Newbie question

Type 1 and LADA New to Type 1 Diabetes
1

Today is my one month anniversary of diagnosis. I made it through my first month ok. However, I still have tons of questions. I appreciate any light you can shed on these questions. Thanks

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?
  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.
  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?
  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste.
  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong?
  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be.
  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous?
  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else?
  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat?
  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost?
  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone.
  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it?
  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range?
  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target?
  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now.
  16. I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea?

That’s it for now, but I’m sure I’ll have more questions later.
thank you!!!
-chuck

2

All good questions. Here are my answers:

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?
    It’s a good idea. If you CAN’T for some reason, a large solid plastic container (like the ones where peanuts come in or the large coffee ones) could help. Once it’s fool, you should wrap it tightly with tape numerous times to avoid accidental spills. Always, regardless, you need to dispose of your sharps according to what your local hazardous materials disposal regulations indicate.

  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.
    Always good to save. Post what you find out to save others money too. :slight_smile:

  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?
    I test 8-9 times per day. 4-6 is best than 1-2 or nothing, but I wouldn’t call it overboard. However often you test, make sure you get your Endo to update your prescription, because you WILL run out of test strips otherwise.

  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste.
    I will pass on this one. I am on the pump and haven’t used either of these for a long time: I know… I should know… :S

  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong?
    Hard to tell out of the blue, but here are some thoughts: rotate the places where you shoot yourself; make sure to leave at least an inch around your belly button; try other areas -there are a few excellent videos from Dr. Bernstein here that should be helpful.

  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be.
    You should have your feet checked by your general doctor at least twice a year. You should inspect them yourself, often: after you take a shower, etc. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and socks that are not too tight. Try to minimize barefoot walking, specially outdoors. THIS is all, to minimize the possibility of accidental cuts. These, when ignored (in cases of “diabetic foot”) and infected, can lead to amputation among people with diabetes.

  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous?
    You mean you are more of a night person? I can’t think of any reason why this could be a problem, but I may be wrong.

  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else?
    Can’t answer that.

  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat?
    I live in Orlando. Heat here can make you sweat (dehydrate) real quick, when outdoors without replenishing fluids often. Just drink plenty of water if outdoors and also make sure your insulin is protected from high temperatures, because it WILL cause it to loose its potency. If you go to the beach, for instance, always make sure to bring along some sort of a cooler to put your vials, etc. while you are in the sun.

  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost?
    You should definitely go to the Insulin Pumpers section in the Forum. There’s TONS of answers to these questions there.

  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone.
    Sounds like a good idea.

  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it?
    Know what, that is a good question. I suggest you start a new discussion topic about it. I am sure it will be flooded with replies.

  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range?
    Many good topics on this very same matter here:
    http://tudiabetes.com/forum/topic/listForCategory?categoryId=583967%3ACategory%3A15011

  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target?
    Target should be 90-100.

  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now.
    Another good discussion topic to put under Foods and Recipes.

  16. I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea?
    Just remember to test before you drive every time. During the trip, stop at least at a couple of plazas, take a break, stretch and test before you resume driving. Before you come to Orlando, let me know: I live here and we could meet.

3

I’m new myself, just a few months in and I don’t have a lot of answers but maybe I can help with a couple of your questions.
2. I don’t use alcohol swabs, just soap and water. I use non-alcohol baby wipes when I am not near running water. You can get a good price on those at big stores like Wal-Mart.
3. I test 4-6 times a day also. I test more when I am trying a new food. I test before and after for two or three days and when I am sure the results are consistent, I don’t bother to test every time for that particular meal. That gives my fingers a bit of a rest.
4. I use a Novo Jr pen with the very short, fine needles (5mm-31 gauge) and don’t find it to be painful, especially compared to lancets. Are you using a thicker needle?
5. I tend to bruise on my finger tips but not at the injection site. I’ve heard that if you press gently on the site for 30 seconds with a tissue, that reduces bruising.
6. Complications are caused by high blood sugar, not by diabetes itself. If you control your blood sugar, you will reduce your risk. The ADA recommended levels are way too high, however, I try to keep my A1C under 6% .
8.I also get numbness in my hands at night if I sleep with bent wrists. I had carpal tunnel syndrome when I was pregnant and learned that I need to straighten my wrists to allow the blood flow. It also happens sometimes if I sleep on my side.
12. I can’t answer that one as I am married. I met my husband when I was 45 through an online dating service and today is our 7th wedding anniversary. I was joking today that he didn’t know what he was letting himself in for when he made the “in sickness and in health” vow.
13. Had you eaten before you worked out? My BG goes up if I exercise on an empty stomach, especially in the morning, but if I have eaten, it usually goes down.
14. I try to keep mine in the normal range- between 80 and 100. I find I can do that if I eat a low carb diet. To me, it’s worth the effort to avoid highs and lows, which I get if I eat more than 20-30g of carb at a meal, even using Novolog. I usually test after one hour because that’s when I spike and hope to have no more than a 30 point rise after meals. So I might be at 120 briefly after a meal, but most of the time I’m between 80 and 100. My last A1C was down from 7.2 to 5.8 with the changes in diet and now that I have started insulin, I hope to get it down even further.
15. I use netrition, bulk foods and Nuts4You for some of the low carb ingredients I use in my cooking. I don’t buy many prepared foods, but do my own baking with coconut flour, almond flour, gluten flour and carbquick (which makes great biscuits). I buy vanilla whey protein from Wal-Mart (Body Fortress- $12.97 for 2 pounds) which makes a great milk shake. I add frozen raspberries or good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for more flavor. This makes an easy breakfast or nighttime snack. I love chocolate also but don’t like the taste or side effects of the sugar free chocolate. I buy Lindt 85% cocoa dark chocolate from my local grocery store. It has 5g net carbs in 4 large squares. It takes a bit of getting used to as you get the chocolate flavor without the sweetness but it works for me. Also you can make your own chocolate cakes (I have a great recipe for flourless chocolate torte), puddings etc. with high quality baking chocolate or cocoa, using the sweetener of your choice and it will taste much better than anything you can buy.
Hope this helps. Remember there are lots of us who are going through the same thing. This site has really helped me tremendously over the last few weeks.

