I have had a job interview go very badly after telling the interviewer about having diabetes. It was obvious to me that I was not considered for this job based on my diabetes because she told me so. It would not be ideal for me to have to take a break in the middle of the meal rush (fast food). It was a bad experience that kept me apprehensive about saying anything to employers for a very long time. That is clearly discrimination and I wouldn't expect to ever hear that again, but it left a lasting impression on me. From that moment on, I don't mention my diabetes until I'm already hired, on my first day of work.
Interestingly I recently learned that a non-diabetic that consumes a large amount of carbs, could have a glucose reading of 200 shortly thereafter. Just shows that a working "auto-pilot" can't fly straight line 100% of the time either. So treat those highs, get back into range, and carry on.
I've been open about my diabetes with my co-workers, in part because I'm not the only diabetic in the office and in part because it helps us all be more mindful when we're on the road; instead of simply powering through whatever we're doing and not eating, we take the time now to do that, both to prevent me from going low and to prevent everyone else from going hungry for too long. I'm glad I work with people who are mindful and considerate and understand there are just certain things I have to deal with now.
Your point about mental health is absolutely spot-on. When I was diagnosed I was basically given a libre, some insulin and told "you will have hypos". That's it. It was like being hit with a sledgehammer. The learning curve is more vertical than just steep, and some days it really got to me. Not having the information to understand why I'm high/low, or why my insulin didn't appear to work, how bad is this spike, should I worry about it, or even just "how am I doing?". Since then I've had to learn and learn fast, mostly from the Internet. Thank you for helping with that.
I need to let you know HOW VERY MUCH YOU HAVE HELPED ME during this new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. I am so thankful for your courage to come on here and share your experiences and new products with us. I have learned so much from you. So many of us were handed a prescription (or four or five) and sent home without a clue of what to do or expect next. I was given a prescription for long-acting insulin, Mounjaro, a glucous reader, needles, Verio strips, and lancets (I didn't even know what half of this stuff was) and It was scary! I was never told what I could eat or how many carbs to have in a day - nothing! I didn't even know about titration - which would have been helpful. Thanks to people like you I was able to make it through my first few months as a newly diagnosed T2D - learning more every day because of you all. I wanted to say a heartfelt "THANK YOU!" from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad that I could be of help as you adjust to life with diabetes. You're not alone in this journey, and we're all here to support each other!
I just flew to Chicago from Charlotte for a 10-day business trip. I threw my Mounjaro in a hard case that my swim goggles came in to protect it and then threw it in the fridge when I got to my hotel. I had the pen and my spare CGM in my carry on and TSA didn’t even care. If I had been going somewhere warmer, I would have gotten a case like yours. BTW, I know you both have prescriptions for tirzepatide, but I think it’s technically illegal for Laraine to take Christopher’s Zepbound. I recommend against doing it on camera (even though I would love to see it). Happy cruising! 🚢 😘
I needed this video today. I usually have pretty good control of my diabetes. Today was a big exception. So frustrating with the ups and downs. Some of the spikes felt inexplicable. I like how you call them just data points. Very helpful. It’s nice to hear someone else having to deal with the same problems. Thanks.
I agree with you on the first one about over eating when I go low, especially at night, but the CGM has sure slowed down my extreme lows. I always look forward to watching your videos. I always find great tips and motivation watching them. Thanks
Yeah the opposite of insulin stacking is carb stacking! Betting we are all guilty of eating the kitchen. Worse when glucose is really low, you realize you need to consume carbs but not necessarily the clear thinking at the time as to really how little it takes to bring it up. Been there and done that. Great idea to take your carbs and wait it out out of the kitchen.
