Just Diagnosed with Diabetes and confused!!!

[Sipple286]

I was just diagnosed with T1 Diabetes this past weekend..The Doctors have not been helpful at all..They didnt tell me how many carbs per meal I should be eatin..or how many units i should add if I eat an excess of carbs..when I did ask my Dr. he said "Ah if you have a steak dinner with some mashed potatoes..instead of 8 units..add 14"..yea well thats a big jump what if its too many units..hes pretty much tellin me go for a trial and error..error being me passin out..Well 14 made me pass out so lets try 12 next time!! im just confused about all this..can anyone help??

[fgummett]

Hey Sipple and Welcome to DF! You have come to the right place!

What kind of insulin did they start you on..? Presumably a slow-acting basal and a fast-acting bolus?

I'll leave the T1 experts here to give you the best advice but be prepared to learn about basal testing.

I understand that a useful approach to the pre-meal bolus is an insulin to carb (I:C) ratio... so many units of fast-acting insulin for so many grams of carbohydrates.

There is some trial and error involved -- but not just taking wild shots in the dark -- lots of Blood Glucose testing at first, but very soon you will know far more about your Diabetes than your Doctor :)

[alura]

Welcome, Sipple! Sorry I have no experience with insulin but I know there are many others who will be checking in soon and can answer your questions. I just wanted you to know you have found a great place!

[Sipple286]

I am taking Apidra and Lantus..Apidra-4 units at Breakfast 6 at Lunch and 8 at Dinner..20 units of Lantus before bed.

[cwathne]

I am taking Apidra and Lantus..Apidra-4 units at Breakfast 6 at Lunch and 8 at Dinner..20 units of Lantus before bed.
Hi Sipple!

I was diagnosed at 13. The interesting thing about diabetes is that everyone's body is different and requires a different amount of insulin.

The main thing is to test your blood sugar often. If you find that with your current levels of insulin your blood sugar is staying too low you need to reduce the amount of insulin you take. If the opposite is true and your blood sugar is staying too high you need to increase your insulin levels.

Thats the basics, but as time goes by you will learn alot more details. For example, when you exercise your body uses insulin more efficiently and will lower your blood sugar. -> so when you exercise you won't need quite as much insulin to maintain normal sugar levels.

good luck!

also know that there are many types of insulin that all last for different amounts of time. Some last about 12hrs, some last longer like 24 some shorter like 2 or 3 hours. If you like the kind you are on now stick with it, but if you don't you can always ask your doctor for different types.

[Sipple286]

Hi Sipple!

I was diagnosed at 13. The interesting thing about diabetes is that everyone's body is different and requires a different amount of insulin.

The main thing is to test your blood sugar often. If you find that with your current levels of insulin your blood sugar is staying too low you need to reduce the amount of insulin you take. If the opposite is true and your blood sugar is staying too high you need to increase your insulin levels.

Thats the basics, but as time goes by you will learn alot more details. For example, when you exercise your body uses insulin more efficiently and will lower your blood sugar. -> so when you exercise you won't need quite as much insulin to maintain normal sugar levels.

good luck!

also know that there are many types of insulin that all last for different amounts of time. Some last about 12hrs, some last longer like 24 some shorter like 2 or 3 hours. If you like the kind you are on now stick with it, but if you don't you can always ask your doctor for different types.

Yea I found out today when you exercise it goes down..i went running and it dropped to 89..I know its gonna take time to figure out..Its just a little stressful when your doctor throws you in the dark..Oh and another thing..eventually Im gonna wanna go out and have a drink..I know All alcohols and liquors have sugars in em..but I have read that Vodka or Scotch would be the best for me..but thats a long time from now..Im not even attempting drinkin until I figure out how to adjust my insulin with just my food.

[Jan B]

Sipple,

WELCOME!

You need to learn to carb count. Then you will be able to correctly match the Apidra to your food.

4 units for breakfast, 6 for lunch, and 8 for dinner . . . this means that your carb intake would increase for each meal. If you happen to have a low carb meal for dinner, and take 8 units . . . you'll be in big trouble!

Many of us start with a ratio of 1 unit for every 15 carbohydrates.

Say for example, you eat chicken (practically 0 carbs unless it's breaded) and green beans (only 5 carbs per serving) for dinner, taking 8 units of fast acting insulin would send you dangerously low. Or, on the flip side, you have a stack of pancakes, fruit and syrup for breakfast, and only take 4 units of Apidra . . . you would likely go quite high. Or if you had nothing but eggs and bacon for breakfast (no toast), you might not need any insulin at all! Protein like meat and cheese are almost "carbless".

