[NinaHyena]

Hey there, I'm...well, you can call me Nina, although that's nowhere near my real name, it'll do. I'm nineteen, almost twenty, and I've had diabeties for...um, since I was fourteen, so nearly six years now, which sucks. It's Type One, if that's the one where you have to inject at least twice a day and eat carbs to stop yourself from dying. I'm still skinny...I suppose. I've got a bunch of other psychological and behavioural probelms, too, but I'm not gonna go into that here.

Long and short, I'm a person who doesn't like having to stick needles into her skin twice a day, never mind the fourshots they keep trying to put her on, and has a deep and lasting dislike for this condition which will stay for all of her life. Is also pretty straight-forward, blunt and lacking in tact, so if I'm ever accidently rude please point it out so I can learn from my mistakes.

Ummm...anything else?

 

[rubystar2]

Hello, Nina. Welcome to this forum. I'm glad you decided to join us. I am a type 2 diabetic diagnosed in March of 2007. I take or oral medication but I also inject Byetta, which is not an insulin but still an injectible. Yeah, it's inconvenient but if it keeps us alive and healthy, wht the heck. Do you test your blood sugars regularly? If so, what are you numbers like. Anyway, welcome to our group, again. Hang in there, maybe someday there will be a cure so you won't have to inject anymore.

 

[NinaHyena]

Yup, here's hoping. I test my bloods about half a dozen times a day on average, and rarely have any extreme hypos or stupidly-highs, say seventeen or more. Yesterday I had a mild hypo at 2.6, but that's the first one I've had for the last couple of months. Oh, and had a bad one on christmas morning, which was only because I didn't eat enough breakfast, thinking I could last until the big family lunch.

 

[Richard157]

Hello Nina, it is nice meeting you! I have many diabetic friends from the UK on several different sites. I live in New York and I have had type 1 for 63 years. I was diagnosed in 1945 when I was 6. With good control we have a good chance of leading a long, healthy life. I am living proof of that. That is possible with careful control. We need a low A1c , the lower the better. An A1c below 6.0 is a nondiabetic level. Mine has been at that level for several years. that is why I am alive and healthy. Ask all the questions you want, we are here to help.

Richard

 

[Lloyd]

Insulin pumps have become more available in the UK than they used to be. Have you considered a pump? I don't like needles, once every 3 days on a pump is not hard to take.
My results have been fabulous too!

-Lloyd

 

[NinaHyena]

Yes, insulin pumps are more available, but to the best of my knowledge they are not yet available with the NHS - the UK National Health Sevice which I depend on since I doubt I could afford anything but the free care they provide in my current finacial condition. However I will ask my specialist next time I see him to make sure. Thanks for the advice!