4

Hey Chuck,

I can answer a few of your questions maybe but not all.I have been a diabetic for 34 of my 44 years and some of these answers may be dated.
1.I was told if you couldn’t afford a sharps contaior to use a empy milk jug so’s your needles wouldn’t stick anybodty.
2. I use only soap and water. I was told years ago to use dial soap and it would kill any germs on your skin.
3. I test 4 times a day sometimes more just depends on what I’m running,
4. I know you used to could mix insulins but don’t know about it now.
5. You maybe hitting a vein it can turn you black and blue if you do.
6. Just watch your feet and cheak them after taking a shower or something and watch for cuts on them that can lead to infection. That’s what can cause ampitation.
7. I really don’t think that’s a problem but ask your Dr if your unsure.
8. That kinda sounds like carpatunnel to me.
9. Just make sure you don’t get the insulin too hot0.10. I have been a pumper for about 19 years and I know of no reason to get one it will keep you under better control. The reason I 1st went on one was because I was expecting my 1st child. Yesmy insrance covered the pump but not at 1st. They are now telling me that the cast is like 5000 if insurance doesn’t caver it then if insurance doesn’t cover the supplies they are about 429 for a 3 months supply. Guess it just depends on the pump and how many times you change it out.
11. If you live alone it’s a good idea
12. I don’t know about dating but ALWAYS be up front about having diabetes.
13. I use walking for my exersise.
14. For me it’s inbetween 100 and 200. It really depends on the person.
15. Really don’t know about that one. I’m still trying to figre the computer out.
16. don’t see where that’s a bad idea just take your bg montior with you and cheak, cheak your bg

5

Here are my answers, to the questions I know something about.

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?

YES. Buy a little gizmo called CLIP-SAFE at CVS for $4.25. It snips the needles off your pen or syringe and strores several hundreds of them. You can put one in your purse too. Then you can throw the stuff out in regular trash.

  1. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.

NOT NECESSARY. DR. Bernstein says this is not necessary in his book and that it toughens skin, and a lot of people posted over on the alt.support.diabetes newsgroup that they don’t swab with no problems. I never have and have never had any infection with any shot or test lancet.

  1. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?

Test as often as possible, limited only by how many strips you get each month. Testing is the way you figure out what you can eat while still keeping safe blood sugar levels.

Keep records of what foods in what combinations worked well with what insulin doses, and which ones didn’t. Be sure you learn what your carb/insulin ratio is and how it might change from breakfast to other meals.

  1. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste.

You can use a syringe to extract insulin from a pen. Just DON’T inject air into the pen the way you do with the vial. I mixed all the time as my doctor gave me samples of both vials and pens. I personally prefer the syringe because it allows me to use 1/2 units and I’m very insuiln sensitive, but I just bought some pens for when I am on vacation at a hotel as it’s easier for travel.

  1. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong?

No. There are a ton of capillaries in the tummy that you can hit. But I have recently switched to using my upper thigh, taking a pinch where there’s some fat and I am NOT getting those nasty bruises. That location may slow R insulin, but I haven’t noticed a significant difference, and I love not being all spotty.

  1. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be.

If your feet are numb or painful, VERY. Otherwise, if you can learn what to eat to keep your blood sugar under 140 mg/dl you don’t need to develop the neuropathy that leads to amputation.

