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The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

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Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#61

Post by mlyle »

Trasmatta wrote: post #23
jimmaswell wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a near future where technology paliates some of the dread of living with T1D I thought pump implants already did that, what's missing?

Pumps aren't implants, you replace them regularly. They are a massive improvement in care for many people, but they do not remove the daily toil of managing diabetes. Personally, I found a CGM to be even more helpful than a pump. Closed loop artificial pancreases are the future, but they will still require a large amount of attention and management by the patient.

Insulins that themselves react to blood sugar levels are another interesting path. Not that they could ever do the entire job, but they could lend some first-order stability.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#62

Post by baseballdork »

Trasmatta wrote: post #21
coldpie wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. 100% dead accurate description. > what if I start to go low during this meeting? should I pop some carbs and run high for this interview, so I don't risk a hypo partway through? Love this part. Had to do it literally yesterday to prep for interviewing a job applicant. Imagine the stress of an upcoming meeting, but also your brain might stop functioning half an hour into it! Ha ha! Good times.

Perhaps the only good thing about T1D is the immediate camaraderie you feel with other T1Ds. When I spot somebody else in public with a CGM or a pump, it's just that instant feeling of "hey, we know nothing about each other, but we have a very intimate understanding of each other's suffering". > Love this part. Had to do it literally yesterday to prep for interviewing a job applicant. Imagine the stress of an upcomin…

I did this applying for an internship at Microsoft. First big company interview for me and I didn't realize they would be taking me to lunch. The interviews after lunch were miserable as I was dangerously high.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#63

Post by csnover »

Trasmatta wrote: post #8

I'm a type 1 diabetic, and this was a helpful post at showing non diabetics why it is so. hard. Non diabetics typically think the difficult thing must be the shots and the finger pricks, right? Not really. The majority of diabetics get used to those things quickly (of course there are some of course that deal with a major major needle phobia that can make it even harder). The hard part is that it never ends. Almost e…

One of the scariest experiences of my life was going on a walk after lunch with someone who had T1D and miscalculated their insulin dose. They went from totally fine, to saying “I don’t feel well, we need to head back”, to sweaty and sheet white and barely conscious within just a few minutes. The terror I felt as we waited for the doors of the lift to open so he could get to his emergency food is burned into my brain.

I’m ashamed that I spent so much of my life ignorantly thinking that diabetes was some nuisance like heartburn where you moderate what you eat and maybe take some medication, rather than the endless grind of counting units and risking your life every time you need to eat, or exercise, or sleep.

I can’t imagine living like that, and I’m so, so sorry to you and to everyone else that has no choice. A cure for cancer is often held up as the holy grail of medicine, but even cancer patients don’t have to be perfect every day just to keep living.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#64

Post by i_cannot_hack »

cadr wrote: post #55
i_cannot_hack wrote: post #51

> A hot bath or shower can raise (then lower) BGL. I suspect the author has come to this conclusion from CGM data, and therefore also that it is wrong (or at least not a very significant effect). I also have T1D, and CGMs like Freestyle Libre (and probably also Dexcom) includes a temperature sensor and adjusts its readings based on the external temperature to increase accuracy. I think the changes in blood sugar leve…

I'm going to guess the G6 does not have that correction, based on every shower every day :)

According to [1] the G6 at least measures skin temperature, but it is unclear if it measures air temperature as well (which the Libre does). I also found a reddit thread [2] that indicates it's quite common to get drastic changes in readings during hot showers with Dexcom (probably G6 version based on the date), so you might be an outlier in that regard.

[1] https://www.diabettech.com/cgm/high-temperatures-extreme-con...

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/dexcom/comments/eyq5h0/hot_and_cold...

