Hello everyone,
My name is Barney, and have recently been diagnosed with T1D.
If anyone comes across my profile, please feel free to let me know how you guys (or ladies of course) dealt with the big news and how long it took you to get your BG levels under control. I look forward to meeting you people!
Welcome to the club Barney! Glad to meet you and sorry you joined (not TuD just D). I see you are in Washington. I live in Bothell.
I was diagnosed just over a year ago with an A1c of 12.3. I knew pretty much nothing about D or what it took to manage it. So, a crash course in diabetes and the care there of was in order. Finding this site and community was a godsend. There are so many capable and experienced PWD here that virtually any question can be answered. Another great place to learn about this is Bloodsugar 101 (online or the book). That was where I found the easiest to follow description of how my BG works and how to figure out my diet and insulin.
A little about me and what I do.Shortly after starting insulin I realized that the diet info I was given did not work for me. I had lost 30lb in the months before DX and had put most of it back on in a matter of about 3 weeks. I've been fat before and did not want to deal with that again. I just wanted to get back to 180 like before D. I also found it very difficult to manage my BG and use the insulin correctly. This lead me to take the low carb route.At first I went pretty extreme LC until I got used to using insulin and how my body reacted. Listening to your body is very important in this, but you have to understand it too. It all takes some time and experimenting. Unfortunately I put off seeing a doctor far too long. By the time I was dx'd I already had several complications like vision problems and numbness in my hands and feet. Needless to say I am motivated to keep my BG as close to normal as I can. My A1c in Feb was 5.6, July 5.4 and yesterday 5.5. I feel very fortunate to achieve these levels because a lot of people work very hard to get below 7, some with little success. I was in pretty bad shape last October and it took about a full year to get to the point where most days I feel pretty good. My complications are much better, but not gone.
So enough of the cheerful stuff. You have found a great place to learn, and learn you must. It takes time and persistence, but the results are worth it. Stick with it, don't loose hope. And no matter how it may seem you are not alone in your fight. If ever I can be of help, just ask. I am on here most days.
Hi Barney, welcome to the club! I see by looking at your profile that you were diagnosed in November '11. I was lucky in some ways cos I was diagnosed at three years old and so have never really known anything else when it has come to living with DM. I had a crap time in my teens when I worked out I'd done approx 10000 injections and could not eat everything my friends did and I had the horrid hypos which made me feel embarrassed and ashamed cos I was 'weird'. I rebelled as every good teenager should! Not for long though cos I had the best mum in the world and she helped me through. Since then I've done loads like sail the Atlantic a couple of times, got through school and uni, canoed and played rugby (bit like American Football but without the pads!). My mum taught me to live with my diabetes but not let it rule my life and get in the way of what you want to do. If you think things through before you start with you diabetes in mind anything is possible. Hope this is helpful.
D
I didn't do too much about it to be honest - I thought it was my burden to carry, and didn't realize at all that there was a big online diabetes community that I could connect to. Great that you found it right away! This site definitely has one of the biggest communities.
Hi Barney,
I was only diagnosed this past July (with an A1C of 14.9!). I'm still trying to physically and emotionally get acclimated. My A1C mid-Oct was 7.1 and just this week was 6.5. I think I've been developing T1 for 2 years, so that is why I think it is taking me awhile to get adjusted. However, you can see from my A1Cs that they are dropping like mad! Yea! I started on a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor a month after I was diagnosed and it has helped me tremendously!! I totally recommend it for teaching you about how your body reacts to food, exercise, basal needs, etc.
I just started on an Omnipod tubeless insulin pump this week and am already loving it! Way better and more flexible than shots! Check it out when you aren't feeling so overwhelmed. I resisted going on a pump and have really embraced it now :)
I see a therapist who also has adult onset Type 1 and that has helped alot.
Virtual hugs to you and your loved ones!
I was dx when I was 7 so I have just always accepted it. I feel like I am always trying to stay in control, but I am not sure how long my "honey-moon" was- and I was taking NPH and R back then so pretty ancient compared to what is available today. Get a pump when you and your doctor feel you are ready. I did go off my pump for about 6 months at one time and I didn't like taking shots in the middle of starbucks or running to the bathroom to get a bolus. Hopefully you can get the answers you are looking for here.
I was diagnosed at 10 myself and it just became a way of life to me. I honestly don't remember another way except for some of the sweets & stuff my mom used to have when I was smalll. After I took D they disappeared! Of course that was back in the 70's and I got my food weighed out on scales (my mom was told to count the calories back then now it's carbs not calories) I love the advancements they have made since then.
I was 16 and went to college and partied a ton and played in "college rock" bands while doing well in school. I tried not to dwell on it or let it get in the way of having a *really* good time. That was like 25 years ago, now I am older but still manage to have a pretty good time most of the time. I'm not sure how long it took, they were always sort of ok, I recall some 8 A1Cs at my *very* infrequent Dr. apppoinments in college but I started testing more maybe 1990 or so and was always paranoid if it got much above 150 and, as a party animal, I had a very "liberal" attitude towards taking insulin, lots of insulin and did that for a while. Which had some other unpleasant consequences as I gained a lot of weight and hae worked *very* hard to get that off. At the same time, hobbie, whether being in rock bands then or working out now have been useful as I like them and don't want diabetes to get in the way.
Hi Barney, I was diagnosed with T1D in December of '10 at the age of 24. When I got the news I was actually relieved. I had been sick for quite some time and could never get an answer for why. So knowing that I have T1D I could finally take control of my health. When I was diagnosed, my A1C was 10. My most recent A1C was 5.7, so a little over a year and I've been able to get pretty good contol of my BG levels. I normally stay between 70-150. My control has been helped tremendously by going on the pump and now I'm on much smaller doses of insulin. Joining this site has also been very helpful for me. It's nice to know that you're not alone and that there are many people here that are understanding and supportive. :)
Welcome to TuD, Barney!
I was diagnosed when I was 16, and took it quite well, mainly because the people around me didn't freak out. I figured if they took it in a matter-of-fact way, why should I freak out? Of course, the full import of my diagnosis came over a few weeks and months, so that helped.
Because I was still under my parent's control, my blood glucose came under good control quite swiftly. Now...it's a different picture. Mainly because I have no set schedule or pattern or rhythm. My numbers are usually good, but I can always do better, that's for sure.
The people here are awesome - hope you enjoy yourself!
Welcome!! This is a really great site to share info and to find out some great tips..It is also a great site to VENT..
I was diagnosed July 25 after a 3 day DKA coma..I am 45 and could not believe this was happening. I truly am a fighter so, I really took this whole situation head on. I stick my diet pretty solid and try to walk as much as I can for exercise..Life change?? Oh hell yes especially after living a certain way for so long and traveling for a living..(Hate TSA)..Some days I do get on my pity pot but my family and friends won't allow it because it's just not me.. I try really hard to get their sympathy and then we all laugh how I make a terrible martyr. So, good luck with this whole situation and ask questions on here as much as you like.. I have learned so much and I have friends on here who have gotten me over some humps...Peace, Love and Broccoli, Jujube
Thanks everyone for your stories and support. Living in a town with a population of around 800 people makes things rather difficult. My endo lives in Spokane and thats about three hours away! That is why I always look forward to the comments on here and help me sink in the news and can ask any question and know that my friends here are always ready to help!