If you have neuropathy in your feet, keep your blood sugar under 140 as often as possible, even if it means going way light on carbs. Lowering blood sugar under that threshhold has been shown to have a very good effect on early neuropathy. Taking Alpha Lipoic Acid helps too.

  1. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat?

If it is very hot, you may absorb your insulin more quickly, as your blood vessals dilate.

  1. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target?

70-140 mg/dl is ideal, but 60-150 is great for Type 1 as long at those 60s are the LOWEST you go. Dr. Bernstein suggests raising your blood sugar with glucose if you go below 90. I’d recommend you read his “Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution” and even if you don’t do his diet, his chapter on hypos is EXTREMELY helpful.

  1. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now.

There are NO foods sold as “diabetic” that are good for diabetics, and a lot of crap sold to diabetics under that label that raise blood sugar. Sugar free stuff is full of sugar alcohols that do raise alcohol unless you are one of the “lucky” people for whom they cause diarrhea.

Look at the carb counts on the foods you eat and learn how your blood sugar responds to specific amounts of carbs. That’s the only way to get good control.

Books wr

6

I tried answering this yesterday, but I wrote too much and it cut me off. I’m attempting again.

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one? Yes. $7 at Target for a small one. If you’re concerned about price, do the needle clipping thing that Jenny recommended and throw out the bulky plunger part. Container will thus last longer.
  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down. Swab only if you’re on the pump. You don’t need to do it for your hands for testing or for shots, it’ll just make it painful. Soap and water will work just fine. The alcohol will kill the germs at your pump site area which is important because of how long the the cannula is in you. Otherwise, waste of money.
  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard? You test approximately every 3-4 hours to get a good sense of your blood sugar trends. Your body no longer monitors you - you need to do that. Your tests should coincide with each meal, bedtime and mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Plus anytime you feel yucky. TEST TEST TEST.
  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste. Mixing is supposedly bad. I don’t mix, but I know those who do. I would just toughen up, do it until you’re done with your pens and then switch back to injections. Or whatever you want. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question.
  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong? Probably. Make sure you rotate and make sure that if it hurts when you touch the needle to your skin that you STOP. Move to another area. You don’t have to continue with the injection if tapping the skin causes pain.
  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be. You’re young in the game so I would be less than moderately worried. Just don’t be stupid. Wear shoes when outside. Wear socks preferably inside (I don’t, never have, never will). Wear good shoes if you’re going on long walks. Blisters are a ■■■■■.
  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous? Why would you think it would be more dangerous?
  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else? Sounds like you’re cutting off your circulation. Not much you can do when you’re sleeping though.
  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat? Just keep your insulin in a lunch bag or other cool pack when you’re outside. Refridgerate the extra.
  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost? Freedom to eat what and when I want. Bolus wizard calculator. Insurance covers 60%-100% depending on which one you have, so you’ll have to find that out on your own.
  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone. If you want to. I live alone and don’t have one, but if it makes you feel better, why wouldn’t you?
  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it? You should be up front about it because it makes it seem like 1) you’re ashamed of it or 2) the girl should be scared of it. I know plenty of diabetic married men. If she’s the right girl, she will accept you for who you are, diabetes and all. At least, I would.
  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range? Talk to a CDE about the specifics, but in general, eat a little something before and test before, during and after to see how your blood sugars are changing. AND WOULD YOU STOP WORRYING.
  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target? 60s and 70s are a bit low… my target is 100-120, though I’m pretty much all over the place.
  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now. I don’t buy diabetic specialty food. It’s full of chemicals, tastes bad and has a laxative effect. They pretty much suck. Go buy a chocolate bar and take insulin for it. That’s how your body normally does it. And if you can’t do that on your insulin regime right now, you’re not on a very good one and you should switch to Lantus or the pump.
  16. I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea? No. Just pull over at rest stops (or test while driving if you can) every so often (like 1-1.5 hours). Have juice and food in the car. Have a cell phone. You’ll be fine.
7

Good for you on being so responsible and thoughtful about your diabetes! Asking questions is the best way to get information and we’ve all been there before. Here’s a few more thoughts to add to the mix.

  1. Sharps container - I just fill a hard plastic juice bottle until they’re full and then throw them in the communal dumpster in our apartment complex. The clip for needles is great idea when you’re on the go. You can reuse syringes as long as you only use them for the same kind of insulin (one for Lantus, one for Novolog/Humalog), which also cuts down on how many you go through. However, the longer you use the same one, the more bruises they will cause.

  2. Forget the swabs, they are a waste of your money. If you’re really concerned, buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol and use it with a cotton swab or ball. What are you using them for, testing or insulin shots?

