I was diagnosed two days ago and it still hasn't hit me yet. I feel like it will be very difficult to go out with my friends and not being able to eat what I want to eat, like desserts or things high in carbs. How hard was it for you to adjust? Also, where is your favorite place to give yourself the insulin injections? I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out.
Hi Katie!
2 days and you're already on here? Wow...that's great that you're already reaching out for help!
Well, welcome to the club! I promise, it's not as bad as it seems. We all live healthy, productive lives because the technology to manage our diabetes is nothing short of amazing.
The number one thing that will get you through this, especially in the beginning, is figuring out how to make diabetes fit into your life, not how to make your life fit into diabetes. There is no reason you can't eat dessert or anything else you want that is 'high in carbs' and enjoy a great night out with your friends any time you want. You can eat anything you want to eat - you just need to figure out how to take your insulin for it. (if your DR tells you anything different, find a different one immediately!) It will be a definite learning curve, but the only way to be successful is to take control of it. First, if your Dr hasn't already told you to, get the "Calorie King" book, and take it everywhere you go. Look up the carbs in everything you eat, and before you know it you will just know when you look at food how much carbs there are, and you can take the appropriate amount of insulin.
As for shots, everyone is different. I think the default for the fast acting insulin is in the stomach, but for me that always hurt...I started doing the back of my arms, and although I don't have any fat there it actually didn't hurt. I know a lot of people that do shots in their legs and swear by it - I was always too afraid to try. For the long acting insulin I always shot that into my butt cheeks (make sure you always shoot these two types of insulin in different areas of your body - don't mix them in the same site!)
My advice: First go get hooked up with your local JDRF. They will be an unbelievable resource for you and can help you every step along the way. Second (as I already mentioned) figure out how to make this work for you! Don't let it control your life! And the rest will just come. Make sure those closest to you know about it, and know what to do/how to help if something happens.
Good Luck! Please feel free to reach out to me (or any of us on here!) if you have any questions or need any help/support along the way.
Hi Katie!
You have come to the right place. The support system here is just what you need. It will take a while for it to hit you. I am 22. I was diagnosed at 21 in January. I still have days where I can't believe I am living with this disease! I felt the same way as you! I was wondering how I would go about normal daily life (college, going out, eating out, exercising, etc). You will get into the groove of things faster than you think.
You will be able to eat foods that you love, just not as much or all the time. You can still treat yourself, but try getting used to your body's responses and new routine first. You will get faster at checking your blood sugar and more comfortable with dosing insulin. I found that injecting insulin in my stomach or legs was the least painful! Try it out but make sure to switch your injections sites often. And if you are worried about what to do with lancets and needles, try using one of those plastic gum containers designed to fit in a cup holder. Empty it out and keep it in your purse :-)
Please feel free to ask me anything. I am not an expert by any means but I am willing to offer you any advice or tips I may have.
I can't congratulate you enough, Katie, on already reaching out to other diabetics! That's a huge first step, and I'm incredibly proud of you for doing it already.
I haven't been on shots for about 11 years, so I'll let others answer your questions. I just wanted to welcome you to Juvenation. This is the best place to come to for friendship, support, and information. This place is my second family. I can't imagine my life without all these other PWDs (people with diabetes). Welcome, welcome, welcome!
C
Hi Katie, I'm sorry about your diagnosis, but I'm really glad you found Juvenation so quickly! It has helped many people deal with a new diagnosis - of themselves or their children.
The full reality of having diabetes probably hasn't hit you yet. That is OK. It is a huge shock and you will come to terms with it over time. I just want to say that it is OK to be sad and angry about it. and that you will 'grieve' for the perfect health you have lost. That's normal. It might not happen right away, but don't try to hide or ignore those feelings, or they will start to mess up your life in other ways. You can certainly come on here and vent away and always will find a supportive, listening ear from people who 'get it.' Sharing what you are going through with friends or family will also help.
