yesterday I was healthy, today ... diabetes

[anmi]

Hy all,

I am new around here and also with a new diabetes... I really mean that I was healthy yesterday and in a day or two I found out that I have type 1 diabetes. Well, to be honest, I was feeling bad for 3 months before descovering the cause... I had no idea and no clue this could be... I was thinking about having problems with my heart, with the minerals... anyway, I was not thinking about diabetes because I had no clue about the symptoms.
Anyway, I took some analyses and ... BOOM... 354 blood glucose... and that is how I got ta o a hospital where I stood around 8 days and found out that I have type 1 diabetes, that I will depend all my life on insuline and so on...
What can I say? I was angry, mad, sad, the general question ... why me? But I got over quickly and started let's say a new way to see the life and ... the food :)... which is actually my problem...

The point is that I got out of the hospital 2 weeks ago and since then, I start to get more and more weight even if I eat only what the doctor prescribe me. It is true that before getting in the hospital I lost around 6 kg in two weeks... I was below my normal weight but I still am a little afraid of getting more than I should have... Is this a normal thing? Does the insulin have any impact or contribute to the body's weight? I take insuline 4 times per day and I have to eat 200 HC...

Thanks in advance for any advice because being so new I really need them.

[Stuboy]

Hey,

im in the same boat! I was diagnosed on the 24th July. just over a week ago. Only you're blood glucose levels were low compared to mine. when i walked into the clinic my levels were above 600. no one knows exactly what it was because the machine doesn't read higher than 33.5mm ol/L. after that it just reads HI, and thats what it did!!

It's a lot to learn and take in. But i've found this forums VERY helpfull. just reading around you will learn so much, and if you have any questions feel free to just ask, i've found everyone to be willing to answer anything you want to know. You will do yourself a favour by sticking around here! I know i have.

Good luck!

[2sweet4now]

When I was first diagnosed, 14 years ago, I was devastated. I won't try to paint a pretty picture. It's a true loss, but life isn't over yet! Have your feelings, mourn the loss - and then you have a choice to come to terms with the disease and accept your life w/ all the hoops to jump thru or not.:ridinghor

I'm still here, and so are the very many long ago diagnosed individuals on this forum. There is life after diabetes if you choose it!

This is a great forum, stick with it! :)

[am1977]

Hy all,

I am new around here and also with a new diabetes... I really mean that I was healthy yesterday and in a day or two I found out that I have type 1 diabetes. Well, to be honest, I was feeling bad for 3 months before descovering the cause... I had no idea and no clue this could be... I was thinking about having problems with my heart, with the minerals... anyway, I was not thinking about diabetes because I had no clue about the symptoms.
Anyway, I took some analyses and ... BOOM... 354 blood glucose... and that is how I got ta o a hospital where I stood around 8 days and found out that I have type 1 diabetes, that I will depend all my life on insuline and so on...
What can I say? I was angry, mad, sad, the general question ... why me? But I got over quickly and started let's say a new way to see the life and ... the food :)... which is actually my problem...

The point is that I got out of the hospital 2 weeks ago and since then, I start to get more and more weight even if I eat only what the doctor prescribe me. It is true that before getting in the hospital I lost around 6 kg in two weeks... I was below my normal weight but I still am a little afraid of getting more than I should have... Is this a normal thing? Does the insulin have any impact or contribute to the body's weight? I take insuline 4 times per day and I have to eat 200 HC...

Thanks in advance for any advice because being so new I really need them.

Hey there :hello:.

Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis~ I know it can be quite shock to the system :eek:, not to mention scary and overwhelming. However, at least now you know what you are dealing with and know that there are things you can do to control this disease. It's not a death sentence by any means- people live normal lives nowadays- keep that in mind.

As for weight gain~ being that your blood sugars are becoming more regulated, you are going to gain a little bit of weight. Don't forget that when you were dx'ed, you were losing weight due to no nutrients being let into your cells via insulin... now that your body has insulin available- your body is holding onto the nutrients &, hence, you are going to gain some weight back.

Diabetes reallyis a balancing act... It's a matter of balancing food, insulin, exercise, stress, etc... and it's not easy. But, as you go on, you will learn and it will become easier. Know that we are here to help you if you should need us~ don't be shy to pop in with any questions.

