Bit Of Help

[gman6911]

Hello, my name is mat. I have had type 1 diabetes since i was 5 and am just coming into the last stages of my teenage years (im 19 this year, 14th year with diabetes), When i was younger my parents had my diabetes under great control, but then i started to take care of it all independantly around the age of 13. Since then i found my control hasnt been the greatest and im the first to admit that my care was a little reckless (eating junk, not checking bgls, experimenting with alcohol etc) which has developed into some habits. This is my second year living away from home and i wish to get my life in order, starting with my diabetes. I realise that i will have it for life and wish to live happy and healthy for as long as possible. Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how i can change my ways and get my control back? I eat pretty healthy now and exercise alot but my levels seem to be all over the place still. I am on 25units of novorapid before breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea and 45units of lantus before i go to bed. Im having troubles getting to a diabetes specialist as i have very little time due to work and soccer taking up almost every day.
Any ideas or thoughts about everything or anything?
Thankyou,
Mat

[Joannie961]

Hi Mat:  :o)


I don’t know if you are still around or if you got an answer to your question.
I’ve just put a bit in.  I hope that it helps ya.  Sorry, also a bit preachy.

Diabetes is a hard disease for anyone, freaking frustrating and scary sometimes certainly for Teens/Young Adults since you are in the peer-pressure group.  Been there, done that.  And Diabetes is not your fault.

You are here asking, so that puts you a step ahead of others and shows that you are interested in your health.  Way to be.

1st.  Your health is way more important than playing soccer.  If you lose a leg or your eye sight from uncontrolled blood sugars, soccer won’t be a choice and it won’t help you.  If you are working full-time then you must get sick-leave, time off for appointments(you’ll need a note from your Dr.) and vacation time.  If you work part-time there’s more time. especially when you are a Diabetic.  I’ll have to short-form it for space.

2nd.  Test soon after getting up before consuming anything to see what your sugar is. Take your shots (fast-acting 10 minutes before you have your breakfast, then try and test 2 hours after you’ve eaten your first bite of food. Do this before and after each meal and again before bedtime.  Also  if you feel weird: TEST.  If you are ill, drink lots of liquids(preferably sugar-less or low sugar drinks) and TEST often, especially if you have a fever.

3rd.  If you don’t know how to count carbohydrates then learn it from your Dietician(get a referral from your Dr.)(Endo preferably)who you will be seeing since you have all this spare time. ;o)  Carbs get stored in your body and is turned into glucose which your liver shoots out if you get lows.

Carbs are in most foods especially junk food, pastries, potatoes, corn, peas, pasta/sauce, white rice white bread, white buns(whole wheat/brown is usually less)pizza.  Pasta, pizza, chinese food(terrible for blood-sugars) stays in your system longer so it keeps your sugars higher longer or can make a spike a few hours later.

If you don’t read food labels on packages, learn to.  It goes hand in hand with carb counting.  You also need to know how much Insulin to take for how many carbs.  Insulin to carb ratio.  It varies Person-to-Person, just as food does.  Usually 45 carbs per meal and 15 carbs per each snack(usually 3 a day).  Eat in moderation.  Have one potato not the whole bag.  Meats and most cheeses are very low carb or carb-free.  Look at the label. Do not eat junk food or a lot of food before bed.  Meats, cheeses on 4-6 crackers, peanut butter on a slice of brown bread, etc. will do.

4th. If you are over-weight, try your Best to lose some.  It will help you to take less Insulin and will open more cells for Insulin to go into. Losing weight is also better for your heart, joints and your health all around.

5th.  Since you are on Lantus maybe it would be better for you to split it am and pm.,
if you find it is not working for you.  Most do.  Your Dr. has to tell you in what division though and how much.  It takes a few days to change over.  It should not be totally switched in one day. I take 12 units when I get up and 10 units 12 hours later but then I am a small female and I don’t eat much. Lantus doesn’t work for 24 hours as they claim.  More like 20 -22 hours.

6th.  Drinking alcohol, you must know that that is not recommended for a Diabetic.  It takes your sugar up then drops you fast usually when you are asleep, and sometimes into a seizure if you drink on an empty stomach.  If you must drink, 2 drinks per day for a Guy and 1 drink a day for a Gal is recommended.  If you must drink more, then also have a meal before you drink so it will absorb most of it.  A drunk brain does not think or care about testing sugar levels.  Make sure you test and correct your sugars.

7th.  Get your blood tested(A1c-shows your average blood sugar for 3 months)and your other should-know tests, about twice a year, so you know what number you are trying to work for. A good A1c goal is 6.5 or less.

8th.  Drink your 6-8 glasses of water a day.  It keeps you hydrated, flushes your kidneys, rids your blood of some sugar and toxins, etc.

There’s always more but that will do for now.

Joannie961

*Type 1 for 40 years
*If you take the time to learn it, it will get easier to keep that Monster in a cage. Good Luck!!

[Anita Ramsetty, MD]

Dear Friends,

I have very much enjoyed my time on Medhelp and have learned from you even while hosting our Ask-A-Doctor forum for Diabetes. Sadly I am leaving the Medhelp community as my own practice has become busier and time constraints have proved quite challenging. So from April 7th 2008 I will be officially away from Medhelp, but you can still find me at our practice website www.endocrinehelp.com, so please drop me a  line if you wish. Most likely a new physician will be hosting the Diabetes forum for Medhelp in the future, so please continue to check in with the Medhelp community.
All the best to you and blessings for the future,

Sincerely,
Anita Ramsetty,MD