As far as the practicality - at first it may feel like all you do is think about diabetes. After a while, that part gets easier and while you will still think about it a lot, it won't always be at the front of your mind. And yes, you will be able to eat desserts and high carb meals and enjoy them. Your doctors and nurses might have you limit your carb intakes at meals right now at the beginning, as they help you work out your insulin needs. That might kind of suck now during Christmas when we are all surrounded by sugary or otherwise high carb treats during all waking hours. But you will figure it out. (At least you can keep track of what you put in your own mouth, try figuring out what a 4 yr old is grabbing off the Christmas table to count his carbs.) :) LOL.
Keep coming back and ask all the questions you want! Or vent! AND celebrate when you have successes. Merry Christmas!
Welcome Katie!! Glad you found us. I was Dx'd this past February and have found this site to be very helpful. Just like any thing else diabetes is a learning curve. I think one of the earlier posts said it better than any one I have seen. Make diabetes fit into your like not the other way around. Calorie King book is a life saver. It is fast and usually fairly accurate. I take shots still and rotate on my stomach for a few reasons. 1) got a little extra there to shoot into if you know what I mean, and I have found it to be a reliable spot for my insulin to work the best for me. You just need to find what works for you, most people will tell you the same thing. Good luck and keep your head up and don't get down.
Hi Katie,
It's my husband who was recently diagnosed, and I have to say that juvenation has been so helpful, so definitely continue to come back often. The people who post here are so positive and amazing. As a person who knew zero about type 1 diabetes, I have found so much comfort in coming to this site and reading posts from people who have been living with it for years and from people like us who are just starting out. At first, we seriously were asking questions about whether or not he would be able to eat fruit! He was imagining life with no brownies. While he was still in the hospital, I cleaned out the entire fridge, went grocery shopping, and refilled it with sugar free stuff. Well intentioned, but in hindsight, and after some T1 101, really unnecessary! You really can eat whatever you want, as long as you learn to count the carbs in it. The sugar-free stuff tastes funky from the added chemicals, still has carbs, and worst of all, has some unpleasant biological side-effects.
My husband is still in a stage where he is injecting insulin based on a sliding scale, and is limited to a certain number of carbs per meal. I can't wait to "graduate" to him being allowed to dose his insulin based on what he is about to eat like others have described, because for sure it can seem like a punishment to have to limit yourself to low-carb options and it bums him out sometimes. Hoping to find out at his next endo appt in February. When we go out to eat, he will pretty much choose whatever he wants on the menu, and just asks for some changes if needed (example - it's easier for him at this point to guesstimate carbs in a baked potato based on the size rather than how many cups of rice are piled on the plate). He gives himself shots in the stomach, which is easy to do right at the table. We have a friend who is afraid of needles so she'll hold up her menu so she doesn't see, but she'll get over it.
Anyway, there's a steep learning curve at first (which we're still in!), it's awesome that you're already here getting some good advice. Welcome!!
Here's the best food advice I got as a diabetic, sugar free jello. It has no carbs and almost no calories and is a delicious treat. You can eat it whenever you want and as much as you want. I like to add some light whip cream on it, which is very low in carbs. It's nice to have a treat that you can eat whenever you feel like it.
My daughter eats a ton of the sugar free jello. It is great especially when you can't or don't want to bolus.
Try to take one day at a time and you will be okay. This web site is also very helpful. The people are great.
Hi Katie! I'm Katie, too :)
I'm sure you're really overwhelmed with all the info that comes with being newly diagnosed, but as each day passes you will find that everything will become second nature and just a part of your normal routine, even though it must seem really strange and burdensome right now. I promise you that it gets easier with time. When you're struggling or have questions, we'll be here for you. It's great that you've found Juvenation so quickly!
