New member - Belfast, N. Ireland

[Lantus]

Hi all,

Just a little background about me below...

I’m a 23 year old male from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I have been recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on 16th Nov 07. Pre – Diabetes (month leading up to diagnoses) I suffered from weight loss, dry mouth, unquenchable thirst, and went to the toilet a lot. Trying to make myself feel better I thought ‘oh most need more sleep’ so wk 1 had a few early nights. Week 2 thought I’d eat more healthy foods. Week 3 go to gym and get fitter. Then week 4, 3 days before I went to Spain for a weeks holiday in the sun I had enough of it and went to doctors to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and no more weeks holiday in 3 days 

Since I have been diagnosed I haven’t really talked to anyone, using the Internet I pretty much diagnosed myself so I knew what to expect really from the doctors. I of course was annoyed I had it, but I didn’t react in a bad manor I kind of just accepted it as there was really nothing I or anyone else could do to change it.

After a few months now I still haven’t really talked about it to anyone, I’ve so many questions, so many things I’d like to know. So hopefully I wont be to much of a pest around the forum.

I inject myself once a day with Lantus (insulin glargine) and before each meal with Apidra (insulin glulisine).

I currently take 14 units of Lantus everyday, and about roughly 4/6 units per meal with the Apidra.

At the moment I’m extremely active, with roughly 7hrs of exercise per week. So with the amount I exercise it seriously reduces my intake amount of insulin. This makes it quite hard to control at times. Because I don’t need as much I worry about taking too much and I also think I’m still in my ‘Honeymoon’ period where the pancreas is still squirting out some insulin.

Anyway enough of my rambling, hopefully get to know a few of you in the months to come

G

[kgm0612]

Hi & Welcome! Nice people and plenty of information to be found here. Don't be afraid to ask questions........ that's what we're all here for!

Karen

[morrisma]

Welcome to the club Lantus!

Ask those questions and get used to the idea of testing often. With your active lifestyle, you'll need to be aware of pre- & post- exercise numbers for a while until you get used to how you react. And of course, that will change as the honeymoon changes, so basically get used to testing - a lot!

Glad you found us.

[caswellhb]

Goodness! What is going on in Ireland? We seem to be having a sudden influx from them.
Welcome to a friendly and supportive forum. There are some great people here. Ask questions, vent when you need to and post often.

Heather.

[princesslinda]

Welcome Lantus! Glad you found the forums.

[davef]

Goodness! What is going on in Ireland?

You must have missed the memo ..... we are taking over the world :D

Lantus,

Welcome to the forums, it's a great source of information and the people here are always ready to help and support.

Visit and post often,

[xMenace]

Welcome.

So you don't get confused, I hate Lantus the insulin ;)

[morrisma]

You must have missed the memo ..... we are taking over the world :D
...

Dave,
Didn't I read where the Irish already saved civilization? What more can we ask of you guys? :D
Mike

[davef]

Mike,

You are correct, there's a book all about it, "How the Irish saved civilization, by Thomas Cahill"

Save civilization, create masterpieces of literature, build cities, road and nations, produce rock bands, have the longest running TV chat show in the world, and that's before breakfast, sure we are only fantastic :D

And now for world domination, oops, that was supposed to be a secret ;)

[fgummett]

Hi Lantus and Welcome to DF!

---

as for David, I can only offer this video proof of the true story... (http://www.zippyvideos.com/7312945574145156/irishroots/)
:D

[Mich]

Hi G,

We're glad you're here. We are all pretty much self-educated just like you. With diabetes, it's a survival skill.

Lots of good info here and other smart people. Welcome!

Mich

[notme]

Welcome to Diabetes Forums Lantus.

I am glad you found our site and are starting to talk. Questions are good! That is why this forum is here. So.....pester away. We are glad you found us.

[Lantus]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the welcome.

Now i need to hunt through the forums, so much to take in :eek:

[judi t]

Hi Lantus
With that name I feel like I know you already!

