Now Ye're Talking - to a diabetic

Boards.ie: Niamh · 05-07-2018 3:09pm #1

Our next guest was diagnosed with diabetes in 2010. Here's what he has to say about it.

In relation to myself, I was diagnosed in 2010. I had symptoms long before this, but when problems started to arise, I buried my head in the sand, did the typical fella thing, and hoped it would go away. I knew what it was (there's family history), but I suppose i was in denial a bit.

As for now, married, 2 kids, and treating the diabetes is a part of life really - it's 2nd nature. I really worry about some of the kids getting it too, and the youngest lad started showing some symptoms at 18 months, luckily he didn't have it.

As for my Type, I consider myself not any specific type of diabetic, as I show characteristics of both type 1 and type 2. I'm being treated as Type 1.

Pelvis · 05-07-2018 3:11pm

Fancy a snickers?

punisher5112 · 05-07-2018 3:13pm

Well done for tackling it as you say eventually.

Did it cause any damage such as loss of limbs?
Hope not of course.

Do you have to inject daily?

If you had of tackled sooner would you be any better off?

Thanks

Aceandstuff · 05-07-2018 9:08pm

Boards.ie: Niamh wrote: »

As for my Type, I consider myself not any specific type of diabetic, as I show characteristics of both type 1 and type 2. I'm being treated as Type 1.

Well, what type is it really? I'm Type 1 myself, and I'm sick of telling people how they are different conditions. Are you insulin-dependent Type 2, or both types at the same time or....?

Mars Bar · 05-07-2018 10:03pm

What age were you when you were diagnosed and what were your symptoms?

Roycropper63 · 05-07-2018 10:14pm

Many thanks for doing this.
Was diagnosed with type 2 last Monday so still trying to to get my head around it.
Had no symptoms that I was aware of. Was picked up last may 2017 with sugars a bit high on admission to hospital. And been tested since then and finally confirmed.
Do you try and avoid sugar completely or what do you have with a cup of tea etc?

Thanks Roy

Graham1978 · 06-07-2018 8:02am

Boards.ie: Niamh wrote: »

Our next guest was diagnosed with diabetes in 2010. Here's what he has to say about it.

In relation to myself, I was diagnosed in 2010. I had symptoms long before this, but when problems started to arise, I buried my head in the sand, did the typical fella thing, and hoped it would go away. I knew what it was (there's family history), but I suppose i was in denial a bit.

As for now, married, 2 kids, and treating the diabetes is a part of life really - it's 2nd nature. I really worry about some of the kids getting it too, and the youngest lad started showing some symptoms at 18 months, luckily he didn't have it.

As for my Type, I consider myself not any specific type of diabetic, as I show characteristics of both type 1 and type 2. I'm being treated as Type 1.

I was diagnosed in 2010 too, and like yourself on the fence between 1 and 2, just wondering how old you are ? Im 40 and have to say it don't effect my life really in any way, I watch what I eat am fairly active and enjoy a glass of wine or whatever like anyone else. Has it changed your life much ? And sorry ment to say no history in the family, just a freak :-)

Alf Veedersane · 06-07-2018 10:50am

Couple of questions as a couple of my siblings have Type 1 diabetes with very different experiences based on the age at which they are diagnosed.

Did you do much/any testing on how different foods/drinks affected your blood sugar levels?
Even managing your blood sugar levels pretty well, do you still have issues with unexpected hypos and how often does that happen?

I'll probably have more when you answer

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 1:26pm

Pelvis wrote: »

Fancy a snickers?

Some craic.

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 1:28pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Well done for tackling it as you say eventually.

Did it cause any damage such as loss of limbs?
Hope not of course.

Do you have to inject daily?

If you had of tackled sooner would you be any better off?

Thanks

Luckily, no loss of limbs. When I was getting diagnosed, I did have a bit of damage done to the kidneys (they're still leaking protein). The pains in my legs were my main "spurring on" moment for finally going for a blood test.

I do have to inject daily, multiple times.

I'd have been far better off getting diagnosed sooner. Everyone would benefit from this, as having high blood sugar is quite damaging to the body!

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 1:31pm

Aceandstuff wrote: »

Well, what type is it really? I'm Type 1 myself, and I'm sick of telling people how they are different conditions. Are you insulin-dependent Type 2, or both types at the same time or....?

Thanks for the question! I've never been given a straight answer on this. When originally diagnosed, the staff in St. Vincent's seemed to be amazed by me, as if i was some kind of unique case (i think mainly cos my blood sugar readings were always quite high, yet my HBA1C was almost always perfect). I've had DNA testing etc done as well to try and figure out genetic stuff I don't quite understand.