  3. It’s almost always better to test often. Four to six times a day is about the minimum you should do if you’re type 1. Quick primer of when you should test: before meals, two hours after meals, before bed, before physical activity, before driving, when you feel like your BG is low, and when you’re sick. I sometimes test also when I’m eating something new that may affect my blood sugar differently than I thought it might.
    The thing about testing often is that you will use up strips more quickly. Make sure your endocrinologist or doctor prescribes AT LEAST six per day for you as it may be hard to get coverage for more if your doctor doesn’t point out to your insurance that testing that frequently is VERY important for your continued good health.

  4. I tried both the pens and the vials of insulin and I personally prefer vials. I found that the pens didn’t dose as accurately, and I always had a bajillion pen needles in my apartment in corners and in the bottom of my purse. So I went with syringes and vials until I got my pump.
    Don’t EVER mix Lantus with other insulins, don’t even use the same syringe for both your insulins. Lantus becomes inert in the presence of anything besides Lantus. The mixed insulins are older kinds of insulin like Regular, NPH, and Lente, sometimes in combination or with a rapid-acting analog mixed in to cover meal carbs. You can mix your own, but most people who have been diagnosed with type 1 in the last decade use a long-acting insulin like Lantus to cover their basal insulin needs and a rapid-acting insulin at meals to cover the carbs they’re eating (which is more flexible).

  5. I remember having a lot of bruises with syringes, more at the beginning and fewer as time went on. Bruising will happen more with dull needles or with needles that are longer/thicker gauge. You may need smaller and shorter needles (for example, 3/16" and 33 gauge). You sort of get a feel for places that will hurt more/cause more bruising - I can remember searching around for a safe spot and going by how ticklish or sensitive a spot was.

  6. I have to second Allison on the feet issue. Just don’t be stupid and wear shoes. If, someday in the future at a doctor’s appointment when they test you for neuropathy, you find that your feet aren’t as sensitive as they once were, then be more diligent and careful. This early on, it shouldn’t be a worry for you.

  7. If you find that you’re up and don’t get enough sleep, it could have an affect on your blood sugars. Just record your numbers and look for patterns. If it seems like you’re higher at night, try splitting your Lantus dose or doing a correction shot. Your CDE and Endo should do this fine tuning with you.

  8. I think the numbness is unrelated to the diabetes, IMHO. But I’m no expert here.

  9. If you’re used to Florida conditions the rest of the year, the heat shouldn’t affect you beyond helping your body absorb your insulin more quickly. To keep your insulin cool in the heat, there are these great pouches that keep your insulin at a safe temperature (after opening) for over forty hours here:

8

Dang, it cut me off too. Here’s the website for the frio insulin pouch: http://www.insulincase.com/detail.aspx?ID=1

  1. One really cool thing about the pump is that it helps keep track of how much insulin you have in your system at any given time. Say you test, and you’re 220 after having eaten a high-carb meal an hour before. The pump will tell you how much of that insulin has worn off and how much is still “on board,” and will subtract that amount from any correction bolus it suggests. This helps prevent rebound lows after highs.
    There are lots of other cool features of pumps, go to the forum here, at www.insulin-pumpers.org, or at www.insulinpumpforums.com to talk to more pumpers about why they got theirs, and the advantages and drawbacks.

  2. Not sure what kind of alarm you mean. There is a monitor called the Glucowatch that was supposed to read your sugar through the skin on your wrist, but it wasn’t very good. There are continuous glucose monitors that you can wear (though most are 24-hour-wear devices) that can do this, but they are VERY expensive and insurance often/usually doesn’t cover them. I would just check in the middle of the night every so often, and keep testing supplies on your bedstand.

  3. Maybe I wouldn’t mention it on Date #1, but definitely on Date #2.

  4. Test, test, test! Test before you work out, test during if you feel funky, test after. And write down what you do and how it affects your BG. Different kinds of exercise will have a different impact. It’s all about trial and error.
    If you do work out without having eaten terribly recently (like first thing in the morning), it’s helpful to have a little snack and a small amount of insulin, maybe half what you would normally do. The snack keeps your BG from dropping, and the insulin keeps you from skyrocketing.

  5. A “good” number is one that tells you accurately what your BG level is, and helps you make an informed decision about what to do to get it in range. It’s not the number that’s good, it’s what you DO with the information it gives you. If you’re higher than your target, and you choose to not do anything about it or add to it by having more carbs without taking a shot for it, that’s harmful. If you’re lower than your target and you don’t have some sugar to bring you back up to your target, that’s dangerous.
    Most doctors recommend a target between 90 and 120, with a postmeal target of 140 to 160. Your doctor should help you figure out what your target should be.

  6. The only good diabetic-marketed food is diet soda - the rest is pretty much overpriced bilge. Go ahead and buy some chocolate, calculating the carbs and taking the requisite extra units of insulin to cover it. Just maybe don’t get the mondo-super-huge bar.