Welcome to the journey! I was diagnosed aged 25 and back then there was little support. My mother wanted me to move back home so she could wrap a tartan blanket around my knees. The treatment - 1 injection a day and testing urine - was primitive and awful. And then they invented 'home glucose monitoring'. My endo at the time poo-pooed the idea as a passing fad; said it was totally unnecessary. Thus I had to get my own machine - quite a big contraption - and begin the search for a new, more progressive endo. When I found him, he began me on multiple daily injections and happily my life improved - well, somewhat.

Now I'm about to launch into the pumping world and it feels like getting diagnosed all over again. Change is as good as a holiday?? - hopefully not like your cancelled Spain trip. That was bad luck.

But one of the best things that has happened to me recently is finding this forum and 'coming out' about having diabetes. I hate talking about it with people, generally, because their stupid 'helpful' comments drive me nuts. This forum is so positive and instructive, and I wish something like this had existed back in the '80s. It would have made life loads easier.

All the best with it. And keep exercising. I'm sure it's the only thing that's helped me stave off the dreaded complications. Cheers.

[Tattoo azz]

Welcome to the madhouse!.
See you around
Azz

[Lantus]

Its interesting to know that there is many different forms of treatments for diabetes.

I wasnt far off thinking that my form of treatment was the only way!

I basically have 2 pens, with small needles to jab into my fat areas and a small prick machine were the blood goes onto the test strips then calculates my bsl.

Apologies if i seem uncultured in treatmet methods here, but would that not be the best form of treatment??

I seriously need to get upto speed on this stuff.

Currently reading diabetes for dummies :D

[Cormac_Doyle]

If you are type 1, you must inject insulin; however there are several different ways to do so ... and different strategies as to time of day and type of insulin.

1. Mechanisms: you can use pre-filled or refillable Pens; single-use needles & vials; or an insulin pump

2. Strategy:
- Basal only: injection of pre-mixed insulin (for example: Mixtard 30/70); administered once or twice daily
- Basal/Bolus: use of a long-acting insulin (Basal) injected once or twice daily; combined with a fast acting insulin (bolus) injected just before or after eating.

Most people are started off on a Basal/Bolus strategy, but pumps are becoming more popular as they can administer small amounts of fast acting insulin continuously during the day, and also administer larger amounts when you eat. They can also be connected to a continuous glucose monitor that automatically adjusts your insulin for you ...

[Evermont]

...I of course was annoyed I had it, but I didn’t react in a bad manor I kind of just accepted it as there was really nothing I or anyone else could do to change it...

We share this reaction. I think it's somewhat rare. For me rather than annoyed I would say 30 seconds of surprise followed by 90 seconds of embarrassment about being surprised - then straight on to "OK, how do I make the best of this?"

Welcome to DF, you came to the right place.

[xMenace]

2. Strategy:
- Basal only: injection of pre-mixed insulin (for example: Mixtard 30/70); administered once or twice daily
- Basal/Bolus: use of a long-acting insulin (Basal) injected once or twice daily; combined with a fast acting insulin (bolus) injected just before or after eating.


You should find a strategies to match your insulin need and your lifestyle. They are very different. I've done them all.

- only a small percentage of the population can effectively use the basal only method. It's main disadvantage is that it's inflexible. You must eat to the injected insulin, no more, no less, and at the same times every day. Failing to do so will cause highs or lows. You cannot correct for highs as the effect is not only slow, but covers the next half day or more. Getting sick where you cannot eat is not recomended.

- MDI (multiple daily injections) is more flexible, but it also has the disadvantage of not always matching your needs. Basal requirements are like fingerprints. We are all different; though they fall into generally consistent patterns. Long term insulins like Lantus and levemir are flat. Many diabetics are also more-or-less flat, but about a third of us are just wonky. There's no way a single flat insulin can match our needs. Gaps can be covered with other insulins and food, but this is a whole lot like work. It takes a lot of knowledge and effort to find the correct matches. Risks include nighttime hypos and weight gain. Many do very well with MDI.

- for those that don't fit into the above, pumping has been a god-send! You can easily tailor your insulin very close to your needs. It also offers much flexibility. Of course the negative is it's attached 24/7 and it does take work to use it right. It's not a ball & chain though. Then there's the cost: ouch!

[jacobsam622]

welcome to the df