I consider myself type 1, i'm being treated as such by Sligo Hospital, and am on the list for an insulin pump.

That being said, i have insulin resistance as well though, and take some medications that would be prescribed to Type 2 diabetics also. I'd like to finally have an answer to this myself.

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 1:37pm

Mars Bar wrote: »

What age were you when you were diagnosed and what were your symptoms?

I was about 25 when diagnosed. As for symptoms, I suppose i had the classics

Huge thirst - this was the worst part. I would drink anywhere between 2 - 3 litres of water, just in bed at night. I'd wake, gasping with the thirst. Of course, all that water means you also have to pee a lot. So, there wasn't a whole lot of sleep going on.

Hunger - i was constantly hungry. I'd be craving sweet stuff the whole time. When i'd get up to pee after drinking all that water, i'd also stuff my face with bars of chocolate (snickers :P) etc. What's happening here is, I either had no insulin, or the amount that my body produced was ineffective. Insulin is like a key, that opens the lock to your body's cells. If the cells are locked, no sugar can get in, meaning you have no energy. And your body cries out for sugary stuff.

Weight loss - when diagnosed I was down to 9.5 stone (from about 12). I'm nearly 13.5 now - so gone the other way).

Leg pains. Both legs had a bit of nerve damage. They were constantly aching, and would get extremely uncomfortable and restless at night. I would constantly have to move them to get some relief. My feet felt like they were in boiling water at all times. I would get these sharp jabbing pains randomly below the knee, nerves firing I suppose

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 1:40pm

Roycropper63 wrote: »

Many thanks for doing this.
Was diagnosed with type 2 last Monday so still trying to to get my head around it.
Had no symptoms that I was aware of. Was picked up last may 2017 with sugars a bit high on admission to hospital. And been tested since then and finally confirmed.
Do you try and avoid sugar completely or what do you have with a cup of tea etc?

Thanks Roy

I gave up the sugar in tea / coffee. I used to take 2 and a half spoons in both. Can't even have sweetner in the tea or coffee now.

With regard to diet and that, I don't do anything special. I count the carbs in a meal, by looking at the back of packs etc, and measure out the insulin required to "cover" these carbs. I have a specific ratio depending on time of day. So in the morning, for every 10 g of carbs, I will need 2 units of insulin - a 2:1 ratio.

There's a great app you can get for your phone called Carbs & Cals. comes in very handy as it is a visual cue to give you an idea of how many carbs there are in a meal.

It takes a while getting your head around everything. Good luck with things!

Stargate · 06-07-2018 1:56pm

Thank you for doing this AMA .

Really great idea.

Hopefully it will help inform people of the dangers of diabetes and they go get checked out. May i wish you and all your family the very best of luck and good health.

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 2:08pm

Graham1978 wrote: »

I was diagnosed in 2010 too, and like yourself on the fence between 1 and 2, just wondering how old you are ? Im 40 and have to say it don't effect my life really in any way, I watch what I eat am fairly active and enjoy a glass of wine or whatever like anyone else. Has it changed your life much ? And sorry ment to say no history in the family, just a freak :-)

I was 25 when diagnosed.

Ah, I can't say it affected my life hugely. I had a fair bit of copping on to do with the diet I suppose, but other than that, not really. The testing and injections etc become second nature after a while

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 2:12pm

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Couple of questions as a couple of my siblings have Type 1 diabetes with very different experiences based on the age at which they are diagnosed.

Did you do much/any testing on how different foods/drinks affected your blood sugar levels?
Even managing your blood sugar levels pretty well, do you still have issues with unexpected hypos and how often does that happen?

I'll probably have more when you answer

I used to keep a food diary to try and get a handle on things in the beginning. Stuff like rice, bread etc would have an effect alright, and i've found with them, the amount of carbs that are "meant" to be in them usually isn't right (at least on reccomended amounts of carbs). Say for 2 slices of bread - that's meant to be 20g of carbs. I've found myself that I would need to allow as if it was 30g of carbs, and adjust my insulin dosage accordingly.

I switched to stuff like Basmati rice over long grain, brown bread - stuff that's slower burned by the body.

I do have unexpected hypos, sometimes for overcorrecting when my blood sugar would have been high. About 12 months ago, I was diagnosed with depression, and about a week into taking the medication, I was having hypos 2 / 3 / 4 times a day. I had to adjust all of my ratios again as a result. I'm no longer taking depression meds, and sure enough, my blood sugar readings have been creeping back up again

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 2:32pm

Stargate wrote: »

Thank you for doing this AMA .