You can do a search online for the carb content of just about any food. There is also a book called "Calorie King" that lists the carb content of just about everything, including the menu items at many restaurants.

I'm guessing that your doctor thought that hitting you with all this information might be too much at this time. But it's obvious you are no dummy, and should be aware of how the fast acting insulin works!

[mortis505]

Hi Sipple and welcome to DF! You are getting some great advice already, but I'd also like to add that you may want to request a referral to an endocrinologist. See a Dr. that specializes with diabetes and you will probably get better info and more options.

[AngelKitty]

Hello Sipple and welcome to the forum :)
It's scary and very overwhelming when you are first diagnosed, your whole life gets turned upside down!
We can all empathise what you are going through and how you are feeling.
I'm glad you found us here at DF - don't hesitate to ask lots of questions - a lot of the members here have excellent advice to share.

[lorilei]

welcome sipple...yes. please learn to carb count and chart your food intake and BG tests before and after to see what different foods do to your BG...once you get more proficient at it, it is way less overwhelming and your "normal" life can easily resume...it's overwhelming at first, but that passes...also, definately get an alert bracelet/necklace..gee i hope the doc told you that!

[mwitt]

I was recently diagnosed ( Jan 09) and have come to realize that everyday is different. Just when you think you have things figured out, your numbers remind you to pay attention! This is a great place for good sound information. I agree thet seeing an endocrinologist would be a good idea. I happen to have a family doc who is also a Type 1 but he has referred me to an diabetes specialist to make sure we are on the right track. I am seeing her on Monday, finally. Hang in there, do your homework and you will soon indeed know more that your Dr. about how to manage your D and your Insulin. Good luck and Welcome!

Levemir 26u nightly
Novalog as needed before each meal ( 10-12 total daily)
Diovan HCT for BP
and an anti depressant that I can't remember the name of LOL

[princesslinda]

Welcome sipple!

[Sipple286]

welcome sipple...yes. please learn to carb count and chart your food intake and BG tests before and after to see what different foods do to your BG...once you get more proficient at it, it is way less overwhelming and your "normal" life can easily resume...it's overwhelming at first, but that passes...also, definately get an alert bracelet/necklace..gee i hope the doc told you that!

Yea my Dr. didnt tell me to get a bracelet/necklace..he hasnt told me much..but I already knew I have to get one..so

[sugardumplin]

Welcome Sipple! A pleasure to have a new member added to the forum.

Sounds like you were on a sliding scale. I was on something like that at first. It is scary. I am sure you feel like they handed you a disgnosis and sent you out into the world.

Your best bet is to research it all yourself. You will find lots of info here in DF!

Keep in touch :)

[MJM]

Yea I found out today when you exercise it goes down..i went running and it dropped to 89..I know its gonna take time to figure out..Its just a little stressful when your doctor throws you in the dark..Oh and another thing..eventually Im gonna wanna go out and have a drink..I know All alcohols and liquors have sugars in em..but I have read that Vodka or Scotch would be the best for me..but thats a long time from now..Im not even attempting drinkin until I figure out how to adjust my insulin with just my food.

One thing to remember is that alcohol even though it has carbs in it, can also (depending on how much consumed), drop your blood sugars drastically. This is something I discovered the hard way, in my younger days.

[sarazilla]

SO, Sipple, I understand your pain. At diagnosis, my endo and diabetes team gave me these instructions: '75 carbs for every meal, 12 units Novalog with breakfast and lunch, 10 units with supper'. I dropped low after EVERY MEAL. I felt they just sort of threw some instructions at me and sent me on my way.

This is what I did - I took all the unnecessary insulin then with each low I would eat some candy which helped in two ways 1) my BG would go back up to normal 2) I felt better about being diabetic because I was eating candy.
But this wasn't a healthy or good plan by any means.
I called my diabetes educator every couple of days reporting lows after every meal, and every week they would lower the amount I would take before meals. They kept telling me that it was trial and error and I should just eat 75 carbs for every meal as a constant. I wasn't supposed to be taking that much insulin, and I would have rather (and would have appreciated) if they had just given me a RATIO to try instead of some dauntingly large injection before each meal. They did finally come around, though, and gave me a carb to insulin ratio. Since my ratio is so high (1 unit : 23 carbs) I take less than 5 units with every meal.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that they probably don't want you to be overwhelmed, and they probably also want to test your body's reaction to insulin. But if your case is anything like mine, they will eventually put more responsibility in your hands, and you will at that time be more in control of your diabetes.

