New guy from Norway

[viranth]

Hello everybody.

Long story follows, so brace yourself.

On new years eve I didn't feel well and had a fever, so I went to the doctor and they found sugar in my urine, and I had high blood sugar (17mmo/l).

Over the next days I didn't feel so good, the doctor said I might have type 2, so I started reading up on that. I started eating healtier, I've always been above normal healthy, but there is always something you can do to get even better.

So the doctor told me I was going to get a glucose loading test (not sure what it's called, a test where you drink or eat some sugar and they monitor your blood sugar levels) within two weeks. A week went by and I felt a bit under the weather, didn't help that I also got a cold...

But on friday january 11th I felt really bad after a rather big meal (rice, beef and sauce). So I decided to go buy a BS reader. When I checked I had a BS of 26.6, so that was pretty high. I went back to the doctor and he decided to put me in the hospital the following monday (jan 14th).

Then on monday I went to the hospital and got tested and tested (gez, all the needles) and they concluded that I had type 1.

This week I've been in the hospital the entire time (just now got internet access via wireless) and will probably be allowed to go home this weekend, and then return on monday for evaluation on wether or not I'll stay longer.

I'm just getting started on all the stuff I need to learn, I feel that I got a little control, but the hard part is knowing how much insulin I have to take, and for example if I eat at noon, and then get hungry again at 2pm, do I still take a large dose as if I would if I ate at 3pm?

Questions like that is something I'll just have to experiment and figure out myself, but it's somewhat scary because I don't want to do anything wrong.

It doesn't seem so bad though, it's not the worst disease and it feels more like a lifestyle change than a disease.

I like when things are in order, so eating at regular times and all that is something I've always done, so that's not a problem. Now I just have to get better at eating vegetables/fruit with every meal...

Thanks for reading, got a bit long..

[Jan B]

Viranth,

Hi and Welcome to this forum!

I liked your post . . . full of information that many here can relate to. It sounds that your attitude will bring you through the hard part of learning, and you will do very well!

I find being a Type 1 pretty easy . . . but then I have about 28 years of experience. These days, the insulins are so much better; you have a lot of freedom diabetics didn't used to have. The pump may be great for you too, but I don't know anything about your health benefits.

Welcome again & you'll be glad you found this place! It is a lifestyle to me more than a disease.

[princesslinda]

Welcome Viranth, glad you found the forums. You're in good company here! Sounds like you have a great attitude and will do well.

[viranth]

Viranth,

Hi and Welcome to this forum!

I liked your post . . . full of information that many here can relate to. It sounds that your attitude will bring you through the hard part of learning, and you will do very well!

I find being a Type 1 pretty easy . . . but then I have about 28 years of experience. These days, the insulins are so much better; you have a lot of freedom diabetics didn't used to have. The pump may be great for you too, but I don't know anything about your health benefits.

Welcome again & you'll be glad you found this place! It is a lifestyle to me more than a disease.

Thank you.

I forgot to mention that I'm 27 years old, I (before I got sick) used to lift weights 3-4 times a week and live a pretty healthy lifestyle.

My grandmother was shocked to hear that I had type 1, because the last time she learned anything about it was in her youth. And back then it was very hard to live with diabetes. So she was very happy when I told her how far the medicine had come and that you can almost eat whatever you'd like, as long as you monitor your BS and adjust your insulin.

I don't really know too much about the pump, but I thought it was for people that had problems with maintaining their BS level steady? Or is it something everyone can use, makes it easier overall?

[Jan B]

Many people call the pump their "pocket pancreas" -- it does NOT mean you are any sicker, even though a lot of non-diabetics think that still! (Maybe it used to?!) Most of the time you will get better control with a pump. They cost about $6,000, which is a lot of money to many people, but several insurance carriers do cover them.

I used one for a few months, but decided to go back to MDI (multiple daily injections). I have a very open mind about going back to the pump in the future. LOTS of Type 1s on this forum are pumpers. You'll hear from them soon . . .

[Cyborg]

The pump does give me a tremendous amount of freedom over shots. I no longer have to carry insulin with me everywhere I go and I have a little computer in the pump that tells me how much insulin I have active so that I do not end up stacking insulin and going hypo. I no longer have to take 50 injections or more a week! I also have very strong Dawn Phenomena, where my liver dumps glucose when I wake, and the pump is ideal for handling it.

Even if you never go on a pump, there is a good book called Pumping Insulin, by John Walsh, that can be a great resource for helping to determine important ratios such as your Insulin:Carb, Insulin:BG and Carb:BG ratios. These ratios are very important when taking insulin, whether through injections or a pump.

Good luck and welcome aboard. :wavey:

[xMenace]

it's not the worst disease and it feels more like a lifestyle change than a disease.

You catch on quickly ;) Welcome.

Take small steps. Use your BG tester often to learn how you react and behave. There's a bit to learn, so keep records. Most of us develop insulin to carbohydrate (I:C) ratios for each time of the day. There is a direct relationship. There is also plenty of variability in meters, our bodies' behavior, and in food content. Fun.

Other things that impact are the slow absorption rates of injected insulin and the glycemic index of the carbs. Generally we inject well before eating and eat complex carbs. Reducing carbs also reduces the error potential.

Now add basal insulin, your Lantus or Levemir (hopefully). These address the background sugars released by your body. About 1/3 of us have roller-coaster basal patterns that are difficult to match with these insulins. Middle of the night hypos, morning dawn phenomenons, and other hils and valleys are plagues for us. You'll learn about your behavior soon enough.

[xMenace]

I think you can interpret this ok ;)

Presentation - Why We Pump (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/presentations/CWDWhyWePump200603.ppt)

[notme]

Welcome to diabetes forums viranth. You have gotten a lot of good information from people already. My suggestion is to read here a lot. Go back through the archives and use the "search" button often. Just about any question you have can be found in the archives.

Feel free to post often with your questions. You seem to have a level head and already realize that diabetes is not the end of the earth. We have many tools to help us stay healthy. Make sure you use them.

[Jan B]

I think you can interpret this ok ;)

Presentation - Why We Pump (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/presentations/CWDWhyWePump200603.ppt)

MARVELOUS presentation -- thank you

[morrisma]

Welcome Viranth,

I, too, am glad to see you are open to learning and a healthier lifestyle. It will make living with diabetes much easier much more quickly.

I use a pump (minimed 715) and love the freedom it allows me. I cannot forget to bring my insulin along when I go out since it's attached! You will be taught to count carbohydrates in order to adjust the amount of insulin you need. Difficult and frustrating sometimes but second nature after a while. As you seem already tuned in to a healthy lifestyle, it will be that much easier for you.

Try to keep a positive outlook as so much help is available: medical, technical, and emotional. Keep asking questions here - lots of folks seem willing to listen and offer help and advise.
Mike

[mike-munich]

Welcome from Germany to Norway !

Everything about the pump has been said in above threads and presentations (very nice, BTW).

I'm pumping for a couple of month now and won't go back to MDI's.

Good luck ! You'll make it, don't let your Diabetes control you, you control your Diabetes ! :cool:

[davef]

Viranth,

Welcome from another European (Ireland). As others have said, you seem to have a positive attitude and that can be a key weapon in dealing with things. I'm a Type 2, diagnosed 8 weeks ago, but have a similar outlook in that this is a lifestyle change and not the end of the world. I'm sure you will find that this is a great forum, the people here are wonderfully supportive. Visit & post often, you'll be made very welcome.

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to the forum.

Karen