Need Someone With Experience

gobbly2100 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 12:52 PM

I was just wondering what peoples opinion is on my situation and having diabetes.

I was diagnosed with it at 10 and for the first year or so things were fairly level blood sugar wise but when I was about 12 I started abusing my body with TONS of sugar right up to the age of 18 when I have now started to be responsible for myself.

It is tough but am strating to see more normal readings but it is really hard to totaly rid my self of those high 20mmo readings.

I have been told I have very early signs of diabetes damage to my eyes but it is apparently reversable but I don't know if that is true or not so an answer to that would be nice but the big question I have is this:

Hearing a brief story of my life providing I start taking care now am I very likely to develop any problems in life?

I don't smoke or drink atall if that helps.

BriOnH · #2 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 02:24 PM

If you control your blood sugar and make sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle there is no reason you can't reverse any damage that's been done and prevent damage to occur.

gobbly2100 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 03:17 PM

That is really good to know because the whole thought of having complications made me feel so depressed.

Am currently seeing between levels of 12 - 21 but am still working hard at getting them where they should be but considering my meter often would tell me I was "HI" then am getting there, also I have been having a good few lows which actualy makes me feel good knowing that what am doing is taking effect.

One question I have is because I have been running so high for so long will it take a while for my body to rid itself of stored sugars? I don't know if the body stores sugar atall.

xMenace · #4 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 04:09 PM

Storing sugars is what bodies do

No, you can get your sugars down immediately and keep them there. But that's quite a bit unrealistic. Here's my prescription.

1. see your endo. work closely with him/her to find the correct regimine for you.

2. Test 7 times a day: wakup, 2hrs after bf, pre-lunch, post lunch, pre-dinner, post-dinner, bedtime.

3. Start counting carbs and finding your i/c ratios. Accurate bolusing is critical.

4. Lower your glycemic index. The best control is achieved with complex carbs.

5. Lower your food intake at breakfast and after 8pm. These are most likely to screw you up for long periods.

5. Understand your basals. basal is the basic release of said stored sugars. It happens 24/7, but at different rates throughout the day. It is vital you document your 'curves' so you can treat them properly. For us pumpers it means a CGMS or hourly bg testing after skipping a meal. I do it over several days and weeks by skipping every meal and repeating over a few days. Ask Dr. Google.

gobbly2100 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 07:26 PM

So seeing as I have been running high for so long am I right in thinking that it will be a good while before I see normal blood sugars as the body has alot stored?

I have not been quite as controling as the previous post suggests but I have not been far off.

Am on maximum insulin for my weight so it is a diet thing now but I really am eating so liitle now it is crazy so I really was wondering if it takes a long time for my body to get rid of all the stored sugar?

Thanks for the replies guys I really appreciate it.

BriOnH · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobbly2100

So seeing as I have been running high for so long am I right in thinking that it will be a good while before I see normal blood sugars as the body has alot stored?

I have not been quite as controling as the previous post suggests but I have not been far off.

Am on maximum insulin for my weight so it is a diet thing now but I really am eating so liitle now it is crazy so I really was wondering if it takes a long time for my body to get rid of all the stored sugar?

Thanks for the replies guys I really appreciate it.

No. You are not correct. The body doesn't store sugar as sugar (glucose). It stores it in other chemical forms, such as glycogen, that can be converted back to glucose. You should get your numbers back to regular as soon as you can. Running high for so long it is likely that you will feel "low" while in a normal range. So it may take time to good again in normal range, but their is no excuse not to get back into normal range asap.

cheryl · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 08:19 PM

Hi,

What kind of insulin are you on exactly, sometimes our requirements changed and that weight and insulin thing goes out the window, my friend weighs about 20 pounds less then me is about the same height and she requires a lot more insulin than I do....go figure, you'd figure me the stocky one, but not always so.

Hey you sound a lot like I did so confused, and I was so used to the old way of thinking and sometimes old habits are hard to break.......just let us know what insulin you are on, do you carb count. Do you use fast acting insulin for each meal, and long lasting once or twice a day........I was not educated very well, and I had to join a forum and buy books to actually get it.......no dr really explained things the right way.

Hope you are doing ok?

Cheryl

gobbly2100 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 09:07 AM

Well I don't count carbs atall and never have done, I am on Humalog Mix 25 and take that twice a day.

