Type 1 Diabetes

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 9 (I am 19 now) and I know I can't be the only one here with it. I maintain my diabetes with my insulin pump and checking my blood sugar whenever I remember. 

I have some questions about losing weight with this disease. When my blood sugar is high, should I still eat? I never know what to do when my sugar is high cause I dont know if eating will make me feel worse or what. 

Also, how do you prevent from like over eating when your sugar is low? When my sugar is low I get really hungry and eat whatever I can find which usually ends up being peanut butter (eek)

Have you noticed that insulin has caused you to gain weight? My theory is that since my sugar is high a lot that I put insulin which makes me hungry. Am I the only one who thinks this? 

Thanks.  

really no one here has diabetes?

this is incredibly shocking to me.  

I`m sure there are but you do realize sometimes it takes time for someone to notice  your question. then they have to have to reply. It's lenghty questions you are asking. Also some sound elementary enough they may feel they may have to be tactful - surely in 10 years you could have had those questions answered to your satisfaction. Still some people rely on other for the management of their diabetes, Are you one of them - finally deciding YOU want to find out on your own.

 Following sites might be useful

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/

http://www.mendosa.com/genl.htm

http://www.diabetes.ca/

  when I have the time later I`ll try to give you some information I got as to the `why` behind the complications I got from the diabetes self management program my province gives that I attended with my husband who was recently diagnosed as type 2. the theory behind what actually damages the blood vessels that causes complications. (I actually wrote that up to replyed to you last night ,but was so tired and got distracted I shut down the computer before actually posting - probably just as well -may now be trying to explain where I might have not been clear)

The why of diabetes causing death is in its high sugar levels. In long term problems it is because of damage to the capillaries- the smaller they are they more likely the damage. (Blood vessels provide transportation-capillaries are the term for the smallest diameter blood vessels.)  Red blood cells that flow along the blood vessels along with the glucose are what causes the long term damage to the capillaries. Because Red blood cells carry oxygen to cells and remove carbon-dioxide so the cells do not get overloaded, they go all over the body which is why diabetes damage is so wide spread throughout the body. When glucose levels are high, glucose can"stick" to the exterior of red blood cells. The higher the glucose levels, the more glucose floating around in blood vessels that can attach to red cell walls.  This attachment makes the red cells stiffer, harder etc. and more damaging when they hit blood vessel walls (which they do all the time with the heart's pressure moving the blood flow). Over time the capillary walls can get so scarred (narrowed) they slow down or even block passage of red cells. With out red cells,glucose and other materials are blocked from been transported to cells. The cells start to slow in function and may even die (starve). If enough cells die, the organs cannot function well.  The more the damage - the greater the "illness' of the organ- the complications that arise from diabetes. Finally one dies an early death because out of control glucose levels have damaged too many essential organs in the diabetic's body.   this is a simplified explanation.

 there are other things that can happen to make things worse- high blood pressure for example will make the stiff glucose studded red cells hit and damage cell walls more often and harder, than would happen with a normal blood pressure.   There is high cholesterol - cholesterol tends to stick to damaged blood vessel walls-so a combination of high cholesterol and high glucose means damaged walls will get capilleries blocked faster.  There is heavy abdominal fat that seem to stress the function of the pancreas. There is etc, etc.

 

Now a quick going over of the basics.

Diabetes is high levels of glucose in the blood.

The higher the amount of glucose floating around red cells in the bloodstream, the more likely they will attach to a red cell.

The more glucose attached, the "stiffer" and "rougher" the red cell becomes.

This stiffer Red blood cells impact on the blood vessel wall is hard and can cause damage and scaring .

Too many such impacts and all can not be easily repaired

These rough up areas can collect debris and in the smallest capillaries can easily block off trans to cells causing cell death.

Enough cell deaths and the organ cannot function well

 Some organs can not replace the damaged cells(or can not replace them fast enough). Over time the organ (eyes, kidney,etc) "fails".

If enough organs fail the result is early death for the diabetic.

 

 

The "good" thing that researchers have found is if you can keep a good control -the complications will "never" happen to you. ( never means you will die of something else- say babbling on the phone while driving or die of sadness because your husband has divorced you because you're on the net too long !). If you can keep the sugar levels to"normal" it is possible the body may have a chance to heal so some parts of your body will become as functional as they were before getting damaged by the consequences of a high glucose level.

