Hey everyone… I was just diagnosed a few days ago (age 21), and am now back at home from college trying to learn how to live with this before going back. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. I met with an endocrinologist and I got some good info, but its still a lot to take in. Right now my sugars are going up and down like a roller coaster and I don’t even know how to start to control them. I mean, I do, but it feels like I don’t. I can’t sleep and I’m getting hit with anxiety attacks. The whole thing is just insane and very unexpected. I am glad I found this site though. Just any tips for someone new would be good. I am taking lantus solostar longlasting insulin and novalog short acting…and my doctor told me she wanted me to learn how to use these before going to a pump. Thanks to any responses.
The best tip I can give you is to take all things one day at a time. Do not overwhelm yourself with things… yes… a lot harder to say than to do. But honestly, this is a marathon for us, and not a race, so you’re going to have lots of time to figure lots of it out.
Things you may want to look into learning more: carb counting and how carbs affect your blood sugar, and your individual and personal insulin to carb ratio. Perhaps you may want to go easy on the carbs this week, until you get an easier feel for how you react to them and how much insulin you need for them… sticking to meats and salads… simple foods. Avoid complex foods, for now, like pasta and pizza, etc. Harder to dose for, and lots of room for error. Look into books like “Think like a Pancreas,” etc. 
They will truly help you out. Welcome to our community.
I’ll second what Lizmari said. Take it easy, do what you can for you. Seek out a good support group, preferably type 1s. Things are different between type 1 and type 2, and you would learn more from being “with your own kind”. (I’m not slamming type 2, so if someone is going to take offense, move on.)
When I was diagnosed with type 1 14 years ago, I went through therapy for 2 years. I was so angry it wasn’t even funny. I seemed to go through the stages of grief too, which was interesting. I still get angry about it, usually around the anniversary of my diagnosis date. But I’ve accepted the diabetes, I’ve put it into my life where I want it. I try not to let it rule me or my life.
You should learn how to do the shots for a while. Research the pump and go on it when you’re ready. While the pump makes life easier, it by no means should allow you to believe you can ignore what you should be doing to take care of yourself. The pump takes time and effort and there is a definite learning curve to it.
If you can, find a good diabetes educator. Most endo’s offices have one, but it doesn’t mean he/she is a good one.
Also, you’re in the honeymoon period, so your blood sugars will be crazy for a while. I see you’re in STL, check into Wash U/Barnes or SLU hospitals for some studies. Sometimes they have some studies where they want recently diagnosed type 1s.
Most importantly, try not to stress over numbers. You’re going to be high, you’re going to be low. Do what you need to do and realize some days are just not going to be cooperative number wise. Diabetes is such an individual disease. What works for me might not work for you. And it is an art, not a science, to dealing with it. You will find what works for you. Do whatever you need to so you can fit this disease in your life where you want it. You shouldn’t be identified as a diabetic first.
Good luck and welcome to TU!
YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I know the newness of it makes you feel like you can’t but you can! I’ve been a Type one for 37 years now and am proff that you can nomatter how bad you take care of yourself. Got to give Liz credit on this “One day at a time” is the best way to do it. I always lesson to my Dr then go do what works for me. Carb counting ALWAYS pays off! Do that and you will go far. Here’s hoping you luck. Don’t worry if you have problem (most of us do right after diagnoses) We have to get used to a whole new way of living and that can be hard (and a whole new way of eating) I’ve been pumping now for 23 years and really can’t tell anyone taking shots how to do it I’m sure your Dr and your diabetes team will be a big help to you,
Welcome to the family you came to the right place for support. Like Liz said take it one day at a time and ask questions it you don’t no what to do.
I was diagnosed in March this year and in the honeymoon stage T1 and on a insulin pump (one touch ping) Just look at all the good things they have for us to make things a little easy on us.
