countrymaid 2 Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 Ive just recently been diagnosed with Diabetes and im having to inject myself 4 times a day and having to blood test myself about 6 to 10 times a day. Im rearly starting to struggle with all this routine of having to eat, inject, blood test and i just want my life back before i got poorly. I used to be an active person, i would walk for miles with the dogs and go out for hours with the horses and spend most of the night out lamping with the dogs. But now when im active i burn my sugars too quickly and ive got to collapse a few times over the last 12 months. I refuse to end up as a couch potatoe i love the country life and im asking if there are any other Diabetic country folk on here that can give me advice on managing my Diabetes. Diabetes UK and the other help groups seem to be full of townies who sit on there back sides all day and dont understand the tough country life i live and work in. Im only 36 and the life i live, dogs, horses, kids and the busy farming life is all ive ever known. I dont want Diabetes to change my way of life. Im not asking for sympathy here im asking for advice from people who might know what im going through. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Night Hawk 1 Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 Hi sorry to hear about your illness,my girlfriend,s mother has had diabetes for years and you prob already know this if you carry lucozade mars bars or jam as your out so when you feel faint it will bring your sugar level,s back up.Probably pointless information but if helps glad to have helped. : Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gardener 0 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 (edited) Hi countrymaid - I've been diabetic the last 40+ years......sort of came to a negotiated compromise with it! Different people are on different set-ups for controlling it and I'm not what the doctors would call a 'good' diabetic but I'm healthy and active and have always got on with my life. Have you got any control over what insulin dosage you are on as if you keep going hypo it sounds like you're on more than you need considering you're an active person? The blood testing is a bit of a hassle, but its also the very best tool you've got for keeping track of things A few things I do: Always, always always carry lucozade, mars bars whatever.... Check blood before going out walking etc If expecting to be out for more than short while I'll carry the full gear - blood test stuff etc so if I feel shaky I can do a quick check With time you'll get a sense of when your blood sugar is running low - eat! Trouble with lucozade and sugary stuff is that it gives a quick fix, waps your BS up but doesn't last. You need starch as well as sugar - bread, biscuits, potatoes, rice, pasta sort of stuff as that releases more slowly and gives the insulin something to work on. Lucozade is great for emergency 'quick fix', but make sure you're eating properly, and getting enough bread, potatoes etc too. If you've collapsed a few times definitely sounds like more insulin than you're needing, can you talk to your doctor about reducing dosage? Above are a few thoughts, send me a PM if you like, but remember I'm no expert and what works for me might not be right for you. Edited August 10, 2008 by gardener Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SPIFF Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 Hello ,ive been diabetic from i was 14 ,now 32,i hunt with terriers mostly but lurchers hounds and spend a lot of time on the mountains.I always give myself a lot less insulin when going out and bring loads of lucozade and a pack lunch,it ll take a bit of experimenting to see how much less insulin you need but i give myself about half,but thats just me.Make sure you tell someone where you are and bring a mobile.I ve been lifted of the mountain by the ambulance before but sure its all in a days crack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
countrymaid 2 Posted August 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 thanks for your replies, it would seem there are a few people on here that know what im going through. At the moment im at the fine tuning stage im just trying different insulins to see which one suits me. Im also what the doctors would say as poorly controlled, im taking Insutard and Novorapid but i hope to try a slower release one then the novorapid as i believe this is what has made me collapse. Ive put on 2 stone in weight since starting insulin and all the doctors will give me is the pills that stop me absorbing fat, these ive had to stop taking as ive nearly had a few accidents!!. Ive had to put tags on the horses bridles just in case i collapse out with the horses, ive also had to miss the end of the hunting season as i cant risk at the moment