  7. Ditto what Allison said. Test (but not while driving, that’s like text-messaging and driving in terms of danger level) and have a phone on hand to call ahead if you’re going to be late due to unforeseen low BG.

Good luck! Keep us posted, we’d love to know how you’re managing.

9

Chuck, my views for what they’re worth:

(1) I don’t use one, as the caps on my needles are snug.
(2) I never use swabs. FIner needles hurt less, or not at all (6mm).
(3) 7 to 10.
(4) Don’t know about mixing. Don’t waste insulin though: there’s a charity in India which will take slightly out of date insulin and give it to kids who otherwise would get none - I think you can contact them through the Insulin Dependent Diabetic Trust.
(5) I still bruise sometimes. But bruising usually means you’ve gone too deep and hit a blood vessel. Try pinching more fat between your thumb and forefinger.
(6) Not much, yet. Keep an eye on your feet, and specifically wash them every day. You need to be aware of infections, as we tend to lose a little feeling over time (and so can miss fungal infections and cuts unless we’re looking for them).
(7) I don’t think so. The key is a regime, albeit a flexible one.
(8) Yes. Stop sleeping on your arms.
(9) There are a few posts on this site re diabetes and hear. See also recent relevant posts on the forum at www.diabetes.co.uk. There’s a contributor to that site named Clare whose posts are especially helpful.
(10) n/a
(11) I’ve never heard of these.
(12) Dating divides people (no pun intended), but I think there’s no point hiding diabetes. And frankly if a potential date is creeped out by diabetes, (s)he’s not going to stay long is (s)he? Plus me with controlled diabetes is a damn sight sexier than me with uncontrolled diabetes (the mouth blisters were a particular point of physical beauty)…
(13) Exercise Is Good. Cardio will cause your bloods to rise in the first 30 mins or so, but long term over the day they will be lower. Keep it up. I tend to take a gulp of energy drink before during and immediately after cardio - the immediately after is most important, I find, as it staves off delayed hypos. Bloods change quickly after cardio.
(14) Readings are on a different scale in the UK. I won’t answer this one.
(15) Don’t touch that “Diabetic Food” nonsense. It’s usually stuffed with hydrogenated fat and still has sugars (just not glucose). Work out what sweet foods you can eat (even to the brand: if I inject just the right amount of insulin, there’s an ice cream which won’t hurt me) . On the insulin, it’s trial and error.
(16) I’ve no idea. Have you passed your driving test?

Good luck, pal
Ross

10

Just one thing to add about alcohol swabs. When I was first diagnosed, my parents always swiped my finger with one before testing–just like they did at the hospital. It ended up drying out my skin, and I developed huge blisters on my fingers that the doctor had to lance. It really really hurt. If my hands are dirty or if I’ve touched something sugary, I wash with soap and water. Usually I don’t even do that, and I’ve never had an infection.

11

Wow. What a bunch of knowledge here. I won’t address all the questions, but here’s what I have to add.
First, know that you are intelligent and ask great questions. You will soon have all the inforation you need to care for the db properly and insure a bright future. Therefore, STOP WORRYING. It is useless. It is paralyzing. It saps the joy out of your life. I don’t use a sharps container - just a big old plastic diet Pepsi bottle. I cut the needles off with an old scissors, stuff 'em in the bottle and tape it shut when it’s full. I have never used alcohol for injections or lancing. Test as much as you need to to get information - don’t test just for the sake of putting a bunch of numbers on paper. I test before and after each meal, before bed, and at 2 a.m. I don’t look for specialty foods - they are expensive. I frequently eat chocolate and because the fat slows absorption, it doesn’t elevate my bg much. Maybe try getting a sack of the fun-sized candy bars and rationing them out. Maybe have one of the guys in that video keep them for you (ha ha just kidding).
Maybe the treadmill spike was due to the time of day. We all have regulatory and counter regulatory hormones that play havoc with our bg at different times of the day. Mine are bad in the morning. If I were to go for a nice long walk at 10 a.m., I could easily be up 150 point when I get home. Therefore, I go for a nice long walk in the evening. Hon, you have only been at this a month. That’s nothing. Db involves lots of problem-solving, trial and error, and starting over. That’s all part of the gig. But, you’ll get better.
Do NOT let it restrict you - just find ways to adapt. Otherwise you may start feeling deprived and resent the situation. So absolutely go to Orlando. If you run into problems, be prepared, deal with it, and then move on. Sorry for this big blob of rambling. Gosh I wish I’d had something like this in '74 when I was diagnosed.