Being a type 2 diabetic and finding out what I needed to do was an adventure due to the fact I could most likely have avoided it if I'd been given the correct information 40 years ago. I'm getting a better understanding of type 1 diabetes watching your video's and reading the information related to it. Seems every diabetic regardless of the type has to approach it in different ways. The bad information (medical) I got when I was 30 years old and went from weighing 195 lbs. to 260 lbs. in 6 months was wrong. Cut out the simple carbs and eat low fat and that did help a bit as I dropped to 245 lbs. and then it wouldn't budge; lots of intense exercise was not the answer either. Around 5 years ago I was informed fasting glucose was 186 and to take metformin or figure it out. I figured out that I needed to go low carb and what I can eat by testing a whole lot and my weight is down in short order to 205 lbs. I think the next device for glucose monitoring will be an implant under the surface of the skin, sort of like the implant they invented for obstructive sleep apnea. one will still use a phone app or a device with which you'll be able to get the readings when required. Maybe some day there will be a cure for type 1 by using stem cells; one can only hope.
Usually how I end up sharing that I am diabetic to someone new is they offer me something to eat. I say no thank you, and if they have that look of being upset, that’s when I let them know. I have let all my family and friends know that the info they need to give to an EMT or nurse is in my phone and showed them how to get to it. Thankfully no one has had to do it yet. Thank you for sharing your experience. I know I need to unlearn a couple of those things.
That is all very good advice. I recall a few of those lows where I was sure I was going to die and consumed heaps of fast acting carbs before I tested back in the safe range. I am happy that I now have an insulin pump (Tandem T:Slim X2) with Dexcom G6 CGM and Control IQ. Finger prick tests are still necessary during the first 24 hours to confirm that the readings on my pump are accurate (within the designated tolerance). Once the accuracy is confirmed, sometimes with a couple of manual recalibrations, I have 9 days with no finger pricks until the next sensor change. The Control IQ takes care of high BGLs (that are not excessively out of range) and will provide me with audible warnings and vibrations. With approaching lows, the pump gives similar warnings when I am within 15 minutes of a low BGL and will stop the delivery of insulin when I am approaching a very low BGL (below about 4 mmol or 72 mg/dcL). Before the CGM with pump connection, I was waking up once or twice a night to check my BGL, and in the mornings had all the symptoms of a poor night's sleep. Thanks from Australia for you excellent videos.
Thank you for sharing. I do like how well the Tandem/Dexcom combination works for a lot of people. Nice when it all comes together and makes life better
Thank you for your very helpful insight. I am transplant recipient that became diabetic within the last 7-years. Super rough. Your positive attitude helps greatly.
Happy New Year! my habits, bad-good, some I'm getting over. etc: 1) Thinking that insulin is a drug I shouldn't use too much of. I'm not the type to spend three hours at the Golden Corral Buffet and dosing 50 units of Humalog, but I'm trying to not feel guilty about bolusing for even slightly carby meals. 2) Looking at my phone/Dexcom6 every two seconds. I loved getting the app at first and knowing my blood sugar whenever I wanted, but for a while it became a bad habit, like someone who checks their FB or IG constantly. 3) Feeling like I'm being watched by my HCP. Maybe I'm paranoid! I have Glooko and Podder and am aware that my providers can look at my BG at anytime and it kind of creeps me out. 4) Rage Bolusing. I haven't made much progress with this. I despise having a reading over 130 and @ 140 I'm bolusing every few minutes, even though I know the reading is 15 minutes behind and I don't even know the sugar to insulin ration in my blood. 😣 Thanks for your videos and letting me share Christel! 🙂
Thank you for sharing. You’re not the first I’ve heard mention similar habits. The awesome thing is that you’re aware, which means you can work on trying to adjust the behavior 👏🏽. Happy new year
Ohhhh thank you so much for your point about we are not a pancreas !!! So good to listen it on RU-vid ! I have the impression that i'm not a perfect diabetic because I manage the best I know and sometimes simply it doesn't work for ...who know's in fact?! And there are times if I say for ex sorry I can't do that because I'm not very well and I prefer do other thing it's like " oh you are not on range ? How is possible ? You don't take care of your health?" And i'm like ok get on the flow 365 days / year and some of this days I'm not perfect what do you think it's diabetes ? I don't like this new image about T1 99%time in range I think it's to much pression and sincerely if I have a 240 during 2hours ok I walk or a put some units and that's all it happens it's not fun but I react and that's all. So thanks so much for this so important point. Best regards
Encouraging video. I don’t come out and tell that I am a diabetic. People in the office eventually find out about me because of the alarms on CGM. I don’t come out and tell because for me it leads to lectures, that I don’t need. Been diabetic for 25+ years. Kind of a pet peeve 😮.