Hang in there :ciao:

[CiContention]

I wasn't really aggrivated, mad, upset or anything when I found out. I was more of just anxious to begin learning, and understanding you have to take it in stride.

The thing with Type 1 is you just have to do what is best for your body personally. There are people on these forums who will swear off carbohydrates completely and say you have to watch what you eat with a religious and enduring passion, and others who say they eat pretty much whatever they want. It's about finding the right balance for what you need. The important thing to remember is there is medication out there that gives you what your body needs, and while throwing caution to the wind is not advisable, don't be one of the many who get caught in the trap that they think you have to eat ritualistically, monitor on the hour, etc.

That is just clock watching until your death. Don't become one of those people. Just approach every day with the attitude to apply effort. Cheat once in a while. Continue to enjoy the foods you like when you want them and cover appropriately. But maintain control, that's all. As much as people want to tell you that it's all about eating and sleeping the same things/at the same time every day for the rest of your life, the truth is, is that your life doesn't have to be any less flexible than anyone elses, and for the sake of being positive, you're getting an education on the costs and benefits of what goes into your body. That's valuable information that many other people take for granted.

Don't be upset, or afraid, or angry. It's a stock reply, I understand, but the second you let the disease control you, it has you for life. Look at some of the people on these boards who run a 160 sugar for an hour and a half and are nearly drawn to tears in frustration. That's not healthy either -- it's obsession. You'll figure it out. :)

[Goldrun]

Hi anmi!
I know this is a really confusing time....but it will all begin to make sense. The thing about diabetes is that it seems to affect everyone differently. So, you're likely to hear all kinds of advice that sometimes seem contrary. But, the advice works for those who give it. Go figure. Or don't...because it's well...confusing. The best thing is to learn as much as you can about what diabetes IS, and then experiment to see how it affects your body.

I lost a fair amount of weight before I was diagnosed, and once I was under control, I began to gain a little weight back. I'm still less than when I was diagnosed (over a year ago). The insulin itself doesn't contribute to weight gain...but it does allow your body to use the glucose in your blood for fuel, and doesn't begin to feed on your reserves. So....you may gain some weight, but it's for good reasons. You'll find exercise to be a good method of maintaining a healthy weight.

Re the carbohydrate post from CiContention....it's true, there are extremes on both sides. But, some people find that their bodies will not tolerate certain foods without elevating their blood sugar to a very high level (which can cause some discomfort in the way of headaches and fatigue). So, they watch what they eat---and are keen to share their experiences. Yes, insulin should allow you to have a certain freedom in eating carbohydrates....but if you find that your A1C levels are high, then watching what you eat is a necessity. I don't buy that it is counting down to your death. I think it is about people who want to be healthy as long as they live.

I don't go overboard on carbs like I used to....but I don't shy away from dessert, when I want to eat it. That's because my body and my insulin regimen tolerates that....right now. You'll find (I'm willing to bet), that your insulin tolerance will change over time. But, with time and with experimentation....and with listening to other people's experiences...you should find that it becomes easier.

Good luck with everything....and post questions when you have them. The answers will be as varied as you can imagine!
:wavey:

[gettingby]

Hi Anmi and Welcome to the family.
I'm not sure of your age but I was diagnosed in 1984 at the age of 13. Getting the diagnosis does leave you with a lot of questions. That's why we are here. To help you find the answers you need to make the best decisions for your health. One important thing to remember is this. Everyone's diabetes and treatment of it is unique. What may work for one or two of us, may not work for all of us. You just have to take the advice that is given and weigh the pros and cons to see if trying it may help you.
Feel free to private message me if I can help in any way.
I'm sorry that you have to be here but since you do, you could not have found a better place to be.

[diaconfused]

Hi Anmi... First off, welcome!

Secondly, I know it's not easy to accept and digest the news, believe me. But look at it this way: aren't you glad it was caught before things went wrong?

You'll be fine, don't worry. :tee:

[anmi]

Many many thanks to all of you...

You really surprised me guys with all these answers... I was not expecting to receive so many answers and good advices and so many people willing to share and talk about their experiences.

Thanks a lot again...

So, you will have to excuse me for not introducing myself from the beginning … I will add in my profile some infos.