12
  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?
    I never had one just threw in garbage, don’t do what I did.
  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.
    I don’t swab for testing and shots I stopped as well. Pumping I do use IV prep
  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?
    I test 6-10 times a day. Before I eat and two hours after a meal and sometimes more if exercise a lot.
  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste. I only did syringes. now I pump.
  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong? Are you thin. Go straight in not at an angle.6) Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be. Hmmm feet care, I have been doing this 40 years no issues for me, just try to keep bgs as normal as possible is the best thing in trying to avoid complications7) I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous? Sleep is very very important, for all people not just diabetics.8) I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else? I had carpal tunnel syndrome and have had surgery, but I am better and don’t get this anymore. Talk to your MD about it.
  6. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat? Just watch your vials of insulin.
  7. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost? I think it is the best form of insulin delivery, but it is not a cure and you have to test a lot. Yes ins. pays. Cost around $6000. I did shots for 36 years.11) low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone.
  8. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it? Up front yes, but don’t make it the whold date. If your date has an issue with it move on. I told everyone I dated after the first date and no one seemed to bothered by it.13) How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range? Exercise always lowers my bgs. You are a guy and must have an adrelanine rush from exercise causing a rise in bgs. Exercise is important, test and correct.
  9. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target? You are doing great. :slight_smile:15) where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now. Have some chocolate and bolus for it.16) I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea? Drive away, pull over and test and eat and or correct as needed. Life goes on.
13

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one? - Plastic container and sealed with duck tape works.

  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down. We did. The BD swabs have lots of alcohol and seem to last a few days for use. We open, use, put back and fold the foil to seal.

  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard? The more you test the more info you have. We test 8-10 when not using CGMS.

  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste. Sure. you can also draw insulin from a pen cartridge.

  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong? Sounds like it - but we pump so I’m not much help here.

  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be. I believe this is more of a Type 2 thing. But since all D people cuts heal a bit slower it’s can’t hurt to take care of them.

  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous? I guess it depends what your doing. :slight_smile:

  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else? That’s not great. I try some cardio excercise.

  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat? YMMV.

  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost? Insurance companies are all different - but most cover most. I strongly believe it is the way to go. More flexibility and generally more control over insulin. We just order the MM with CGMS, very excited.

  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone. I think you should.

  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it? Nothing should change. I’d be “a matter a fact” about it.

  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range? Elevated…? That’s odd. You may have dropped and had a rebound. You should check before, target higher and I’d check every half hour until you learn your body a bit better.

  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target? That’s preety good. You should probably target 100 day 120 night. Check with your doctor.

  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now.
    Chocolate is fine, just bolus for it.

  16. I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea? Just check your BG. Have sugar handy.

14

Hello. My daughter was dx on 6/12/2007 so we are in the same boat as you. I continue to learn something new everyday! Here are some answers to your questions. I hope I helped you a little bit!

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?
    I would definitly get one for safety reasons. Also, each state has different laws for disposing of needles. You can get a container at any pharmacy - They can order one for you. My husband is a Pharmacist and he bought a 6.9 quart container for just a couple of dollars.

  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.
    We only use alchol swabs for cleaning the tops of our insulin bottles and if we are giving a shot in the butt since she is still wearing a diaper. We have Olivia wash her hands before we poke her finger. If you use Alchol on your fingers all the time, your skin can get very dry and start to crack. We buy bulk at SAM’s club - you can get 400 for $4.00.

  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?
    We test Olivia before breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, bedtime, midnight, and 3am, before and after being very active, and anytime she just isn’t acting right.

  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste.
    We are still giving regular shots. We used a Lantus pen at the beginning, but we had to hold it in her for 10 seconds and she was just too wiggly to do that. They have a mini needle for the pens - I think it’s ultra fine III.

  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong?
    No, just hitting those little blood vessels. Rotate your sites around.

  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be.
    Check feet everyday and wear comfortable shoes - never tight ones that can cause blisters. Maybe try socks that wick moister away from feet.

  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous?
    I wouldn’t think so. It is a good idea to check yourself at 2 or 3 in the morning to avoid lows and to correct any highs.

  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else? Can’t answer this.

  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat? Some people may absorb their insulin quicker if out in the heat. Check yourself more often if outside in the heat for a large amount of time. Never keep your insulin in a hot place - keep cool. There are lots of supplies out there to keep insulin cold.

  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost? N/A

  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone. I’ve heard that these are expensive and usually are not covered by insurance. I get up at midnight (I’m a night owl too so most of the time I just stay up until midnight) and 3 o’clock to check Olivia. Alot of people say at bedtime you should be atleast 150 to avoid lows at night. Have you heard this?? We give Olivia a bedtime snack anyway, but I’m wondering what most people do.

  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it?
    Don’t hide it - be open about it.

  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range?
    Test before, during, and after.

  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target?
    Not sure, but for children they say between 80-200.