Take care we are here for you
DMurray
Learn as much as you can, but take it easy at the same time. You’re probably hearing a lot right now about the need to keep your blood sugars in a certain range or else you’ll have such and such complications in the future. Please know that what matters is your blood sugar control over the LONG TERM. If you have some swinging blood sugars in the first few months while you’re learning about everything, it’s probably not going to give you complications later. Especially since you mention you’ve been having anxiety attacks, I really just want to stress to you that it’s going to be OK. Some great advice I wish I’d had in the beginning is that there are not “good” blood sugars and “bad” blood sugars, it is just a number that has no reflection on you and your ability as a person. Instead, look at the numbers as an educational tool to help you learn how to manage your diabetes, you don’t need to feel guilty for having roller coaster numbers, especially not right now while you’re still learning everything!
And like Lizmari said, try to find some books to read. “Think Like a Pancreas” is a great one from what I’ve heard. There are a lot of other books out there too. The more you are educated about things, the more you will feel in control.
And one final piece of advice, having just gone through all my college years as a Type 1. You can still do pretty much ANYthing you want to do. Diabetes doesn’t need to inhibit you from reaching your goals/dreams (except I think if you want to be a commercial airline pilot!). It can make some things take a little more planning, but if you really want to do something, diabetes should not keep you from doing it.
Good luck! Keep us updated as to how you’re doing, and don’t hesitate to reach out in this community for support, it is GREAT for that! Sometimes it can be hard to find and adult Type 1 support group, and this community is a good resource for people who don’t have one in their area. Again, good luck and welcome!
Definitely take one day at a time. The sleep thing may also be from your ups and downs with sugars. Let your doc know you are having anxiety attacks. I have had them in the past and it’s no fun. Look into seeing a CDE(certified Diabetes educator). Unfortunately people with chronic illness tend to have problems with depression as well, but it’s easy to get help. A support group is definitely a good idea. As far as college tips… I let each of my instructors know. I tell them I don’t need them to do anything and I’m not looking for special treatment. I just want them to know should they see me eating something in class It’s medically necessary,and that I want at least someone I know will be in class every day I am to know I have diabetes so god for bid there is an emergency they can alert paramedics that I am a diabetic, since I do not yet have a medical I.D. bracelet. I haven’t had any issues with my instructors when doing this. I definitely recommend a I.D. bracelet. as well. Never be afraid to tell any one, it could save your life. Plus if people treat you badly for having diabetes, than they are not worth the effort. I wish you luck. It is alot to take in. I’ve had it for 22 years and there are still times where I stop and ask myself what the heck i’m doing, or I think I’ll never get a handle on things. Just remeber each day is a new day. I wish you luck, and I’m glad you found this site.It’s a great help.
I also agree with what Lizmari said - take it one day at a time.
You can learn more online than you will ever learn from doctors so this is a great place to be. Just remember because something works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for you. When you are reading, you will see someone say a certain food raises their blood sugar and someone else will say that same food causes them to go low. Make your meter your new best friend and test a lot to find out how different things affect you.
I also recommend the books Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner and Using Insulin by John Walsh.
Hi there,
I think you’ve gotten a great head start by connecting with others who know what you’re going through. One thing I think I would have liked to have heard from others is that, although it’s a huge shock and change to your lifestyle, you will eventually get to the point where taking care of your diabetes comes more naturally and is not the biggest thing on your mind.
I was diagnosed last October and completely empathize with what you’re going through right now. The whole concept of constantly checking my blood sugar, taking shots, carb counting, and having to let others know about my diabetes was extremely difficult to get used to. Honestly in the beginning I felt like I could never be just me again.
Now things are totally different. Sure, I still can’t live as freely as I did pre-diabetes, but I definitely feel more like myself again. You will get there too! Once you’ve gotten into the swing of things, you may even be able to see the lighter side of what I like to call “the beets”. My friends and I make certain jokes about it like how my insulin and supplies look like a spy kit whenever I take it out for dinner.