getting light headed sat out on a horse in the middle of know where. Im also banned from driving any of the farm vehicles at the moment which is a real struggle for all of us as it mean 1 less pair of hands for the heavy work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gardener 0 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 im taking Insutard and Novorapid but i hope to try a slower release one then the novorapid as i believe this is what has made me collapse. I meant to ask about Novorapid - its vicious! They changed me to it and it was absolutely brutal - I put myself back on what I was taking before. A friends son was changed to that one and she got him back off it too. Novorapid also has a warning (in very small print) that it can cause light-headedness etc. Gave me full-blown palpitations, increased heart rate etc - get them to get you off it for something else quick! Can't see why going on insulin would cause weight gain, and once the doctors start giving you pills for this, that and the other your system ends up in right scramble..... did they give you any explanation for why going on insulin caused the weight gain in the first place? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bigredbusa Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 im reading this with intrest as my mum is quite poorly with it now and devloped it just recently and i take my hat off to all you guys and gals who wont let it stop you living your life . fair play Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mattydski 560 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 A diabetic mate of mine rates bananas very highly for energy during excercise. He can play a whole round of golf on 1 nana... Cant comment my self-i dont play golf..... Matt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chaz 6 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 My dad has had very bad diabetes for a number of years he ws having to inject large volumes of insulin up to 6 times a day just to keep stable,and was regularly in and out of hospital with diabetes related problems, about 2-3 years ago he had a "pump" fitted not sure of the proper name but it releases a small amount of insulin regularly acting much more like the body itself and since he has had it fitted he has been a lot better, with probably only 2 stays in hospital in that time, he always has a chocolate bar or lucozade tablets or something with him but he isn`t as dependant on them anymore, Good luck with stabilising yourself it can take a long time to find where you need to be with the lifestyle you lead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SPIFF Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 NOVORAPID IS BAD GEAR THATS WHAT IM ON AND THEY WON T CHANGE IT,MUST BE CHEAP.IT ACTS TOO QUICKLY ONE MINUTE YOUR 18 NEXT YOUR BEING ASKED YOUR NAME IN A&E AND HAVEN T GOT A CLUE WHAT IT IS YOU VE PROBABLY BEING LOSING WEIGHT BEFORE YOUR DIAGNOSIS AS THE HIGH SUGAR DOES SOMETHING THAT EATS THE FAT[TEENAGE GIRLS STAY HIGH TO STAY THIN] YOUR WEIGHT SHOULD STABALISE BUT DON T FART WITH THEM FAT EATING TABS IN YOU YOU LL DESTROY ALL YOUR CLOTHES.FIRST TIME I WAS ON THEM I WAS OUT AND GOT CAUGHT SHORT AND MADE IT TO A LOG,JUST THE SAME HEIGHT AS A TOILET SEAT,ABOUT A GALLON OF CUSTARD CAME OUT OF ME WORST BIT THE DOGS ATE IT AND I HAD TO GO HOME AS THEY WHERE BLOATED AND COULDN T WORK THEM LIKE THAT :sick: TEST YOURSELF REGULAR AT LEAST ONCE AN HOUR ALWAYS BRING LUCOZADE,LOADS OF IT,AND BE CAREFUL HOW TRUTHFUL YOU ARE TO THE INSURANCE AND DOCTORS AS THEY LL NOT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOU WHEN YOUR SORTED. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
countrymaid 2 Posted August 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 im taking Insutard and Novorapid but i hope to try a slower release one then the novorapid as i believe this is what has made me collapse. I meant to ask about Novorapid - its vicious! They changed me to it and it was absolutely brutal - I put myself back on what I was taking before. A friends son was changed to that one and she got him back off it too. Novorapid also has a warning (in very small print) that it can cause light-headedness etc. Gave me full-blown palpitations, increased heart rate etc - get them to get you off it for something else quick! Can't see why going on insulin would cause weight gain, and once the doctors start giving you pills for this, that and the other your system ends up in right scramble..... did they give you any explanation for why going on insulin caused the weight gain in the first place? I reckon i need to come off the novorapid, im eating more because its giving me that light headed feel like you get when you are hungry, i guess ive put on weight because im not getting the excercise that i used to get, ive just lost my confidence in going out because im worried i may collapse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