Really great idea.

Hopefully it will help inform people of the dangers of diabetes and they go get checked out. May i wish you and all your family the very best of luck and good health.

Thank you Stargate.

I think the problem with it is, the effects can really creep up on you. So gradual you may not notice until all of a sudden, it's a big problem.

I consider myself lucky to have been diagnosed when i was. If it wasn't for my girlfriend at the time (now wife), I might not have taken the leap to go and get the blood test done at all

miamee · 06-07-2018 3:11pm

Have you ever had any scary moments with it where your blood sugars were dangerously high (or low - sorry not sure which!) or have you been able to manage it pretty well from day 1?

I had a relative slip into a diabetic coma and die, I only found out recently that's what it was although a long time ago. I remember he had a very sweet tooth (loved sugar in his tea and a bit of cake

) so perhaps he didn't look after his condition as well as he could have.

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 3:47pm

miamee wrote: »

Have you ever had any scary moments with it where your blood sugars were dangerously high (or low - sorry not sure which!) or have you been able to manage it pretty well from day 1?

I had a relative slip into a diabetic coma and die, I only found out recently that's what it was although a long time ago. I remember he had a very sweet tooth (loved sugar in his tea and a bit of cake ) so perhaps he didn't look after his condition as well as he could have.

Oh my blood sugars have been pretty high loads of times. I don't feel a whole lot different when they are high though.

And lows, i've been lucky insofar as I feel them coming on. I've a bit of damage in my right eye due to glaucoma, and when the sugars go low, i get this strange "halo" of light in my eye. Without fail, the sugars are low, or are in the process of dropping.

I've seen my uncle pass out from being low, and it was legit scary. He took insulin ahead of his dinner, and just as he was going to sit down, a Phonewatch salesman came to the door, and distracted him with conversation. He started acting funny, prompting the Phonewatch guy to run away, to the petrol station next door. My sister works there, so I got a phone call to go see what was up.

When i got there, he was passed out in the kitchen. He lives with my elderly grandmother, he's her full time carer (she has dementia). When the ambulance arrived, the had to break in the front window in the door to get access to him.

They managed to get Lucosade into him, and eventually he came around. I had to stay with him overnight.

I hate going low because it makes me feel real shaky, dizzy and goofy. And the "hangover" afterwards is always brutal. When you go low, you get really hungry. I've been known to microwave a pint of icecream and drink it

Pelvis · 06-07-2018 4:08pm

I hate that feeling of low blood sugar, the shakes, absolutely pumping sweat. I get a massive craving for bread especially, just pile on a ton of jam or marmalade!! Then when that all goes away you get that feeling of pure exhaustion. Can usually feel it coming on and eat something before it gets bad, but have been caught out when had no immediate access to food, it's actually a little scary!!

Diabetes is in my family too and I had things checked specifically because those episodes happened quite often, but all is okay according to the doctor!

miamee · 06-07-2018 4:17pm

That sounds like an awful waste of ice cream, chugging it down :P

That was awful for your uncle, luckily you were nearby and able to get help. Do you worry that something like that might happen to you or are you even more aware now of how important it is to stick to your routine since that you've seen that happen?

Harry Palmr · 06-07-2018 4:31pm

I'm a 40 year type 1, my most exciting moment was waking up on a low sugar and injecting as per because my brain was foggy due to being low - I have memory of being at the kitchen table followed by WHR and a nurse asking me questions! That was when I was about 18 since then insulin has changed radically. The old porcine based stuff was quite crude in it's behaviour as it took ages to be absorbed into the blood - the synthesised human analogue stuff is much better.

Jellybaby1 · 06-07-2018 4:44pm

I don't have Diabetes and know very little about it so forgive me if this is a terrible question. I have an overweight relative with Type 2. He says very little about what his doctor says to him so I don't know what's going on there. However, I have been hearing on the TV a lot lately about weight-related Diabetes may be reverseable. Do you know about that or have any experience of it.

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 5:13pm

miamee wrote: »

That sounds like an awful waste of ice cream, chugging it down :P

That was awful for your uncle, luckily you were nearby and able to get help. Do you worry that something like that might happen to you or are you even more aware now of how important it is to stick to your routine since that you've seen that happen?

Oh ya, it gave me a right scare. I'm more worried about something like that happening to my kids now. I have 2 lads, aged 3 and 2.

When the youngest fella was 18 months, he woke a couple of mornings in a row showing signs of hypoglycemia. Of course he couldn't tell us, but when we tested his blood using my kit, his sugars were low.

