You may feel overwhelmed by all the new skills to pick up. Focus on these few basic skills in your first weeks after learning of your diagnosis.
Like learning something new for the first time, you may not get everything right initially. That is OK. Give yourself time and space to learn to learn. You will get better with practice.
1. Knowing and using your insulins
Because your body is not able to produce its own insulin, insulin needs to be replaced through the use of injections. You will be prescribed with 2 types of insulin:
- Basal insulin, which is a long-acting insulin given once to twice a day
- Quick-acting insulin to be given before each meal
It may seem awkward, difficult, or even terrifying to give yourself an injection. Click here for a practical guide on how to inject insulin & our tips for a less painful injection.
2. Tracking your blood sugars
Checking your blood sugar levels allows you to know your body better, and also enables your healthcare team to help you more effectively. It will take some time for your blood sugar levels to get under control, so do not be discouraged initially.
Learn how to perform finger-prick glucose checks or use a flash glucose monitor:
3. Dealing with hypoglycemia
Your blood sugar may drop to <4 mmol/L due to an imbalance between your insulin dose and what you have eaten, or due to other factors like exercise. Know what to do to when your blood glucose is low with this quick reference: Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).
4. What to Eat
Step 1: Healthy eating and minimizing sugar intake
The first steps you can take are to focus on healthy eating and minimizing sugar intake. This means avoiding simple sugars such as sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets. This will help you reduce large spikes in blood sugar levels.
Step 2: Recognizing carbohydrates and practicing portion control
As you monitor your blood sugar levels, you may begin to notice that the more carbohydrates you consume, the higher the blood sugar will rise. Carbohydrates include starchy food like rice, noodles, root vegetables like potato, and sugary food or drinks.
You may also observe blood sugar levels plunging to hypoglycemia levels (<4 mmol/L) after giving meal-time insulin if you eat too little carbohydrates. Therefore, recognizing carbohydrates and practicing portion control can help you keep your blood sugar levels within target range.
If you would like to learn more about carbohydrates and food label reading, you may visit Diabetes and Food.
Step 3: Carbohydrate counting
As you progress in your learning journey, speak to your healthcare team on learning carbohydrate counting, and giving the right amount of meal-time insulin for your meals. This will help you eat a variety of foods more confidently. A dietitian can guide you and help you learn at your pace.