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#65

Post by zippergz »

It's not relevant for a toddler, but for future reference, another thing to look into is inhaled insulin (brand name in the US is Afrezza, not sure if it's available elsewhere or under what names). The big benefit is that its onset is very fast and duration very short, so you don't have the inject + wait 20-40 minutes cycle. And if you accidentally take too much, you're not dealing with hours of lows because the duration is short. Most people I know who use it wait until after they've eaten (or maybe in the middle of he meal if it's big/long), based on readings from their CGM. It's not perfect, but it's a good tool to have in the toolbox.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#66

Post by gowld »

csnover wrote: post #63
Trasmatta wrote: post #8

I'm a type 1 diabetic, and this was a helpful post at showing non diabetics why it is so. hard. Non diabetics typically think the difficult thing must be the shots and the finger pricks, right? Not really. The majority of diabetics get used to those things quickly (of course there are some of course that deal with a major major needle phobia that can make it even harder). The hard part is that it never ends. Almost e…

One of the scariest experiences of my life was going on a walk after lunch with someone who had T1D and miscalculated their insulin dose. They went from totally fine, to saying “I don’t feel well, we need to head back”, to sweaty and sheet white and barely conscious within just a few minutes. The terror I felt as we waited for the doors of the lift to open so he could get to his emergency food is burned into my brain…

Now imagine what it's like for someone with T1D to live alone, if you haven't yet been to a funeral for that. Every single time you go to sleep is a roll of the dice.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#67

Post by gowld »

pixl97 wrote: post #59
Trasmatta wrote: post #8

I'm a type 1 diabetic, and this was a helpful post at showing non diabetics why it is so. hard. Non diabetics typically think the difficult thing must be the shots and the finger pricks, right? Not really. The majority of diabetics get used to those things quickly (of course there are some of course that deal with a major major needle phobia that can make it even harder). The hard part is that it never ends. Almost e…

Continuous blood glucose monitor and insulin pump. It's reduce the stress and the nearly dying incidents dramatically. The bigger concern for me in my life now is having a backup carbohydrate supply on me so if I go do something like hiking that I have enough glucose to make it back to the next carbohydrate source. Of course being able to even afford this in the US requires a certain level of privilege. Supplies are…

If you have an insulin pump, can you also have a glucose pump?

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#68

Post by 1123581321 »

Fun read. In addition to a CGM, there are some useful apps to help with some of that math--I use Inpen which also syncs my Novolog pen injections to the app.

Consistent exercise also helps adults make the math consistent, as does diet. Good luck with a toddler or teenager in those areas. :)

A sense of when to preoccupy yourself and when to focus elsewhere can be difficult to develop. Some do not have the personality to accept the lifestyle, and it makes me sad both to see people overthink things to the point of tears and limit their life, as well to see wanton carelessness. But both are understandable because you know a number 20 points off the ideal mark represents potential years of shortened life, which tempts obsessiveness as well as hedonism.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#69

Post by grahar64 »

Trasmatta wrote: post #8

I'm a type 1 diabetic, and this was a helpful post at showing non diabetics why it is so. hard. Non diabetics typically think the difficult thing must be the shots and the finger pricks, right? Not really. The majority of diabetics get used to those things quickly (of course there are some of course that deal with a major major needle phobia that can make it even harder). The hard part is that it never ends. Almost e…

Having an 18 month old means we are in full control of everything he does and eats and doses and even with all that control we see wild swings and weird shit every day. Having all the energy needed to manage T1D and the self control to do it is superhuman. I wrote this post mostly because I didn’t know that before and I want more people to know. You are doing great.

Re: The Unreasonable Math of Type 1 Diabetes

#70

Post by arka2147483647 »

Trasmatta wrote: post #8

I'm a type 1 diabetic, and this was a helpful post at showing non diabetics why it is so. hard. Non diabetics typically think the difficult thing must be the shots and the finger pricks, right? Not really. The majority of diabetics get used to those things quickly (of course there are some of course that deal with a major major needle phobia that can make it even harder). The hard part is that it never ends. Almost e…

I have had Type 1 for 30 years.

To be honest, i don't do the math. I choose the amount of units to inject by feel. I mean, i know by eating a banana, i get something like 20g of carbohydrates, and i should take 3u. But if i feel, that the correct dose is 6 units, then i take that.

I cant really explain it. But i kind of feel the state, where i am going, and can adjust instinctively. Works more often than not. I have never passed out.

Edit:

I measure blood sugar A LOT, though.

Most important things are what i think as the Morning Gate, and the Night Gate.

For Night, must have blood sugar under 10mmol/l. Preferably without pending effects such as food or recent injection. If i get that right, the night blood sugar is steady.

In the morning, must account for the morning blood sugar raise phenomenon.

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