Questions About Type 1 Diabetes
Hey everyone.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes three weeks ago and I have been getting more and more used to the multiple insulin shots a day and checking my glucose levels constantly. Finally my levels have evened out for the most part, but I just have some questions about the lifestyle changes that come with this disease.
When you go out to restaurants or to someone’s house to eat, when do you give yourself the insulin shot? Do you leave to go to the restroom discretely or do you do it in public? Also at restaurants, do you always ask for a nutrition facts list or do you just estimate the amount of carbs in your meal on your own?
One thing I’ve noticed is that when I don’t eat for about three or so hours, my glucose gets very low, about 60 or so. Then I must give myself sugar to get it back up. Are these low glucose levels characteristic of diabetics when they don’t eat because of the long-acting insulin that works throughout the entire day?
And one last thing, I will be moving in to college next week and inevitably there will be drinking. I have not drank since the diagnosis because I do not know how alcohol affects glucose levels. Can anyone explain alcohol’s affects on diabetics? How have you dealt with drinking alcohol as a Type 1 diabetic?
All answers are much appreciated… thank you! =)
I talked to one of the nurses today and she lowered the dosage of my long-acting insulin… so I’ll see how that goes.
Tagged with: Discretely • Insulin Shot • Type Diabetes
Filed under: Diabetes
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I don’t have diabetes myself, but my 3 year old is a type one diabetic, diagnosed about 8 months ago.
I know getting the shots in public feels a little strange at first, but with my daughter I just give them to her anywhere. It’s kind of a pain to drag her off to the bathroom every time we’re out and she needs a shot, and it’s not very sanitary either.
I’ve heard another person in this forum say one time that she just gives herself a shot in her thigh right through her jeans when she’s out.
I think it just gets easier as time goes on. Until then just do whatever feels most comfortable to you.
Yes, what makes you go low when you’re a type 1 is the insulin you inject. But only 3 hours after you eat could be the fast acting … I know my daughter’s Humalog peaks at 2 hours but still works for 4. Maybe you’re getting a little bit too much fast acting at meals … ? I don’t think you should be going low all the time. That’s something you should talk to your endocrinologist about.
The drinking … well, my 3 year old doesn’t drink of course
so I can’t help you there. But I will star your question so hopefully someone will show up with an answer for you.
Your answers are pretty much right on. Sounds like you’ve been doing your homework.
When to give yourself the shot is up to you. Some people are frightened, even sickened at the sight of a needle, so you need to be kind to them. Take your shots in the restroom.
You need to be VERY aware of the carbohydrates, so yes, ask for the nutrition guid. Read them well — if you’re ever stuck someplace where they don’ have one, you can use your experience with food from other places to make a “best estimate” for your meal.
The low glucose is caused by either too much insulin or too little carbs. if you’re watching your diet correctly, then your doctor needs to adjust your insulin dosages. Tell you doctor about these NOW.
Are you keeping a log book? The doctor or pharmacist can supply you with a log book to keep your readings and keep a diary of what food you are eating. Your doctor can use this to control your insulin to prevent the low blood dugar attacks (HYPOGLYCEMIA).
As for alcohol — that’s now out of your diet. First off, alcohol is a carbohydrate, but it has no useful purpose. It is just useless calories that you don’t need.
Second, alcohol in the blood can affect the interaction between sugar and insulin. Depending on the person, you could have extremely HIGH blood sugars or extremely LOW blood sugars — both of which are dangerous.
Alcohol could also interact if you are taking any other medications — like Byetta.
So YOU will have to understand that you will be unable to drink alcohol. As you get older and your skills increases that my change, but for the time being you need to stay away from alcohol at all costs.
Your friends need to understand that you have a disease that is LIFE THREATENING. if you do not follow your doctors ordes you will shorten your ife by as much as 20 years. It is not a pleasant thought to think that you migh die at 50, or worse yet that 25 is “middle aged”. but this does not need to happen IF you follow the doctors orders.
So the doctor MUSTcome first, and you must not give in to peer pressure. If you friends tease you and call you a sisy becaus you can’t eat and drink like thy do — well, you need some new friends who really wan you to be around for a LONG time — and THAT means following doctors orders, watchg the diet, and staying away from alcohol.
I would advise you to get the CalorieKing book.(also can go to calorieking.com) It lists carbs for most restaurants and foods.It is a lifesaver. Another tip I recently received was to get a frio I just googled it to order one. It is an insulated pouch to carry your insulin. You only have to soak it in cold water for 10 min. & it stays cool enough for insulin for 45 hours! No more dragging coolers everywhere! Just soak it again to reactivate.
Welcome to the club! : )
I’m very open about my diabetes, so I don’t worry too much about people looking at me while I give myself a shot in public, but I try to be discreet when possible and shield the needle from open view. I do it under the table or against the booth wall. If I’m at a friend’s house, I often duck into the bathroom. Now I’m on a pump, so I just pump openly wherever I am.
If you’re going low after 3 hours after you eat, you might still have some residual insulin that is still working in your system, or it could be your long-acting. Best to work with a diabetes educator on this to identify the patterns and make some adjustments…they are wonderful and much more informed than the docs are!
Alcohol can be used in moderation if you’re very careful, it will take some experimentation to see what works for you. First you need to dose yourself for any carb in the drink, but be aware that the alcohol makes your BG’s drop a few hours after drinking. What works for me is to have a fatty snack like a few chips or some nuts a couple of hours after eating to help offset the drop later. The fat will help extend the carb absorption to coincide with the alcohol kicking in. My favorite is Mike’s Light Hard Cranberry Lemonade – only 6g carb on the light version. But just one or two at the very most, you need to keep your wits about you in case you go too low or too high. You won’t be able to get drunk, just accept that and enjoy life.
I take my shot right at the table. I don’t know if Monica was referring to me or someone else, but I am one that shoots right through my jeans. I typically only use my thighs for shots when I eat at a restuarant, or if I have to correct a high blood sugar number while I’m out in public. When I was first diagnosed I would run to the restroom and take my shot, then after 2 or 3 times of eating out as a diabetic I said ***** it, I’m taking my shot at the table. I do try and hide it a little though when I shoot at the table. I’ll use my inner thighs or the outer thigh thats facing the wall (if I’m sitting in a booth) or if I’m at a regular table I’ll use the outer thigh thats facing the person that I went to the restuarant with. I also think it helps that I have an insulin pen instead of the vial and syringe because I don’t think the pen is as obvious. I don’t ask for nutrition facts because when I was first diagnosed I was given a bunch of “cheat sheets” that I used. I was also given a little book that has a bunch of nutrition facts for foods at several different restuarants. I guess it helps that I’m a picky eater (been all my life), which means I get the same thing a restuarant depending on what restuarant it is, so I pretty much got the facts memorized for the few restuarants I’ll eat at.
You should talk to your doctor about this. Like some have already said, you might be on a little too much fast acting insulin, or even a little too much long acting. Either way, I think you’re on too much of one or both of your insulins.
From what I’ve heard diabetics can drink in moderation. I wouldn’t reccomend drinking enough to get drunk though. (dingding explained it well). The symptoms for lows can often be the same as being drunk, which can be dangerous. You and your friends might just think you’re drunk when you actually have a low blood sugar.