Just call me Diabeto

I have finished my 2 week course of IVs today. I was booked into the diabetic clinic (which is where the CF and diabetes docs team up basically), due to the high blood sugars. I saw the diabetic doc and nurse and they told me I have Cystic Fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD).

I'm going to try and explain CFRD, I'm very new to it all so I don't know everything about it!
So you have the most commonly known diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is something to do with the body not producing insulin or not enough and is commonly detected in young people, who may be struggling to put on weight. Type 2 is more commonly detected in overweight middle aged people when there isn't enough insulin for the amount they are eating. CFRD, I'm told, is closest in similarity to type 1. With CFRD, we have insulin in our bodies but due to the thicker mucus around our body, the cells (I think) get clogged up and the insulin can't penetrate through.

The risk with CFRD is if it's not controlled, the bugs in our lungs will be living in paradise. Along with the warm, wet conditions in there, they will have all the sugary blood they want and reproduce quicker, causing more infections. Also, as you know I'm forever trying to put on weight; with high blood sugars your body can't absorb all the calories. Once your blood sugars go above the normal range, you will just wee out the rest of the sugar that could help to put on weight. Plus insulin can have a side effect of weight gain :D

So all in all, it's super beneficial that my CFRD has been picked up and I can start daily insulin to manage my sugars. The diabetic nurse then came in with a dummy insulin pen for me to try. Any close family and friends will know how I've struggled with my needle phobia in the past. I let the nurse do it on me first. She squeezed the fat in my stomach and pushed the needle in. It really didn't hurt at all, thank God! Once it came to me doing it I started freaking out. Getting all sweaty and crying and all the old drama I used to get. The nurse, Alex and Charissa, my dietician, were so calm and patient. I literally was shaking but I couldn't believe it when I DID IT! Probably the slowest anyone has ever done it haha, but I did it! :D :D :D So now I just need to get it put on my repeat prescription, pick it up and then I'm on my way.

Al and I love family guy, there's this kid in it called Diabeto and he has diabetes. He cracks me up! I said to Al, just call me Diabeto :'D

I need to let DVLA know that I have CFRD and check my sugars before I drive. 5 and above it fine, but 4 and below is not and I'd need to have a sugary snack or drink before so that I don't have a hypo. A hypo is when your sugars go too low. There's different symptoms, but mine are when I get hot and sweaty, my vision blurs, I can't concentrate, get really hungry and need to sit down. So obviously, it would be unsafe for me to drive when I'm like this. Diabetic people also need some special eye, foot and urine tests once a year to check different things.

Anywho, I'm now off IVs and can't wait to have my energy back! IVs take it out of me and I sleep so much when I'm on them. Got girlie catch ups planned and a cocktail making class :) Also, my weight has finally just scraped into the healthy BMI range by 0.1 hahaa :D

Jo
xo

Hosp and Harrods!

After my follow up for my annual review appointment, I'd planned to go onto IVs for a boost mid November. My chest didn't agree with this plan though, so I went on them a couple of days ago instead. My lovely friend Ashley took me up as I hadn't had much energy the last few days and my husband Alex has been diagnosed with epilepsy so can't drive at the moment. The whole starting IVs ordeal is so much quicker at Frimley than Brompton was, makes for an easier day, especially when all you want to do is snuggle up in bed and sleep! As with any trip that Ashley goes on, it was full of hilarious disasters!!! It was so funny! :'D

While I was there I saw the dietician and gave her my blood sugar results that I'd been doing for the last 2 weeks. I knew they weren't good lol. There's a range which is "normal" to be in before eating and 2 hours post. The most worry was on the 2 hours post as sometimes they were about 16/17, when they should be no higher than 8- I thinkkk...? Anyway, yeah they were too high but I asked if it could be due to my chest getting worse and she said that's a possibility. I'm to carry on testing while I'm on IVs and I need to see the diabetic nurse in a few weeks. They may decide to do what is called a continuous glucose test, which is where they put a device in your stomach- a bit like piercing your ear, they will put it in using a needle of some sort and then it will stay there. I think it's only for a few days but it continuously monitors your sugar levels in your blood and keeps a record of them. Very clever! Then if it concludes that I do have Cystic Fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) I will probably start some insulin. It's all those Angel Delights I've been eating all my life hahahaaa.

So thennnn, the dietician came onto my bone density results. She'd got the detailed report back and, again there is like a normal range etc etc. They test the bone density in your hip and your spine and mine have dropped. It's common in people with CF because of our digestive systems not working properly and with being ill and sometimes not going outside enough due to hosp admissions, being in bed etc, we don't absorb enough vitamin D. You need vitamin D to absorb calcium- something I have more than enough of in my diet! The main way of getting vit D is through the sun, but you can also get some from food or vit D supplements. I've started an extra vit D tablet, which is soooo pretty! Really weird thing to say about a tablet but the colour is just so beautiful. Reminds me of the ocean. Here's a pic- you'll see what I mean!

Another thing I can do to improve my bones is jump 20 times a day. Super strange request but apparently the low bearing pressure will help strengthen my bones more. As we develop our bones mostly through our teenage years, there isn't a huge difference that I can make by doing these things. It's unlikely I will bounce back to the "normal" range. I will probably have osteoporosis in the next few years, but as I said, it's pretty common in CF people. Just have to do all I can to slow it down :)

Sooooo, now I'm on IVs. Had a blood test today, and have another one next week and just have to get these lungs back into gear.

For Ashley's birthday, she was given a gift certificate for cream tea at Harrods and she asked me to join her! I hadn't been to Harrods in at least 10 years. It was amazing- if not exhausting haha. Such a lovely place and all the staff are so friendly. Of course we had a good look through Shoe Haven and tried on things worth more than all the contents of my house put together! The Chritstmas bit was lovely too.

Halloween's been, hoping to be well enough to go to my aunty and uncle's for fireworks evening.

For my doggy clients this year I'm making them little bags of treats to hang on the Christmas tree. My bags came through the post this afternoon!

Finally, hopefully some of you are watching the channel 5 series "Gift of Life" on Weds eves. If it has made you think about becoming a donor, please check this link out where you can sign up. It literally takes TWO minutes! Also, let your family know of your wishes. At the end of the day, they will have the final say.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk

xo