Brought him to A&E, and after some testing / overnight stays, they told us it wasn't diabetes but something called Ketoic Hypoglycemia, something brought on due to common illness. That was scary, let me tell ya! I was beyond scared, and felt really guilty for some reason (As if i could control the genes passed on like!)

I have diabetes, AMA · 06-07-2018 5:18pm

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I don't have Diabetes and know very little about it so forgive me if this is a terrible question. I have an overweight relative with Type 2. He says very little about what his doctor says to him so I don't know what's going on there. However, I have been hearing on the TV a lot lately about weight-related Diabetes may be reverseable. Do you know about that or have any experience of it.

Apart from the first question in the thread here, I don't think there's many terrible questions can be asked!

There seems to be a bit of a movement around this whole "diabetes being reversable" trend. It's important that people know the difference between Type 1 & Type 2 diabetics, and it's not always so black and white either.

The basic gist of the "Newcastle Diet" as it was called, is that the Type 2 diabetic person goes on a seriously reduced diet for a period of i think 6 weeks. Calorie intake is something in the region of 600 cals per day. You can only have certain types of veg, no meat, no fats, no sugars etc.

To be fair, some of the results seem promising.

And i've practised intermittent fasting in the past - it does have an effect on your blood sugar control.

goat2 · 06-07-2018 6:25pm

I live with someone that has diabetes, but he does not take it very seriously, I am, and do not buy the sugar laden food to bring home, but he does, he is on Glucophage and other tablets for it, yet he is the one that goes and bring in all this non essential sugar laden food and eat it also, I have had both parents with the condition, my father had to inject to keep it at bay, so I keep clear as I can of the sugary produce, I guess that I am more scared as my father lived the last three yrs of his life blind, and I know and have seen the reality of it all

banie01 · 07-07-2018 6:25pm

Do you find the grind of knowing that eventually no matter how well you mind yourself, look after the diet, the carbs and the HbA1c that no matter how well you do it....
That you will likely suffer from complications due to Diabetes to be, discouraging?

ScotsGoneIRE · 07-07-2018 8:33pm

Change your diet, change your life.

Many unknown food Allergies/Intolerances cause the want/need for sugar for energy for the body to function. Unfortunately both a unknown food A/I and sugar increase will cause weight gain and thus the big D

If you get indigestion/heartburn/trapped wind everytime you eat something you are eating or too much of it your digestion system is saying NO to it just because it’s tasty DONT, taking Zantac etc puts these chemicals not just in your stomach but your blood and thus brain system, and that effects brain function and thought to dementia as well.

Eat well but listen to your body, everyone should do a food diary and remove food groups/allergens for a month then binge on it. Fibromyalgia doesn’t exist it’s food intolerances/allergies.

Most foods turn to sugar so eat the right things.

Eat proce$$ed food$ then take proce$$ed chemical$ to relieve ailment$, lol, just LOL. Wake up!

Energy drinks of all sorts no matter what type of sugar derivative cause non alcoholic fatty liver disease, then when that’s almost exploding it adds round your waist last but not least.

I was 25st at 28, now 13st.

If it is in a packet and you don’t know without training yourself all the ingredients simply don’t buy or eat it. The big D the big C and many other ‘conditions’ are a result of mass processing of foods since the 60s. Eat for life not shareholders.

Fresh frozen and canned is the easiest and cheapest way for everyone. Put some effort in.

And note after a cold/flu virus that can change your stomach flora - where most the good bacteria and bad (that feed on sugars) live, feed them well and they will serve your body well

Peace and good food to everyone!

I have diabetes, AMA · 07-07-2018 9:06pm

banie01 wrote: »

Do you find the grind of knowing that eventually no matter how well you mind yourself, look after the diet, the carbs and the HbA1c that no matter how well you do it....
That you will likely suffer from complications due to Diabetes to be, discouraging?

To be honest, it's kinda always at the back of my mind. I see my uncle now having some issues. He's had diabetes since he was a young fella, and he's in his 60s now. Despite always having good control, he's having issues with his gums / teeth etc.

I think my big fear is heart disease and dying of a heart attack!

muffler · 08-07-2018 12:20pm

A couple of questions:

Do you have many hypos and if so what time of the day are they generally occurring?

How do you find the medical support i.e. is there enough being done for you by way of clinic appointments, regular tests or assessments by your local GP practice or local hospital?

Do you feel that you know more about the condition (at times) than some of the so called professionals?

Finally and just as a FYI for you and other diabetics - are you aware of the woman who sued for discrimination in a case in NI a couple of days ago? Ever encountered anything like this yourself?