Also, don't be discouraged by the new "eating limits." With treatments nowadays, we can eat pretty much anything and in any amount, as long as it is covered with insulin. You are probably on a fixed-carb plan right now, which is pretty limiting (I was on one for 6 years), but there are other options (liking using an insulin pump or Lantus) that allow you to eat whatever and whenever you want. Your endo will probably talk to you about those once you've gotten used to everything. Hang in there.
I'm sorry you had to join the type 1 club, but we're really pretty awesome people, just with malfunctioning pancreases ;) Welcome to Juvenation!
Oh, when I was on injections I did them in my arms and legs, but if I have to give myself an injection now, I prefer my stomach. It's best to try a bunch of places that you feel comfortable with and see which ones you like best. Also, rotating injection sites is a good idea.
Thank you everyone for your advice! I will definitely be asking more questions as I go through this new change in my life.
Welcome!
I'm Caitlyn! Asking the endo questions is the best thing to do! when i came home form the hospital after diagnosis my insulin ratios changed literally everyday! once you get the routine and everything is settled you'll feel better!
Hi Katie, The hardest part (I feel at least) is the food, it isn't so much the fact that I can't eat them, but the fact that so many people want you too. My family and friends that I have known for years and years and years, still to this day forget that I have diabetes and I am constantly offered sweets. I will admit that it is hard to deal with this, expecailly when you want social approval of your peers, you might be more inclined to say "one Reese cup wont hurt me" and take the offered piece of candy. Please don't let that get into a habit, you can have some sweets every once and awhile, but save that for only special occasions, I wouldn't save it for birthdays, just in case you attend a lot of them. I wouldn't advise drinking alcohol, even though it would be hypocritical of me to say that, but intoxicants make managing your diabetes much harder, not only does alcohol effect your blood-glucose levels, but it can also make you forget to take a shot, or check your sugar.
Rotate those injection sites! I'm sure someone has already explained this to you, but if you don't it will bruise you up. My go to place is my belly, if I have shorts on I hike the leg up and inject it into my thigh, fatty part of my arms never hurts though.
[quote user="Wesley"]
don't let that get into a habit, you can have some sweets every once and awhile, but save that for only special occasions
I wouldn't advise drinking alcohol, even though it would be hypocritical of me to say that, but intoxicants make managing your diabetes much harder, not only does alcohol effect your blood-glucose levels, but it can also make you forget to take a shot, or check your sugar.
[/quote]
I, respectfully, 100% disagree with these statements. Obviously you need to start cautiously, however the only way you will lead a normal life is to eat and drink what you want to eat and drink, and learn how it affects your diabetes and insulin requirements. If you want a piece of candy or cake or anything else - eat it! and take the appropriate insulin. If you want to have a beer, glass of wine, or cocktail - drink it! and adjust your insulin - some people need to take more insulin when they drink, some less, some none at all.
Yes this is very true, Adam, you can compensate for the consumption of any carbohydrates with insulin. And you can drink alcohol (like I said I do as well) but for someone brand new to this I wouldn't advise them to try and get drunk if they don't know how to properly cope with it.
I'm looking at his from the perspective of someone who doesn't have health coverage: insulin cost money and so does your food, so in reality the cost of what you are eating is the cost of the food + the cost of the insulin + the cost of lancets + the cost of test strips. In the end eating candy everyday will add up...
Welcome Katie! So glad you're here! The D life can still be overwhelming and scary even if you've had it for a long time.
Give yourself some time to get used to everything. Don't forget to breathe, and remind yourself that you CAN do this.
And as far as food goes, I think everyone has a different comfort level. Technically, I know I can eat whatever I want as long as I take the insulin, but I also know there are certain foods that send my blood sugar completely wacko. So there are certain foods (like cereal, for instance) that I try to avoid. But sometimes, it's worth it, even if your bs goes haywire.