I just have some juice and an oat bar everywhere. If I get low during night I drink half a box of juice, not too much just so it starts bringing my glucose up then eat an oat bar , sometimes half. It take longer to oat bar to work but ones it stars working it will keep my glucose up longer than juice. But juice brings it up faster that’s why I start with a juice then a bar. The only thing to remember is to break that bad habit of eating lots none stop. Your body just needs time for your blood to absorb carbs. So even after you ate, as long as you ate the right good just wait don’t big up.
Thanks for helping me realize that I am human. To do my best. I appreciate you and your videos. There are a few things that I am going to discuss with my Endo. I don’t have to do it alone. 😉
You are so wonderful! What a perfect way to look at it, works for me too! I was diagnosed as a Type 1 three years ago, and you're channel and website have taught me and helped me so much through this new addition to my life. Thank you for all you do. I love your energy.
I was diagnosed in 1999 before cgm and all that info online i tried a Pump without cgm and with little support and it became a mental desaster Since i habe Dexcom in 2020 i follow this canal and i love it thank you so much for all the work 🎥 I am Not sure but maybe i am ready to give a modern Pump a try
Another great video. Just a comment on the mental health aspect. Years ago I worked with a fellow who was type 1. He told me he was so tired of the game. He also had a really bizarre hobby. He raised snakes. Poisonous snakes. You could order baby cobras from him. He had others as well. I saw a photo of he and his son holding a 20 foot long cobra. I wonder if he did the snakes as sort of a death wish as a way out of the diabetes routine. Ironically, the only time I knew of him being bitten was by a rattlesnake, not one of the more lethal ones.
Thank you so much for this. I love reading your blog and watching your videos. Yes, we all have a unique journey but we really need to lean on each other for support. I especially love your idea of getting out of the kitchen! 😅
Thank you for this explanation, It has prompted me to see when my humalog should start working. Question, do you know if Ozempic can delay or weaken the humalog?
What is a fast acting basil insulin that you use with your meals and how do I know which one I have. I use humalog Jr actually because the adult strength dropped my blood sugar too much Is that a fast acting basil Give me an idea of the difference between the fast acting with a meal insulin opposed to my extended release insulin I take once in the morning Is there a difference because the ones that I take with food it does take an hour or more to kick in with my meal and I think I would like something that works faster.
This is a good resource to learn more about the different types of insulin and how they work (diabetesstrong.com/insulin-types/). You can talk to your doctor about Fiasp or (if you’re in the US) Afrezza if you want faster rapid-acting insulin
Great information! I am onlyprediabetic right now and trying to control this through a better diet. But sometimes my blood sugar drops rather suddenly. My fix so far has been peanut butter or to drink juice. The peanut butter actually works but is not as fast acting as juice. Juice seems to be fast acting but also very short lived. I am not on any medications to control blood sugar, so how can one stabilize blood sugar? I try to eat 40-60 grams of protein everyday which helps but not entirely.
If your blood sugar is dropping below 70 mg/dl without you taking medication you might want to discuss that with your doctor. It might not mean anything but he/she should know. And you're right, juice is short-lived, whereas something with more fat (peanut butter) will slow down the release of glucose into the bloodstream. I generally like a diet with meals consisting of protein, fat, and carbs, however, you'd have to work with a registered dietitian to get a customized meal plan. Due to your diagnosis, your insurance might pay for that
@@DiabetesStrongSo you think adding carbs to meals helps better with controlling it? I really lowered carbs after my newer diagnosis and haven't been feeling that great.
@@artdogg50 I think it depends on the situation and on the meal composition. Some for example will need a bit more carbs with high protein meals. In my opinion the most important thing is to experiment and find what works best for you
Type One 10:38 Talks has done videos on the different CGM’s. But it wouldn’t hurt to do another. Everyone has different opinions and preferences! Knowledge is power!