  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some ri

15

Oh I forgot to answer the one about the numbness. Sounds like it’s some type of repetitive stress problem - when you hands/arms are in one position for long, like when you sleep, tendons that are already irritated may become compressed and press on the nerves, causing numbness. That’s why shifting around repositions things and it clears. I’ve had it for years and when it flares up I wear braces to keep my wrists straight at night.
It doesn’t sound like diabetic neuropathy, although carpal tunnel syndrome is said to be seen more frequently in diabetics.
If it continues, you might wanna mention it to the doc, but he will probably also tell you to try a brace first.

16

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?
    *in my town, they told me to put them in a bleach bottle, and when it is full to pour some bleach into the bottle, put the cap on, tape the top with heavy duty tap and mark the bottle as “sharps”

  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.
    *I do not use alcohol swabs anymore, I just wash my hands really good and dry before testing
    (I use a pump, with iv prep wipes) but, for shots, I would suggest buying a large bottle of alcohol and using cotton balls and save the swabs for your travel kit

  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?
    *I test about every 2-4 hours myself, and my daughter tests 4 or more times daily

  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste.
    *my daughter sometimes draws insulin out of the pen with a syringe and we mark the pen with an “X” so we know that’s the one she’s using with syringes

  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong?
    *not sure about this one, we haven’t had that problem here (sorry)

  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be.
    *I take the extra time after a shower to dry my feet, and check for cuts and/or blisters just to be safe!

  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous?
    *not that I am aware of, I too am a night owl, and have never had a problem

  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else?
    *this happens to me sometimes, but my doctor didn’t seem concerned he said that everyone, diabetes or not will have the same experience if they lay on a limb

  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat?
    *probably not dangerous to you, stay hydrated!! But could be if your insulin is not kept cool

  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost?
    *depends on what kind of insurance you have, mine was covered in full, as are my supplies some insurance companies only cover 80%, you have to check what their policy is for DME (durible medical equipment) I was told that it would make it easier for me to care for my daughter who wanted to go on the pump- if I made the switch first, I never wanted to pump for many, many years, but after making the switch, I’m so glad I did! I just feel better, and my control has tightened up greatly.

  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone.
    *probably wouldn’t hurt!

  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it?
    *I was always upfront about it, I never hid the fact that I have D- I test my blood sugar right at the table when out to dinner :slight_smile:

  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range?
    *I do alot of walking- always test before any excercize and never work out if you have ketones

  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target?
    *I have a target of 100

  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now.
    *I still indulge occaisionally, and then I take a bolus to cover the carbs I’ve eaten. There’s NO WAY I could live without chocolate!! lol

  16. I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea?
    *definately not, just test often, and make sure you have plenty of supplies and snacks, as well as fast acting carbs to treat any lows. I pack a cooler with water and snacks and extra insulin

17
  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one? NO
  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down. The only reason I swab is to hold my set on better
  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard? NO, I test up to 10 times a day
  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste. Talk to your Endo.
  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong? There is a certain finesse to it and I am sure you will learn soon.
  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be. Primary Care Doctors try scaring the crap out of you for some reason, just be aware of your body if it seems to be out of wack talk to your doctor
  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous? Probably not
  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else?You just sleep well!!!
  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat?I live in VA and it is hot as hell here. I have know problems with the heat.
  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost? Your results will be better, only one needle every 72 hours. Insurance pays for most of it. Contact them and they will do everything for you and even provide no credit check financing for the remainder of your pump cost that your insurance does not pay for.
  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone.
  12. I’m single and diabetic how tough is it to find dates? It wasn’t easy before, how do I deal with it now? Should I be up front about it? Can’t answer that I was with my GF when I got diagnosed and now we are getting married.
  13. How much should I worry about working out? I walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and found elevated sugar levels. How do I work out and keep it in a good range?Exercise can be tough-always have some glucose tabs around in case you go low.
  14. What’s a good reading on the meter? I usually range from 60s to 150s through the day. People without diabetes are 80-100, so what should I target?I like 85-110 but that is my preference
  15. where do you buy diabetic specialty foods? Is there a good website to buy it online? I was a serious chocaholic, I could kill for some right now. Just count the carbs and calculate the amount of fast acting insulin you need and eat the chocolate you want to eat.
  16. I’m planning to drive to Orlando, about 3 1/2 hour drive for me. Is that a bad idea?Just make sure you check your BG before you drive and when you stop for gas or rest.
18

I am what some may call a “Born Again Diabetic” I have had it for almost 20 years but really have not been monitoring and really taking care of it until just recently. So I may not be the foremost expert but I do have a little background.

  1. “Sharps” container - Do I need to get one?
    Need one… no but I definitely suggest getting one. I have 2 kids and the few times I have not safely put my lancets or syringes away, the kids find them. Its also just safer that way.