First of all I am a girl :) … if this counts and I am 27 years old … As I told you before I discovered I have diabetes, let’s say by mistake, one month ago but as the HbA1c analyze revealed it was installed for about 3-4 months with values over 350-400. Now I can say that I am happy I discovered it in time because lately I was physically filling very very bad… Now I think I’ve never felt better in my life and I will learn everything there is to be learned to be in form.

And regarding accepting this … all I can say it’s that the show MUST go on… with some restrictions or not but it will go on…

Again thank you very much!

[blue_eyed_devil]

Hey Anmi,
it is pretty tough to get used to, yes... but believe me you will! frustrating as it sounds it just takes time. i can't say i felt the same way you did (i was ten and kinda excited at learning new stuff) but once you take control and run with it you'll feel great. also yes weight gain is often experienced when you get your bgs more stable... making the balance ever more important, but again, don't stress and take it one step at a time! :)

[Gemma]

Yep, diabetes came on suddenly for me too (doesn't it for most people?). I had all the symptons - drinking all the time, tired, blurred vision, extremely sore throat... I put it all down to hayfever and therefore didn't go see my doctor until my mum dragged me to go. I had a blood test on the Friday morning and was in a hospital ward by the evening. My blood sugar was 25 (my GP said she was surprised I wasn't in a coma!) but now I get it between 5 and 9 quite often.

One thins is for sure - I feel a **** of a lot better. Its a shame I didn't get diagnosed before my A-Levels, because maybe I could have done better. But we'll see when my results are out on the 17th.

[Horsman]

I became diabets a year ago at age 18. I took it in stride pretty well, but about 4 -5 months later I had a terrible bout of depression. Its good to think about it, but its bad to let it force you to give up hope. I'm now on an insulin pump and feeling great!

[anmi]

Now, I am feeling much, much better physically and mentally (at least this is what I think :) ).

And I also want to give an advice: after a period of accommodation with this, I started to get my life back to normal and beside the fact that I have just to be a little more carrefully about what I eat (beside the forbidden things... :hmmmm2: ) and to take my insuline, everything seems to be as it was before. I even went to the seaside and took a very relaxing vacation, I got back to work and everything seems to work perfect. Now I learned how to doze my insuline depending on the blood sugar, the food, the effort ... and it is perfect.

I think from now on I will even have a healthier life then before because I take care of what I eat, I try to eat at the same hours, make sport and so on...

So my advice is: with a big smile on your face, everything will seem much easier.
:thumbsup:
Kisses to all!

[marielea]

wow...your story sounds exactly like mine!
i was diagnosed at 28 (last oct)....was really sick. blamed it on many other things...ulcer, etc. i went in to the hospital, had lost weight, couldn't eat anything, having trouble breathing...etc. stayed for about a week.
i have weight gain as well. it seems like no matter what i do, i just gain weight. i have gained about 30lbs. everyone says it just takes time...i am having trouble dealing with it. i think i could eat NOTHING, and still gain weight.
i hear you!!

[anmi]

wow...your story sounds exactly like mine!
i was diagnosed at 28 (last oct)....was really sick. blamed it on many other things...ulcer, etc. i went in to the hospital, had lost weight, couldn't eat anything, having trouble breathing...etc. stayed for about a week.
i have weight gain as well. it seems like no matter what i do, i just gain weight. i have gained about 30lbs. everyone says it just takes time...i am having trouble dealing with it. i think i could eat NOTHING, and still gain weight.
i hear you!!

Hy... yes, I continue to gain weight and this really makes me mad :(... because I feel like I can't control it... It is the only thing that I hate now, because even if I want it or not, I still have to eat... and now I try to eat things that have less fats in order to prevent this ...

Anyway, I feel like a baloon :((

[anmi]

wow...your story sounds exactly like mine!
i was diagnosed at 28 (last oct)....was really sick. blamed it on many other things...ulcer, etc. i went in to the hospital, had lost weight, couldn't eat anything, having trouble breathing...etc. stayed for about a week.
i have weight gain as well. it seems like no matter what i do, i just gain weight. i have gained about 30lbs. everyone says it just takes time...i am having trouble dealing with it. i think i could eat NOTHING, and still gain weight.
i hear you!!