I hope this answers some of your questions.  I did a quick search for this particular explanation and could not find one. I found it VERY useful and informative and so did the other attending the Diabetic awareness and control program.  Having the "mechanics" of the problem explained is great.  All of a sudden eating smaller amounts of foods that raise blood sugars makes sense (you can carefully spread the eating of that delicious slice of cake over 2 days instead of at one sitting - pack the rest of the piece for your diabetic guest to take home!) Eating every 4 to 6 hours to keep sugar levels steady makes sense, especially usful idea if you NEED to modify calories for an high activity lifestyle.  Having A1C test done ever 3 to 4 months makes sense, and if the A1C levels DO NOT match your records of your sugar levels you KNOW something is wrong. Etc.

 

hi !

 So yeah for some reason not tons of people answered. I posted something too and only one person with type 1 Diabetes answered back. I don't why, it is effectively shocking. 

I am 21 and diabetic since I was 4. (and I also eat a lot of peanut butter when I am low)

 Actually, I dont really have answers lol...

 Just want to say that I know what you mean. peanut butter and overeating (because I was scared to hace a hypoglycemia in the middle of the night) got me a little overweight. I think it takes an additional effort with diabetes to lose weight, and most people will tell you to not do it, which is very annoying. (or tell you things you probably already know). 

 I unfortunately think the key is to check your blood sugar ALL THE TIME.  anyways. lets keep in touch.

I posted in the about.com diabetic forum and was told by many people to cut down carbs which doesnt seem too safe to me.
What peanut butter do you eat? I have been eating Jif Creamy since I was a child and am wondering if maybe I am eating too much of it, I add it on a lot of stuff because it seems to stabalize my sugar more then anything.

Lately I have been eating organic peanut butter (only peanuts and salt) or I make my own with bleached salted peanuts... pretty good if like salt ! I try to not eat too much of it in a day, like 1 or 2 tbsp. plus I noticed that it gives me zits ! to avoid... 

but i guess it is still better than chocolate or whatever else. I eat it with honey sometimes or banana. they are made for each other !

 cut down carbs ? they mean bread and flour stuff like pasta and rice ? hummmm...  I dont eat much of that since I am tryingto lose weight but as I said I check my blood level ALL THE TIME, and I have to some in a day,  its impossible to remove it ! I eat lots of grains though, barley instead of rice, polenta and oatmeal, that kind of stuff.. still high in carb but better.

gotta go do some homework. bye bye ttyl

Hi,

 

not only am i a type 1 diabetic but i am also a pumper. go us.

hit me with your q's and i'll see what i can do.

Exercise is gret for high sugars, you may not feel like going for a walk or something (i tend to get tired when i'm high) but you feel heaps better after.

as for cutting down carbs that's something our whole society should think about. it's not a bad idea as they are the main reason for increased BGL. how do you go with counting cardb? i know i can never be bothered counting carbs and calories.

better get back to work.

Hi All

 

Its really great to find other diabetics on a diet.  I have had type 1 diadetes for 20 years now and I'm still not used to it.  I've also got an under active thyroid, and partial Pituitary gland failure which means I have to take hydrocotisone.  Fun fun.  But hey at least I'm here and whats a few pills and needles.  (OK a lot of needles!!!)

I was interested to see what you had all put about binging on hypos.  I used to do exactly the same until I went on a course run by my hospital.  I used to have a mars bar and then several rounds of toast, talk about binge mad.

The course basically showed me how to measure my exact dose against the carbs I was eating so I'm less likely to go low.  It also showed me how to do exact measurements for hypo treatment without giving me a rebound high. 

I have to say it's been invaluable for dieting because I know that if I only eat a salad with tiny amount of carbs (small cob) I can measure it without treating a hypo later. I have had to adjust my background to cope with smaller portions though.

Have to say I was told on no account should I excersise when I have high blood sugars if I have ketones as your body can't cope.  You should wait till you're ketone free before exercising.

I'd love to hear from people who are trying to manage their diabetes with normal life as I often feel I'm completely alone when dieting.  I suppose the up side is that our diets are probably much more nutritionally balanced due to our conditions.

 

Sara