  2. Alcohol swab - I’m going through these like crazy. Should I buy bulk or cut down.
    I personally don’t use alcohol swabs. I just make sure that the area is clean with either soap and water, baby wipes (having 2 kids, they are everywhere) Not to mention, alcohol swab (and alcohol in general) dries out your skin so I avoid it.

  3. How many times do you test each day? I test 4-6. is that too much? Am I going overboard?
    You really can’t go overboard with testing. I test 6-8 times a day and I still have my highs and lows that I miss. I figure, as long as your insurance will continue paying for them so you don’t have to pay out of pocket, test, test, test. It is one of the keys to control.

  4. I switched to pen and found it more painful than the needle. Can I mix? should I mix? I hate wasting and I have a bottle of Lantus and a bottle of Humalog going to waste.
    I can not say for sure but as long as your results do not vary between the different types of insulin, I do not see an issue with mixing. Once again, I don’t have personal experience with this so I would check with your physician to be sure

  5. I have all these black and blue marks on my stomach. Am I doing it wrong?
    I use to get bruise marks when shooting up (and still do on occasion) but I think that just means that you hit a blood vessel when injecting and so the blood is just trapped under the skin making it black and blue (a bruise) I am more guessing at this more than anything but I do not think it is anything to worry about.

  6. Every single doctor and nurse warned me about taking care of my feet. There are tons of stories about amputation. Its scaring the crap out of me. How worried should I be.
    Well, Your feet are one of the first things that start to show the negative effects if you do not take care of yourself. Your feet take more abuse because you are walking, running and jumping on them all day long. Care of your feet is crucial. The best advice I can give it to be very conscious of your feet. Check them often. Try not to walk outside or on sharp or rough surfaces bare footing if you can avoid it. Also, use lotions and foot care product on your feet. It will make a difference.

  7. I’m a night owl. Is that more dangerous?
    Not at all. Whether you stay up all night and sleep all day or don’t sleep 8-12 hours a night, you are just as healthy (or unhealthy) as they next person. The only thing is to make sure you get 6 hours or more of sleep a night. Less than that will start to take a toll on your body and that will then have some effect on controlling your Diabetes. I am a night owl as well but I try and make sure I get 6 or more hours of sleep. If I get less than that, I can tell.

  8. I get numbness on my hands at night. Then I wake up and adjust my arms and the numbness goes away. Anyone else?
    I get that as well. For me it is because I move around in my sleep and end up laying on my arms which cuts the circulation off to my hands. Just try not to sleep on your arms.

  9. I live in Florida. How dangerous is the heat?
    I am not real sure on this one but from what I know, it is just as dangerous (or not) as someone without Diabetes.

  10. For the pumpers: What made you decide to get one? Is there any reason not to get one? Does insurance pay for it? how much will it cost?
    Not there yet. Hopefully in Oct. I will be a pumper

  11. low blood sugar alarms - should I get one? I live alone.
    I suggest finding something that will alarm you. Y

19

Well, It’s 3 months for me now since my “diagnosis” - I work in health care, so I’m doing a good job on tryng to get “tight control” FAST. I’ve lost 35 pounds so far and my A1c is down to 6.8

  1. I do NOT use insulin - but I do put my lancets in a special container - this comes from working in health care, I guess - try for something red. I NEVER throw them away in public either.
  2. Alcohol swabs - these do not actually do mucjh good - they DO NOT sterilize anything - REALLY. - they only clean off surface oils on the sking. That’s why they tell you to just wash your hands before you test your BG. In fact alcohol can actually raise your BG - so stop using these for your fingersticks - that will cut costs
  3. Test as often as you can afford to - especially in the beginning - it is important to understand HOW your body works and what it’s response is. You can always switch to a cheaper meter & strips.
    4 & 5. sorry - no experience with insulin - I hear the pen is great - also hear good things about Byetta
    6 & 8. neuropathy happens - watch your feet - you can have the doctor test you NOW for neuropathy - it will set your mind at ease. DO take good care of your feet.
    7 & 9. I don’t know that with Florida or bing a night person has any negative impact on your mobidity - being happy hoever, does.
    10 & 11. No experience with either, sorry
  4. There’s tons of diabetic women - bet you can find one
  5. Work out a lot - ut eat a Glucerna bar FIRST - this helps your blood sugar stablize from it - Test your B.G. at least an hour AFTER
  6. Ideal sugar ranges are - 90 to 110
  7. I get good speciality stuff at WalMart - I ove Atkins bars & Glucerna Bars - watch the carbs!
  8. I drive 3+ hour drives all the time - you should be able to make “pit stops” if needed!
    Good Luck!
20

One thing to add-make sure you always wash your hands before you check your blood. If you have just eaten something sweet the sugar residue will actually make your BG go up, sometimes alot. My Endo also has told me not to use alcohol on my finger before I test because that can alter your results as well.