you but hospitals are sort of shady sometimes?
If you have some time, the book "Think Like a Pancreas" and "Using Insulin" are both really good "owner's manual" type of reference books? People always laugh at the title to TLAP but the style is pretty breezy but it's loaded w/ lots of info. I had sort of been "off the ranch" for a long time and read them to get a primer when I got my pump and was like "oh, that's how it works..."
Hi there Acidrock, thank you for the advice on what to read to understand this disease. I'll look into them. Much of the 10 days I don't remember, I was in and out of it I'm told. I ended up after they got my sugar up from it being too low, going too high, they did give me Insulin + fluids till I came down to a range that they liked. But when I was awake for good, they let me learn a bit about what to do.
It can be so overwheleming even for those who have had T1D for a long time. You'll feel that way again. Jsut know that when you do, you aren't alone in the frustration or in the search for answers. Everyone's body is different and react to the same stuff in minutely different ways. Only you can know how your body is responding, so you want to make sure that you ask the questions you have and get the answers you need to better understand what is happening to you. All in all, it is a bit much. Sometimes, even after 12 years, I still want it to not be true. he he. Anyway, it is and you have to not shy away from it. You can do it, and your starting to look for answers from folks who experience the same things is a great start in taking charge and doing what you need. Keep it up. LIke many have said already, you're off to a great start. Don't lose hope and dont forget to breath! :)
Despite your long hospital stay, an A1C of 11.3 is bad but not horrible for a newly diagnosed T1 (average of 15.4 mmol/l or 277 mg/dl.)
No doubt you are still in the honeymoon phase and your pancreas is cranking out insulin in sporadic spurts...? (Hence the weird low?) Or maybe the hospital told you wrong and you fainted due to a high, but either the EMT's or the ER over-corrected you? It's quite odd and a mystery. If you're truly wanting to get to the bottom of this, you have every right to see the records from the EMT's and the hospital, including the ER. You can just call and schedule a time to review your records -- they are YOUR records, they can't refuse you, but they can charge you a reasonable fee per page if you want to make any copies to keep at home or give to a new doctor.
As you probably already realize from your reading, most T1's who end up in the hospital like that at diagnosis have DKA and are really high, e.g. over 27.7 mmol/l (500 mg/dl) or even over 38.8 mmol/l (700 mg/dl) or (eeeeek) more!!!
I'm very sorry that you had to join the club, but I'm glad that you found TuD. There are lots of really kind-hearted folks here who will help you get on the right track.
Actually, DKA can occur with a blood sugar of 240 or over. as type 1's we're taught to test for ketones for anything above 240, at least I was. An A1C of 11.3 is certainly high enough for DKA. For type 1's, anything above 240 without insulin on board can be big trouble and lead to an ER. It's not only insulin our bodies don't make, but a number of other hormones too, alpha cells, etc..