Harry Palmr · 08-07-2018 1:26pm

Fair bit of ignorance from jobsworths still out there. There was a very famous case (on boards.ie!) regarding if I recall rightly the confiscation of an insulin pack at a certain high profile festival event.

muffler · 08-07-2018 3:27pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Fair bit of ignorance from jobsworths still out there. There was a very famous case (on boards.ie!) regarding if I recall rightly the confiscation of an insulin pack at a certain high profile festival event.

Plenty of ignorance indeed. A son of mine who is type 1 had bother getting his bottle of Lucozade through a security check at a concert a couple of years ago. They relented a little by saying he could take the bottle in but without the cap but his girlfriend just fluttered her eye lashes and smiled at the security men and he was then told to go on.

In fairness he's been abroad a few times and never had any difficulty at the airports.

I have diabetes, AMA · 08-07-2018 3:34pm

muffler wrote: »

A couple of questions:

Do you have many hypos and if so what time of the day are they generally occurring?

How do you find the medical support i.e. is there enough being done for you by way of clinic appointments, regular tests or assessments by your local GP practice or local hospital?

Do you feel that you know more about the condition (at times) than some of the so called professionals?

Finally and just as a FYI for you and other diabetics - are you aware of the woman who sued for discrimination in a case in NI a couple of days ago? Ever encountered anything like this yourself?

I'm being seen in Sligo University Hospital. I feel the "care" is lax to say the best. Every time I'm there, I have to go through my whole history again, as its nearly always a different person seeing me. They can't quite figure me out, as my blood sugars run somewhat high, especially in the morning, but my Hba1c (a measurement done through blood test, gives a snapshot over blood sugar control over a certain time period) is almost always perfect. Last time I was there it was a 6.7. 6.5 is the ideal.

With regard to knowing more than them, I feel that way certainly. My blood sugar could be perfect going to bed, and rise then before I wake up, giving me a high reading. They can't figure this out in sligo... There's something that's very well known called the Dawn Phenomenon that has all the hallmarks of what I'm experiencing. They've never heard of it. I've ended up making my own adjustments to insulin down through the years, without getting their advice. I kinda feel I know now what works for me.

I've got an insulin pump in sligo hospital. It's been there for 2 years, and they haven't given it to me yet. I know it's there for a fact - the manufacter sends me literature in the post semi regularly.

As for gp care - non existant. They expect the hospital to look after all the diabetes related stuff.

Hypos with me are almost always in the evening. I'll occasionally have them in the afternoon, but 9 times out of 10, it's after 6pm.

Thanks for that link - I read that earlier in the week. I read about the case someplace else and they mentioned the word disabled in it - I don't agree that diabetics should be covered under the blanked term of disabled (with the exception of those with limb loss, sight loss naturally)

alibab · 08-07-2018 3:47pm

I have diabetes, AMA wrote: »

Oh ya, it gave me a right scare. I'm more worried about something like that happening to my kids now. I have 2 lads, aged 3 and 2.

When the youngest fella was 18 months, he woke a couple of mornings in a row showing signs of hypoglycemia. Of course he couldn't tell us, but when we tested his blood using my kit, his sugars were low.

Brought him to A&E, and after some testing / overnight stays, they told us it wasn't diabetes but something called Ketoic Hypoglycemia, something brought on due to common illness. That was scary, let me tell ya! I was beyond scared, and felt really guilty for some reason (As if i could control the genes passed on like!)

.

My son has ketotic hypoglycemia and we attend temple street metabolic unit . He is 14 now and has grown out of it . He was a severe case and had to be fed every 2 hours and admitted to local hospital if every got sick at all . We have had genetic testing the lot but the consultant was very clear it was nothing to do with regular diabetes etc and genetics for that .

muffler · 08-07-2018 4:01pm

I have diabetes, AMA wrote: »

I'm being seen in Sligo University Hospital. I feel the "care" is lax to say the best. Every time I'm there, I have to go through my whole history again, as its nearly always a different person seeing me. They can't quite figure me out, as my blood sugars run somewhat high, especially in the morning, but my Hba1c (a measurement done through blood test, gives a snapshot over blood sugar control over a certain time period) is almost always perfect. Last time I was there it was a 6.7. 6.5 is the ideal.

With regard to knowing more than them, I feel that way certainly. My blood sugar could be perfect going to bed, and rise then before I wake up, giving me a high reading. They can't figure this out in sligo... There's something that's very well known called the Dawn Phenomenon that has all the hallmarks of what I'm experiencing. They've never heard of it. I've ended up making my own adjustments to insulin down through the years, without getting their advice. I kinda feel I know now what works for me.