countrymaid 2 Posted August 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 NOVORAPID IS BAD GEAR THATS WHAT IM ON AND THEY WON T CHANGE IT,MUST BE CHEAP.IT ACTS TOO QUICKLY ONE MINUTE YOUR 18 NEXT YOUR BEING ASKED YOUR NAME IN A&E AND HAVEN T GOT A CLUE WHAT IT IS YOU VE PROBABLY BEING LOSING WEIGHT BEFORE YOUR DIAGNOSIS AS THE HIGH SUGAR DOES SOMETHING THAT EATS THE FAT[TEENAGE GIRLS STAY HIGH TO STAY THIN] YOUR WEIGHT SHOULD STABALISE BUT DON T FART WITH THEM FAT EATING TABS IN YOU YOU LL DESTROY ALL YOUR CLOTHES.FIRST TIME I WAS ON THEM I WAS OUT AND GOT CAUGHT SHORT AND MADE IT TO A LOG,JUST THE SAME HEIGHT AS A TOILET SEAT,ABOUT A GALLON OF CUSTARD CAME OUT OF ME WORST BIT THE DOGS ATE IT AND I HAD TO GO HOME AS THEY WHERE BLOATED AND COULDN T WORK THEM LIKE THAT :sick: TEST YOURSELF REGULAR AT LEAST ONCE AN HOUR ALWAYS BRING LUCOZADE,LOADS OF IT,AND BE CAREFUL HOW TRUTHFUL YOU ARE TO THE INSURANCE AND DOCTORS AS THEY LL NOT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOU WHEN YOUR SORTED. My friends where jealous when i got prescribed them weight loss pills, the thought of eating anything you want and still losing weight. They dident relise that the fat comes out the other end and when it starts i couldent stop for about 3 days!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hollands hope 1,024 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 (edited) im taking Insutard and Novorapid but i hope to try a slower release one then the novorapid as i believe this is what has made me collapse. I meant to ask about Novorapid - its vicious! They changed me to it and it was absolutely brutal - I put myself back on what I was taking before. A friends son was changed to that one and she got him back off it too. Novorapid also has a warning (in very small print) that it can cause light-headedness etc. Gave me full-blown palpitations, increased heart rate etc - get them to get you off it for something else quick! Can't see why going on insulin would cause weight gain, and once the doctors start giving you pills for this, that and the other your system ends up in right scramble..... did they give you any explanation for why going on insulin caused the weight gain in the first place? I reckon i need to come off the novorapid, im eating more because its giving me that light headed feel like you get when you are hungry, i guess ive put on weight because im not getting the excercise that i used to get, ive just lost my confidence in going out because im worried i may collapse i,m diabetic also its good to know what type of diabetis you have type 1 or 2 about your weight gain try to avoid weight gain as it will worsen your situation as the havier you become the body needs more insulin ,as for your daily walks continue to do so as it will inhance your physical state but don,t over do it as for eating you should take smaller portions but on a more regular basis this helps me (iam diabetic type 2 ) :thumbs:just to add try to avoid fast sugars (only needed in emergency situations)better to eat foods with lots of fiber and slow carbohydrates for example brown bread, pasta,s excetera Edited August 10, 2008 by hollands hope Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gardener 0 Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 I reckon i need to come off the novorapid, im eating more because its giving me that light headed feel like you get when you are hungry, i guess ive put on weight because im not getting the excercise that i used to get, ive just lost my confidence in going out because im worried i may collapse Sounds like you've got caught in a vicious circle with it all...... Get them to change you off the Novorapid, then you'll find that the lightheaded feeling stops. You'll not get such sudden low blood sugars either which will re-boost your confidence in getting out and about again, which will help the weight come off so you can get shot of the other pills...... And don't think of diabetes as an 'illness' or a 'handicap' - once you get it sorted its a nuisance, but its perfectly livable with without it messing your life up. Good luck with it all, and keep onto them to change you off the Novorapid fast! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
countrymaid 2 Posted August 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 I got hungry once in ASDA and i helped myself to some sandwiches from the fridge, one of the assistance came over and asked me what i was doing i told her i was a diabetic and needed some food quickly!! it was so funny she got me a chair and told me to sit down and eat my sandwich and even asked me if i wanted a drink to go with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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