I have been offered the insulin you take everytime you ar gonna eat but I can't bear any more injections as they are a big deal for me.

I am 112 pounds and take 90 units in total a day, am not sure where I can find out what my maximum should be though.

To be honest if I had to count every chip that went in my mouth or anything like that I don't think I would cope very well.

BriOnH · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 10:14 AM

What about trying a pump gobbly? How many shots a day are you on now? I am sorry you are having a rough time, but I am confident you will get through it and come out better than ever.

cheryl · #10 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 10:54 AM

Supposedly your weight x's four will give you what you should be on tdd and if your on more your either way off which one way could be determined that your low and high and can't find a happy medium or your very insulin resistant......but with the humalog mix you could be on more insulin then being on the four shot a day regimine..........Like Brian said have you looked into a pump or instead of a syringe an insulin pen.......it is very hard to control sugar usually on that mix insulin, I mean a few can but more and more people can't. I thought it was very odd to take so many shots at first but it is a heck of alot easier to get a better control, and all, just a thought for you, but I understand if it is needle phobia, a lot have a hard time with that, that is why a lot use the insulin pen or the pump.......I hope this helps......and yes counting carbs wasn't in my vocabulary for years, but after high's and low's and ughhhhhhhh the fustration I finally gave in........but it takes us all time at different rates to get where we need to be......we are here for ya and trust me I have been there and am still trying....Good luck and take care.

cheryl

HollyB · #11 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 11:13 AM

Hi Gobbly,

I just want to say, the carb counting and extra shots probably seems like a lot when you're not used to it, but it would give you more freedom as well as better control. My son, dxed two years ago at 13, was started right on a regime of taking an injection with every meal plus long-acting insulin once a day. It is more needles, but with the pen not that big a deal. And he learned carb-counting really fast. You don't have to count every chip, but if you know that each french fry is about 1 carb, you can make a pretty good estimate as to what's on your plate. And then you can eat when you want, however much you want, and just take the insulin to cover it. It takes more knowledge (and yeah, more shots), but the trade off is better numbers, no need to go hungry, being able to sleep in without worrying about waking up way high or low, feeling better...

You can only do what you're comfortable with, but you might want to start learning a bit about carb-counting and MDI, especially if your numbers stay stubborn about coming down. Then you can try on the idea and make an informed decision.

LancetChick · #12 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 02:50 PM

Wait...... you weigh 112 pounds and your TDD is 90 units????? That's more than twice what mine is, and I weigh 33 pounds more and consume a lot of carbs. If your basal insulin is set too high, you can expect to go hypo periodically through the day and have to snack, then go low at night, sleep through it, and rebound so that you wake up with jacked up sugars. If you're on steroids, I can maybe see 90 units a day, but otherwise I can't. I agree with the pump suggestion if you're that whacked out about needles, because there's no way you can have good control using a basal/Humalog mix. Plus, it gives you zero flexibility. If you can't get a pump, for whatever reason, there are insulin ports which you can wear for the same number of days as an infusion set.

Cyborg · #13 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 03:02 PM

You may want to consider discussing an MDI type of treatment based on a combination long acting (basal) insulin and fast acting (bolus) insulin that is carb count based. Good luck.

Doug · #14 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 05:35 PM

I think something is up
I weigh 220 and only take 40-50 units ...
how many lows do you have a day ?
I bet you are rebounding from too much insulin ...

I know it sucks to change but you need to be on a long acting insulin for basal and a short acting for meals and corrections - Its been proven that MDI or a pump are the BEST treatments ..

As was mentioned - if you can swing the $$ you should look at a pump. no more shots and you will feel SO much better once you get the numbers right

THing is dont let it get you down. Once you get some success with this it will get easier ...

BriOnH · #15 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 07:20 PM

Weight doesn't always dictate insulin requirements. I have a 6'4 230 pound friend that takes less insulin then me and a 5'6 150 lb freind that takes more then me. I am 5'8 and 160 lbs. We all are in very good shape. Weight to insulin is a rule of thumb in type 1 diabetes which is usually considered when starting insulin, it is by no means a law.

Gobbly could be experiencing insulin resistance as well. I don't believe there is a need to alarm anyone here.