I've got an insulin pump in sligo hospital. It's been there for 2 years, and they haven't given it to me yet. I know it's there for a fact - the manufacter sends me literature in the post semi regularly.

As for gp care - non existant. They expect the hospital to look after all the diabetes related stuff.

Hypos with me are almost always in the evening. I'll occasionally have them in the afternoon, but 9 times out of 10, it's after 6pm.

Thanks for that link - I read that earlier in the week. I read about the case someplace else and they mentioned the word disabled in it - I don't agree that diabetics should be covered under the blanked term of disabled (with the exception of those with limb loss, sight loss naturally)

Thanks for that.

My wife is pretty much like yourself with the long term bloods being okay but the daily testing can vary but usually downwards. Her hypos would also be mostly in the evenings and just recently she has decided (herself) to take a unit less of insulation at tea time. The similarity doesn't end there though. If there was such a thing as type 1.5 then you would both have it. Like yourself she's stuck between 1 and 2 but still has to inject 4 times daily and take tablets also.

Apart from eye tests she doesnt attend clinics as such. Our local GP practice are fairly good in that regard and look after her well.

I've a couple of sons with type 1 also and its amazing that unless they talk to a dedicated "diabetic nurse" or the likes then most other professional medics dont have much of a clue about diabetes which is really unacceptable. You can understand the ignorance of the general public but when dealing with health care professionals this should never be an issue.

No pump mentioned for my wife or sons yet so I must tell them to chase this up.

I have diabetes, AMA · 08-07-2018 5:35pm

muffler wrote: »

Thanks for that.

My wife is pretty much like yourself with the long term bloods being okay but the daily testing can vary but usually downwards. Her hypos would also be mostly in the evenings and just recently she has decided (herself) to take a unit less of insulation at tea time. The similarity doesn't end there though. If there was such a thing as type 1.5 then you would both have it. Like yourself she's stuck between 1 and 2 but still has to inject 4 times daily and take tablets also.

Apart from eye tests she doesnt attend clinics as such. Our local GP practice are fairly good in that regard and look after her well.

I've a couple of sons with type 1 also and its amazing that unless they talk to a dedicated "diabetic nurse" or the likes then most other professional medics dont have much of a clue about diabetes which is really unacceptable. You can understand the ignorance of the general public but when dealing with health care professionals this should never be an issue.

No pump mentioned for my wife or sons yet so I must tell them to chase this up.

Thank you. Certainly chase up pumps - I thought they were supposed to give these to kids as standard now?

Have any of your family had the opportunity to try out a Continuous Glucose Monitor? I had a 2 week trial for the Libre Metre. Fantastic piece of kit

I have diabetes, AMA · 08-07-2018 6:00pm

muffler wrote: »

Plenty of ignorance indeed. A son of mine who is type 1 had bother getting his bottle of Lucozade through a security check at a concert a couple of years ago. They relented a little by saying he could take the bottle in but without the cap but his girlfriend just fluttered her eye lashes and smiled at the security men and he was then told to go on.

In fairness he's been abroad a few times and never had any difficulty at the airports.

I've been abroad myself a few times, never had a bother. Always carry a doctors letter with me just in case though

muffler · 08-07-2018 10:27pm

I have diabetes, AMA wrote: »

Thank you. Certainly chase up pumps - I thought they were supposed to give these to kids as standard now?

My 2 lads are grown men now so Im not sure what the position is in relation to providing pumps for adults these days. They were told some time ago that they would be assessed in the future so Im taking that as meaning that only the young and perhaps adults with regular stable readings would be eligible. But they havent heard any more about them.

I have diabetes, AMA wrote: »

Have any of your family had the opportunity to try out a Continuous Glucose Monitor? I had a 2 week trial for the Libre Metre. Fantastic piece of kit

Actually one of the lads is only out of hospital a few days and he has one of these on his upper arm which was done in the hospital but it expires tomorrow. Apparently the replacements are something like €60 each and they only last 2 weeks and then the test strips are another €125 approx but it uses less strips than the older system.

The joys (and costs) of being a diabetic

Irish Wolf · 09-07-2018 11:15pm

muffler wrote: »

Actually one of the lads is only out of hospital a few days and he has one of these on his upper arm which was done in the hospital but it expires tomorrow. Apparently the replacements are something like €60 each and they only last 2 weeks and then the test strips are another €125 approx but it uses less strips than the older system.

The joys (and costs) of being a diabetic

@muffler - I think if they're U21 it'll qualify on the LTI... and surely the test strips are free on the LTI?

Irish Wolf · 09-07-2018 11:32pm

@AMA...

