New Type1 Diabetic

What medications were you prescribed? If type I it should have included insulin and some training on how to use, calculate doses, etc.

Hey there! So glad you posted! I can imagine you’re dealing with many questions. It may seem overwhelming, but as you practice, it’ll get easier. Eventually, you’ll feel confident as you manage things.

I agree with @jim18, in that the key will be based much on your prescription. I am assuming you are taking insulin, as I’ve never heard of type 1 who didn’t. Normally, there is a long lasting insulin and a fast acting that you take before meals. Or, just fast acting if you use an insulin pump. What are you using?

I'm sure your recent diagnosis has made you feel plenty scared and uncomfortable. I was diagnosed as Type 2 in 2002, and I was afraid to eat anything, afraid not to eat, afraid of eating the wrong thing, etc. I was lucky that at the time I knew a dietician who helped me a lot.

As part of your diagnosis, did they offer any resources such as a dietician? Someone with professional education and experience can offer a lot of valuable advice that's tailored to your specific situation.

Best wishes to you. You got this!

@karenps
My wife was diagnosed with type one diabetes 5 years ago. It resulted from damage to her vagus nerve during surgery (stomach and hieanal hernia) or it was caused by the undiagnosed diabetic that attack her vagus nerve and stomach functions. Was told diabetes could have damaged vagus nerve affecting her stomach and ability to digest food.

Did you not have an appointment with an endocrinologist? They should have gone over your questions, how to check blood sugar, insulin injection, etc. My wife went through the manual method but couple of years ago went to the automatic insulin pump. The insulin pump monitors her blood glucose and inject pre programmed insulin at scheduled time or she can bolas the insulin on her own when she eat food or desserts. She also has directions what to do when gets too low. We keep a glucose injection package to inject her if too low and she is showing symptoms of low blood sugar (kind of drunk symptoms).

I am not sure who you are seeing but with a diabetic one diagnosis you need to see an endocrinologist and really be set up with a program and the training to do what is needed when you have diabetes 1.

@jim18 Thanks for responding! I've been prescribed Lanus for long acting and Novolog for fast acting. I think I need to find a different endocrinologist who can see me for frequently, at least in the beginning when the dr is figuring out my carb to insulin ratio. What is that ratio based on?
I've met with a dietician a couple of times and she said to try to keep carbs 45-60 each meal. For dinner, for example, if I have 3/4 of a cup of brown rice and then add the carbs in some of my veggies, it often is close to 60 and there isnt much food on my plate. I am thin to begin with and have lost weight with this. Any suggestions for a different approach?

@celia16 thanks for responding and I do have a ton of questions! I am using the Dexcom G7 continuous monitor and am finding that when I check it against the finger stick, it can be lower by 20. This is especially important for me since I dip below 70 and also rise into the 300s. We've even tried to calibrate it as they suggest during the first 24 hours. I know it's not practical to finger stick all the time.

@scottrl
thanks for your response!It's comforting to hear that I'm not the only one who is afraid to eat anything or not to eat or eat the wrong thing! It has made mealtime very stressful and unpleasant and I am a foodie at heart! I think I'm getting hung up on counting exact carbs, although I was told that it's necessary for type 1 Diabetes. I think a dietician specializing in a diabetic meal plan for me is key for me to managing my glucose levels.

@jc76
Wow, sounds like your wife has gone through a lot ~ good to hear that her diabetes is now under control. In reading everyone's responses, the common theme seems to be a good comprehensive program that can educate me and includes more than just my endochronologist. The dietician is equally as important so that my meal plan and approach is tailored specifically for me.
Thanks!

@karenps welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’m SO sorry that you ended up diabetic as a result of your breast cancer treatment. This happened to my daughter too. She received immunotherapy that resulted in destruction and damaged parts to parts of her endocrine system.
I myself am 50+ years diabetic. It is absolutely essential to have a good endocrinologist. In addition to that you might benefit from a Certified Diabetes Educator. They are nurse practitioners that might be more readily available than your endocrinologist and can help you get the hang of eating/drinking for diabetes, carb counting and dosing insulin.
They can teach you how to read and calculate carbs from food labels and can give you carb lists for other foods that don’t have labels like produce. They can provide tips to calculate carbs for things that are homemade and also don’t have labels (like soups, casseroles, salads and items that have a mixture of ingredients.)
They can teach you about your insulin needs. This includes basal, background or long term insulin (like Lantus). Meal time or boluses is rapid acting insulin (like Novolog). It is also used for correction. They also know about things like I:C (ratio). This means how much insulin is needed for how many grams of carbs. It is tricky, can change throughout the day and is different for different people. It is based on blood sugar before and after eating. Pretty much needs to be calculated by pros. They also know factors like duration (amount of time insulin is acting) and correction factor (how much a specific amount of insulin will lower blood sugar over a particular amount of time.) These people can be very helpful as you adjust to your new diabetic life!

You might be interested in getting a copy of and reading a book written by Dr, Richard K, Bernstein called Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars . He is a Type 1 Diabetic. This is a description pf the book from Amazon."Originally published in 1997, DR. BERNSTEIN'S DIABETES SOLUTION is a unique resource that covers both adult- and childhood-onset diabetes, explains step-by-step how to normalize blood sugar levels and prevent or reverse complications, and offers detailed guidelines for establishing a treatment plan. Readers will find fifty gourmet recipes, in addition to a comprehensive discussion of diet, obesity, and new drugs to curb carbohydrate craving and overeating." Another book I like is Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes by Jenny Ruhl . I am pre-diabetic hoping to avoid diabetes. It is upsetting to me that the statin - rosovastatin- and beta blocker- metoprolol, both increase my risk for diabetes. I really watch my carbs and do blood testing often, If my numbers from the meter are higher than I like I go for a 15 minute walk after eating to lower the blood sugar number the meter gives me.