I hope my story helps! Hang in there!

[Sipple286]

SO, Sipple, I understand your pain. At diagnosis, my endo and diabetes team gave me these instructions: '75 carbs for every meal, 12 units Novalog with breakfast and lunch, 10 units with supper'. I dropped low after EVERY MEAL. I felt they just sort of threw some instructions at me and sent me on my way.

This is what I did - I took all the unnecessary insulin then with each low I would eat some candy which helped in two ways 1) my BG would go back up to normal 2) I felt better about being diabetic because I was eating candy.
But this wasn't a healthy or good plan by any means.
I called my diabetes educator every couple of days reporting lows after every meal, and every week they would lower the amount I would take before meals. They kept telling me that it was trial and error and I should just eat 75 carbs for every meal as a constant. I wasn't supposed to be taking that much insulin, and I would have rather (and would have appreciated) if they had just given me a RATIO to try instead of some dauntingly large injection before each meal. They did finally come around, though, and gave me a carb to insulin ratio. Since my ratio is so high (1 unit : 23 carbs) I take less than 5 units with every meal.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that they probably don't want you to be overwhelmed, and they probably also want to test your body's reaction to insulin. But if your case is anything like mine, they will eventually put more responsibility in your hands, and you will at that time be more in control of your diabetes.

I hope my story helps! Hang in there!

That helps a lot Thank You..That is pretty much what Im goin through right now..all I want to know (just like you did) is a carb to insulin ratio..that would take a lot of stress off of me..I take 8units at dinner and I eat a turkey sandwich..be full..and my BS goes low..so last night I took it into my own hands to lower my dosage..I took 6 and my BS stayed in the 120s..but the ratio would be nice so I can start counting my carbs..I have a dietitian coming to my house on Wednesday..so hopefully she can help me out!!

[fgummett]

I am not a Doctor* and it is not my place to say that you should go against Doctor's orders and manage your own insulin dosages -- indeed there are some people who find it technically difficult to manage insulin, and for them, relying on a strict regime of a controlled diet and specified insulin doses may be best -- you do not strike me like that and if you want any flexibility in your life, I believe you will find that many of the most successful folks with Type 1 D learn to take control and adjust their own insulin... as you rightly say, using an I:C ratio (or possibly different I:C's at different times of the day)

With that being said, it is still best to work with your Doctor. To that end, I would recommend keeping detailed logs of: food (carbs), activity, how you feel, insulin and BG readings... to not only help you make educated adjustments to any of these but also to take along and show your Doctor that you know what you are doing and are capable of making your own adjustments.

Watch for patterns rather than reading too much into a single BG level, for example... try the same thing a few times.

As for seeing the Dietitian: get as much as you can to help you learn how to read labels and how to count carbohydrates. But be forewarned that many Dietitians still rely on the ADA party-line of dietary advice, which could lead you into eating more carbohydrates than may be good for you... Like you, I'd rather use less insulin and eat fewer carbs, than feel that I need to eat more to cover the insulin I am taking.

Has anyone suggested a books titled "Think Like A Pancreas" yet?


*heck I'm not even a Type 1 (nor do I play one on TV ;) ), although many of my good friends here on DF are, and I have been using exogenous insulin for nearly 6 years.

[Vicki NC]

welcome sipple...yes. please learn to carb count and chart your food intake and BG tests before and after to see what different foods do to your BG...once you get more proficient at it, it is way less overwhelming and your "normal" life can easily resume...it's overwhelming at first, but that passes...also, definately get an alert bracelet/necklace..gee i hope the doc told you that!

OMG, I didn't even think of getting a bracelet/necklace. Do Type 2's need one?

[Sipple286]

OMG, I didn't even think of getting a bracelet/necklace. Do Type 2's need one?

I would recommend it..If something were to happen to you and the Ambulance was called..EMT's are responsible for checking a persons neck or wrist..so it would be good to have!! They only cost like $8 to $10

[Sipple286]

I want to run and go to the gym..how long till ill be able to do as such..I know they have to get my insulin stable..and I know that I wont need as much if I work out..Who is the best person to help me with that?? My Doctor..Dietitian..Endocrinologist?? I have a dietitian coming to my home on Wednesday..should I ask her about it?