Hi, I was diagnosed T1 on NYE16, aged 42.

Reading through the thread, it's disappointing that things you've encountered in your 8 years have not improved in in the last 1.5, in my experience.

IME, it's very much up to you to own the disease!

If I may ask, what's your regime... we all know us T1 love a bit of regularity. Think you mentioned 2:1 in the morning, how does that go through the day? Do you actively cut out carbs? How'd you handle pizza?

Did you do a DAFNE to get the ratio?

I have diabetes, AMA · 10-07-2018 5:15pm

Irish Wolf wrote: »

@AMA...

Hi, I was diagnosed T1 on NYE16, aged 42.

Reading through the thread, it's disappointing that things you've encountered in your 8 years have not improved in in the last 1.5, in my experience.

IME, it's very much up to you to own the disease!

If I may ask, what's your regime... we all know us T1 love a bit of regularity. Think you mentioned 2:1 in the morning, how does that go through the day? Do you actively cut out carbs? How'd you handle pizza?

Did you do a DAFNE to get the ratio?

Ya my ratio is 2:1 in the morning and 1.5:1 at all other times. Sligo had me on 3:1 morning and 2:1 all other times - far too many hypos this way so I changed it myself. My long acting insulin (Tresiba), I take 64 units of this before bed

I don't actively cut out carbs. If anything, I eat more carbs in the evening than the morning.

As regards pizza, I've read to take half the dose required with the meal, wait a couple hours, then take the second half of the dose.

I don't really do that! I can be very bad for taking insulin with the evening meal. Sometimes it could be several hours after the meal before I take it. Naughty, I know!

I didn't do DAFNE, but I was shown the basics in a half hour crash course when I was being treated in St. Vincents

muffler · 10-07-2018 11:49pm

Irish Wolf wrote: »

@muffler - I think if they're U21 it'll qualify on the LTI... and surely the test strips are free on the LTI?

Yeah, the ordinary strips and glucometers are free to all age groups on LTI but the Continuous Glucose Monitor and the strips for that monitor (apologies if thats the wrong description of them) are not available on the lTI scheme for adults anyhow. Perhaps in the future they will be

I have diabetes, AMA · 11-07-2018 2:28am

muffler wrote: »

Yeah, the ordinary strips and glucometers are free to all age groups on LTI but the Continuous Glucose Monitor and the strips for that monitor (apologies if thats the wrong description of them) are not available on the lTI scheme for adults anyhow. Perhaps in the future they will be

Apparently they're free if you are aged up to 21. I'd say it'll be a phased system with everyone eventually included. Here's hoping anyhow, its such a handy system

Yakuza · 11-07-2018 6:16pm

Great AMA, thanks for taking part. I've an 8-year old daughter, diagnosed before her 3rd birthday so am fairly well-versed in T1.
We try to educate folks we meet on what Type 1 is and how it comes about, do you get annoyed if asked "do you have the good type of diabetes" or do you just let it wash over you?

I've found a shocking level of ignorance about Type 1 in the general public (but don't get me wrong, I'd be up there had I not been brought into that world in 2013), is it the same in your experience?

I can't recommend the pump highly enough - you can tell it bolus for complex carbs like pasta and rice and it will take care of all that stuff for you, no need to inject half now / half later etc.

amdublin · 11-07-2018 6:19pm

I am hearing lots about ketogenic diets or LCHF (low carb high fat) as a treatment for diabetes. Eg. The swedish government is backing this

Have you heard anything about it in ireland? Has your endocrinologist ever said it to you?

I have diabetes, AMA · 12-07-2018 10:10am

Yakuza wrote: »

Great AMA, thanks for taking part. I've an 8-year old daughter, diagnosed before her 3rd birthday so am fairly well-versed in T1.
We try to educate folks we meet on what Type 1 is and how it comes about, do you get annoyed if asked "do you have the good type of diabetes" or do you just let it wash over you?

I've found a shocking level of ignorance about Type 1 in the general public (but don't get me wrong, I'd be up there had I not been brought into that world in 2013), is it the same in your experience?

I can't recommend the pump highly enough - you can tell it bolus for complex carbs like pasta and rice and it will take care of all that stuff for you, no need to inject half now / half later etc.

With regard to the question, do you have the good type? It would kind of depend on my mood. Mainly though I tend to lecture the person on the different types, so they are left in no doubt as to the differences between the 2 types. They either end up interested and asking more questions, or they will know not to ask me such as stupid question again!

There is a shocking lack of education with regard to diabetes in general. The amount of people that just know about type 1, and have prejudice against people that have it ("Oh, they got it cos they're fat, lazy, eat tons of junk") is astounding.