So basically, hang in there! We all go through what you’re going through right now. Your life will not be exactly the same, but it will get back closer to normal with time. Until then, you’ve got plenty of us here for you.
A great book to get you started is Using Insulin, by Walsh and others. If you start pumping someday, Walsh and Roberts’ Pumping Insulin is a great reference. These books taught a dummy like me a lot more about dealing with my diabetes than did my doc, nutritionist, or diabetes educator. And you’ll learn a lot from tudiabetes.org too!
Cheers, Mike
If you can stand to hear it yet again, take this all one day at a time. Make sure you are counting carbs and tracking what they do to your blood sugars. You will get some highs, some lows, and sometimes you’ll look at your results and think “now why the !@ did this happen when it worked just fine last week?” This is all perfectly normal. I hope your sleep patterns get better for you soon, everything is so much more difficult when you’re exhausted.
You can do this, it’s difficult at times but by no means is it impossible. Use this site as often as you can, I’m just new here, wish I had found something similar when I was diagnosed 17 years ago.
Take care, welcome to TU; let us know how you’re doing, we’re all here for you
Hi. One thing about Lantus: please take your daily dose in two injections, one in the morning and one at night. Lantus has a peak at something like 4-6 hours, which causes a low at that time. With two injections, you have a much smaller low. Also, Lantus doesn’t really last quite 24 hours, so two injections gives you a more complete coverage. When you are on a pump, the basal can be programmed to your needs hour by hour, which is one of the great advantages of a pump. When I was first diagnosed, my nurse said as she showed me how to inject insulin, “You can do this.” In fact, she said it several times, and she was right. Best of luck to you–“You can do this.”
Well, to cut to the chase? and I can only get you to my ave. Level of having 6% or less A1c’s for yrs…using MDI- or Insullins and Syringes… ( Now Insulin Pens of Levimire and Novalog )
Others, who ave better can take the Football and take you into their Lower A1c world…
- Get the Books ; THINK LIKE A PANCREASE by Gary Schnier AND THE OTHER IS “USING INSULIN” By John Walsh- ASAP- Like Yesterday… They should have given you copies of them, but they don’t…
- Don’t Expect, nor Depend on just your Dr., let alone their nurses…well over 75% of this game is on Us… and we have to play Detective alot …
- Just get alot of TEST STRIPS… 300 a month to start would be ideal
- Get a Egg Timer… upto 4 hrs gonna need it too
- Anytime your BG’s Go over 300? Call your Dr. for advice on how to take a CB( correction Bolus) and what to do following it up…
- I advise all Newly Diagnosed T1’s to take a min. of a 1-2 wks Medical Leave to focus on both learning and applying all the necessities of controling their T1… under Controlled -at Home - conditions before venturing out into the Real world… and they will be far better prepared to handle the trials and Tribulations that follow…being in a uncontrolled enviroment…and reduce alot of damage and stress and Aniexity as well…
Learning it the Right way, Right Away is the Only way… ! Not Piecemeal it…
On the Bright side? If you have to get this Dman disease? Now is the time, vs getting it in the past decades… The Advances and Knowledge has improved so much, just in the past 10 yrs, it’s Unreal…
And when the time comes and your ready for it? Get a Omni Pod, not a Pump if you can… No Tubes to feel like your Hooked up to a Machine all the time…
If you can achieve ave. 140’s ,after testing 8x day, your doing great! your 1st few months… If you raelly focus and devote the necessary time to it, read those Books and Follow the Program? You can Ave 100’s in no time… ! You can control this Disease if you Really Fooucs alot , get Aggressive and Angry and don’t let it beat you into the ground…
I have no Doubts , in another 10 yrs, all this Current methods will be history and some form of a Cure will be used… So Do your best to keep the Best BG’s you can until then, to take full advantage of it, when it does come… Stay around here, we’ll keep the Light On For you, in your Journey and be here to help the best we can… and Go to the ADA’s -T1 Message Boards as well…