[dotheirish55]

Yea I found out today when you exercise it goes down..i went running and it dropped to 89..I know its gonna take time to figure out..Its just a little stressful when your doctor throws you in the dark..Oh and another thing..eventually Im gonna wanna go out and have a drink..I know All alcohols and liquors have sugars in em..but I have read that Vodka or Scotch would be the best for me..but thats a long time from now..Im not even attempting drinkin until I figure out how to adjust my insulin with just my food.

Excuse me for saying all this but....

DIABETES and ALCHOHOL DO NOT MIX. They lower and raise your blood sugars horribly. I have personaly never drank or have done drugs for this ver reason. I have friends however, one of which who was hospitalized for her diabetes after getting drunk and crashing.

[Moreno]

Welcome Sipple! I was diagnosis 07-17-05. It wasn't a good day for me either. I thought I was going to die, but turns out. If you keep your head held high. You will get through life just as easy as any other person in this world, but with a little more complications than them. Anyways welcome to the forums!

[ccryder19]

Something that helps me is to keep my carbohydrate intake very low. This means I give less insulin and therefore have a lower margin of error with each injection. Its not easy to eat low carb but, if it means you get your glucose numbers to stay really close to normal most of the time, then its worth it! A book that is very helpful is Dr. Bernstein's Diabetic Solution. This doctor has had diabetes since he was a young kid and now he is over 65...and he is very healthy. This book helped me a lot because here is a doctor who actually KNOWS what living with diabetes is like and so his recommendations really work and make sense. Its not too expensive on Amazon.com ;)

[ccryder19]

Yes, do be careful with the drinking. I have drank a lot of alcohol as a diabetic and the only way I have done it is by checking my glucose every 15 minutes, by limiting to one or two drinks, and by making those drinks hard liquor (no fruity sweet cocktail drinks here) After drinking I still check very frequently. It is a huge pain in the rear to drink as a diabetic and I have now quit alchohol altogether. I share my "tips" with you because you may want to try having a drink or two no matter what any of us advises. I've been there...and I understand. But, DO be careful and if you won't be monitoring your glucose very closely...don't drink...you will be happier without the complication of dealing with alchohol. :)

[Shubert]

Hello and welcome! I was diagnosed Nov. 2003 and I remember going through everything you are now. When I first got home and started to use the horribly vague plan that my doctors gave me, I was on the simple hope that everythig would just work out! Once you start to see how different foods affect you and how your insuling affects you, it becomes way easier. As for right now though, I would stick with your doctor and work with them to help you better understand everything. If you want to change your dosage, I would recommend talking to your doctor and see what he/she has to say. Remember, the more information you can give them, the better they can help you! If you are getting random lows, let them know. They can probably think of a reason that you haven't thought of yet.

The biggest thing to know is that you shouldn't let this get in your way of having fun in life. Yeah, the next little bit of learning to adjust will be a little confusing and scary, but over time it becomes second nature. Whatever your dream job is, you can get it! Heck, I start training as a fire fighter early next year and most people would never expect a diabetic to be one. My family and doctors were all for it.

As far as the alcohol goes, you will find very mixed responses. In MY opinion, there is nothing wrong drinking as a diabetic, but you do have to be a lot more watchful. Like stated by others here, alcohol can lower and raise your BS quickly. Never immediately go to sleep after drinking, always wait a while and test to make sure everything is good to go.

Another thing to know about going out to drink is what exactly you are drinking. Sugary drinks such as Margaritas, Pina Coladas, Daquiris, Long Islands, etc. are just full of sugar and should be completely avoided. Drinks such as liquors and a small mixer are probably the better choice (oh the irony...). A mixer of diet coke works ;)

As for myself, yes, I do drink. I don't really drink liquor (can't remember the last time I had a liquor) for I am more of a beer person. There are essentially two different beer types to worry about, light and dark (you just tell by the color). Light beers are those such as Bud Light, Miller Light, Corona, etc. and they tend to be very easy on the carbs, usually around 5g per 12oz bottle. Dark beers are your heavier ones, such as Sam Adams Lager, Guiness, Bock beers, etc. and have more carbs to them, usually around 12-15g per 12oz bottle.

One thing I never do though is get smashed. I never drink more than a few drinks in a sitting. I drink to relax and that's it. I don't want to risk my health that bad. Plus, I've seen what drunk people do and I really don't want to act like that :)

You can check out the Calorie King (http://www.calorieking.com/) or The Daily Plate (http://www.thedailyplate.com/) for pretty much any food out there including restaurants.

There is definitely a ton of information and support you can find here. Everyone will have a different perspective on diabetes since it affects everyone differently and they lead different lifestyles. Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.