I have diabetes, AMA · 12-07-2018 10:15am

amdublin wrote: »

I am hearing lots about ketogenic diets or LCHF (low carb high fat) as a treatment for diabetes. Eg. The swedish government is backing this

Have you heard anything about it in ireland? Has your endocrinologist ever said it to you?

I've not spoken with my endo about this, and to be honest, with hospital staff in Ireland being so close minded, I can't see it being in the discussion for some time.

The basics of the diet is that your body enters a state of ketosis. This is immediately a "no no" for diabetics according to the "experts", as DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) is so dangerous (potentially deadly). This is just my opinion of course.

I've tried the intermittent fasting diet for a while, and it does have a positive effect on blood sugar levels and control. It can be tough though, especially when you move to a new office where they bring in sausage rolls, cake, ice cream etc almost every day!!!:pac:

amdublin · 12-07-2018 10:25am

I have diabetes, AMA wrote: »

I've not spoken with my endo about this, and to be honest, with hospital staff in Ireland being so close minded, I can't see it being in the discussion for some time.

The basics of the diet is that your body enters a state of ketosis. This is immediately a "no no" for diabetics according to the "experts", as DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) is so dangerous (potentially deadly). This is just my opinion of course.

I've tried the intermittent fasting diet for a while, and it does have a positive effect on blood sugar levels and control. It can be tough though, especially when you move to a new office where they bring in sausage rolls, cake, ice cream etc almost every day!!!:pac:

I am not diabetic but I follow a low carb (5% of my overall food) and high fat (75% of my daily food) diet. I do intermittent fasting too - I find that with all the fat in my diet I neither am hungry nor crave food.

An interesting diabetes analogy someone said to me was we wouldn't treat a peanut allergy with peanuts and then medication when the peanuts affect the body. Why do we treat diabetes the way we do.

Very interesting ask me anything! Thank you

I have diabetes, AMA · 12-07-2018 11:32am

amdublin wrote: »

I am not diabetic but I follow a low carb (5% of my overall food) and high fat (75% of my daily food) diet. I do intermittent fasting too - I find that with all the fat in my diet I neither am hungry nor crave food.

An interesting diabetes analogy someone said to me was we wouldn't treat a peanut allergy with peanuts and then medication when the peanuts affect the body. Why do we treat diabetes the way we do.

Very interesting ask me anything! Thank you

Not a problem.

I don't think the peanut analogy holds water, to be fair. Insulin is something naturally produced in the body. And it's an absolute requirement. You could cut out all carbs but may still require insulin, as blood sugars can rise through stress, illness etc.

Then there's the quality of life question as well. Insulin allows diabetics to eat carbs. A carb-free diet is very restrictive in ways.

I guess I'd finish by saying peanuts can be avoided, and thus, medication is not required. A type 1 diabetic does not produce insulin, something that the pancreas does naturally. This is why it needs to be introduced into the body via needle

muffler · 12-07-2018 11:59am

I have diabetes, AMA wrote: »

You could cut out all carbs but may still require insulin, as blood sugars can rise through stress, illness etc.

Indeed. And this is a point that even the odd diabetic wouldnt be aware of. Infections of any type, be that throat, flu, infected cuts etc will always result in the blood sugar levels increasing.

Im far from an expert on diabetes but with 2 sons being type 1 (25 and 23 years respectively they have it) and my wife being as I call it, type 1.5 I've had to both live with the "patients" and learn a good deal about the condition especially when one of the lads was diagnosed at 2 years of age and this resulted in us having to do his injections and control his diet.

I have diabetes, AMA · 12-07-2018 12:54pm

muffler wrote: »

Indeed. And this is a point that even the odd diabetic wouldnt be aware of. Infections of any type, be that throat, flu, infected cuts etc will always result in the blood sugar levels increasing.

Im far from an expert on diabetes but with 2 sons being type 1 (25 and 23 years respectively they have it) and my wife being as I call it, type 1.5 I've had to both live with the "patients" and learn a good deal about the condition especially when one of the lads was diagnosed at 2 years of age and this resulted in us having to do his injections and control his diet.

A lot of factors can raise my blood sugar. Bad nights sleep, stress, sickness, hell, even eating something you didn't realize has carbs in it!

I suffer from this dawn phenomenon thing where, I can go to bed with perfect blood sugars, having being stable all day, and still wake with high sugars. This is caused by a rush of hormones the body releases to initiate the waking process (as is my understanding). Seemingly the best thing to treat this is an insulin pump.

Now Ye're Talking - to a diabetic

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