Like Dorie in Finding Nemo says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming." ;)
[quote user="Adam"]
[quote user="Wesley"]
don't let that get into a habit, you can have some sweets every once and awhile, but save that for only special occasions
I wouldn't advise drinking alcohol, even though it would be hypocritical of me to say that, but intoxicants make managing your diabetes much harder, not only does alcohol effect your blood-glucose levels, but it can also make you forget to take a shot, or check your sugar.
[/quote]
I, respectfully, 100% disagree with these statements. Obviously you need to start cautiously, however the only way you will lead a normal life is to eat and drink what you want to eat and drink, and learn how it affects your diabetes and insulin requirements. If you want a piece of candy or cake or anything else - eat it! and take the appropriate insulin. If you want to have a beer, glass of wine, or cocktail - drink it! and adjust your insulin - some people need to take more insulin when they drink, some less, some none at all.
[/quote]Adam is right! Any food is okay. Drinking alcohol is okay. You just have to learn how to adjust your insulin to cover it. A couple great books you should read are:
- Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner
- Using Insulin by John Walsh
-Jenna, type 1 for 33 years
First of all, the number one thing you should remember about this is that YOU'RE NOT ALONE :)))
I was only 7 when I was diagnosed, so I've had tons of experiences that have helped me learn to cope with diabetes while managing a happy childhood, typical teen years (technically I guess I am still a teen..haha), and a successful student with diabetes.
First of all, most people that do not know much about type 1 assume that desserts and high carb foods are off limits. THIS IS A FALLACY! While it is certain that NO diet solely based on these foods is healthy, type 1 diabetics (myself, as a pizza-eating, cupcake-loving college student, included) can basically have a "normal" diet. I'm not sure of your knowledge about and exposure to type 1 pre-diagnoses..
I'm assuming you have figured out a carbohydrate-insulin ratio, which you will need to use for every injection that is intended to cover carbohydrates. For example, my blood insulin-carbohydrate ratio is 1 unit of insulin for every 6 grams of carbohydrate that I eat. So, if I eat a peanut butter sandwich (about 30 grams of carbohydrate) I'd just do 5 units of insulin. (If you already know how to do this, ignore this..I'm not trying to offend you!) So you can theoretically deliver any amount of insulin to cover any amount of carbs you will consume. For example, my latest college binge was probably this past week (FINALS WEEK..EEK!) when I ate some christmas cookies:)
As for going out with your friends, there may be times (especially within the next few months) where you will not feel comfortable in certain situations (when I was first diagnosed, my mom was really weary to let me have sleepovers at friends' houses, go on field-trips, etc.), but you will become much more independent and confident with your management as time goes by. Doing shots was like second nature after a week or two, to me, and soon, it just becomes "normal." I actually can't remember ever NOT having diabetes, which may be a little sad but true.
Getting adjusted to ratios and units of insulin can be really confusing at first, but trust me, it will get much better. You will still have some days where you feel so angry with God for having the disease, while other days (hopefully most days!) you will feel blessed to have such an understanding about how people cope with disease. For the most part (having had diabetes for 12 years), I actually find that having diabetes has increased my self-worth, and has shaped me into a more understanding and sympathetic person. I do not regret becoming diagnosed with diabetes, since it has definitely made me the person that I am today. <--that's a little cliche, but it's from the heart!
Sorry I basically wrote a book..haha. If you ever have questions, feel free to message me, or add me on facebook!
Good luck & stay strong,
Hayley
Pretty solid information here.
I've never had a problem injecting in my arms, legs or belly. my mom used to wake me up when i was much younger by jamming a syringe into my ass. It worked! I use a pump now which i wouldn't trade for the world. And trust me, you get used to diabetes, it doesn't restrain you from anything at all. I played every sport and ate any food i wanted. Of course you need to make sure you are taking enough insulin and exercising, as well as eating healthy, but a diabetics diet has to be one of the best on the planet.
Also don't not take insulin. worst thing ever, at least when your BG goes low you just pass out and die; you don't have to pee every five minutes and drink litres of water.