Hy... yes, I continue to gain weight and this really makes me mad ... because I feel like I can't control it... It is the only thing that I hate now, because even if I want it or not, I still have to eat... and now I try to eat things that have less fats in order to prevent this ...

Anyway, I feel like a baloon :(

[sandyhandz]

Amni - when I was first diagnosed three years ago, I arrived at the office listing vitamins as my only medication. After looking at all my labs and seeing that not only was I hyperglycemic, but also at the time hyperthyroid, I left that office with literally BAGS of medications: glucometer, Avandia, metoprolol, Tapazole and other prescriptions. I was in tears in the doctor's office. They were very afraid at the time that I was going to be non-compliant.

I felt I went from being a healthy person to being a sickly person.

But... I see peoples medical histories and medication lists every day. Most everyone has their own issues to deal with. There are plenty of people who are much worse off, with more than a page listing of medications they take.

Not that it makes me feel any better to compare myself to these people, but I guess eventually we all have to deal with something.

Keep posting here. It helps all of us to empathize.

[Mick]

Once upon a time, long long ago, I was a young adult with diabetes, before that I was a teenager with diabetes, and before that a kid with diabetes. Now I'm an old guy with diabetes. My point? Life goes on with diabetes, and can, in good health and great happiness, for a long time. I was diagnosed in 1966, and so have now had it for 41 years. I went thru middle school, high school, college, graduate school, marriage, fatherhood and a 31-year career as a school teacher--all with diabetes. I have climbed mountains, skiied down glaciers, hiked into volcanoes, dived in coral reefs, cycled across France--all with diabetes. Diabetes is not a death sentence, but it is a life sentence. Discipline and a positive attitude is everything. It sounds like you have a good start on each!--good luck.

Michael
T1 41 years

[Lorna]

The other thing you can try is speaking to your doctor about the different insulins that are available to you. I am 24 years old and have had diabetes for the past 15 years. Througout that time I have used about 10 different insulin regimes. Although technically not proven, there seem to be some insulins that encourage weight gain more than others. Also some offer more flexibility over food. Good Luck, it will get easier!

[anmi]

The other thing you can try is speaking to your doctor about the different insulins that are available to you. I am 24 years old and have had diabetes for the past 15 years. Througout that time I have used about 10 different insulin regimes. Although technically not proven, there seem to be some insulins that encourage weight gain more than others. Also some offer more flexibility over food. Good Luck, it will get easier!

What type of insuline do you use?

[Emm]

ARGH @ Weight gain!

I've been on insulin since January. Before Jan I lost 40 kilos and was rather proud of myself for being rather skinny. I felt great! Then I started on insulin and *bam*... 10 kilos gained real fast. Another 10 over time. I feel horrible :(

Now that I'm getting the insulin I need my body is happier, and working properly, and only gaining weight now because it's doing all the right things. But add to that the fact that I spent months being too scared of lows and got in the habit of eating more to avoid them... plus any time I was high I was craving carby food and often nibbling on something before I even realised...

The whole thing sux, basically! It's had me going round in circles frustrated, but just lately I've started taking more control. Less carb, less insulin, more exercise and more smiles :)

And the smiles are actually the biggest thing - as you said earlier anmi: "with a big smile on your face, everything will seem much easier" - nice quote :)

I wont waste my energy blaming insulin or diabetes or anything else anymore... (regardless of where the blame really lies!) I'm just gunna get down to the nitty gritties and see what I can do about losing some of these kilos. If I can't, well then, it's time to accept my new size. :D

[sixuntilme]

Hi there, Anmi. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis but I am happy to see you already found a support forum like this one to ask questions and learn from those around you.

I was diagnosed 20 years ago with type one - I am 27 yrs old now - and I can say to you that diabetes is a bit of a pain in the *** but it won't keep you from living a tremendous life and being healthy. Take care to learn as much as you can, implement what you've learned, and still enjoy Life. Your diagnosis doesn't mean you're confined to a life of rice cakes ... people with diabetes are living very normal lives these days. (It's a far cry from 1986, when I was diagnosed. Trust me. :) )

All my best and if there is anything I can do to help you out, feel free to email me at kerri at sixuntilme dot com.

-- Kerri.