CFRD (Cystic fibrosis Related Diabetes)

If suffering from CF wasnt bad enough I also suffer from cystic fibrosis related diabetes.

Its a tricky one as people with normal diabetes are told dont eat this that and the other, whereas people who suffer from CFRD are told to pretty much ignore that.
As we have to basically eat as much as possible to keep weight on my CFRD is basically controlled by Insulin (Novarapid for short term Levermier Long Term) I control it per learning about the foods I eat and what levels of insulin are required with each item of food or meal I eat.

This is time consuming and tricky as it can take a while to learn.

At first I wrote my foods down and what id taken and then if i had to take anymore units to adjust my sugar levels.
Nowadays I can do it from memory but there is still some items I get wrong so constant checking of my sugar level is important for learning and adjusting of units required.

No ones perfect and it can go wrong sometimes. I had a rough period late last year in my life and because of stress and other things my levels went up and down and I found it impossible to control and I admit I may have missed the odd required injection entirely my fault but nothing I didnt learn from

Now though Im back on track and find it okay im still learning after 6 years as I am still eatting new foods and you have to adjust insulin depending on weight (Well I find I have to others may not) and new foods im trying.

In general though i take approx 60-90 units a day of novarapid depending on what and how much i eat and approx 30-34 units of levermier a day


I find that diabetes can be exhausting sometimes especially if I have a good night out drinking (Although I have not done that since March of this year and im noticing the difference) or if im generally exhausted. Then theres the learning curve that comes with exercise.

Exercise and the affects it has on diabetics I have found to have been the hardest thing to learn from. Although I can say that I must be doing well at it as I never had a hypo attack whilst exercising.

Then theres the being poorly with CF side. I always find when im in hospital its extremely hard to control no matter how many units I take and the main reason is simple

IN HOSPITAL DURING IV TREATMENT YOU DO NEXT TO NOTHING for about 10 hours a day you maybe get one hours exercise a day from going gym or for a walk out of hospital.

As a consequence of this so called rest period in hospital diabetes feels like to me like it knows something is going on and just shoots up and trying to bring it down and control it takes will power and a massive boost of self kick up the backside to get up and do stuff.

If you dont get up and move and at least burn some energy in hospital your pay the price for it simple as that.


6 years a sufferer and I can tell you now anyone thats just starting out it takes time and patience to learn but stick with it

Its worth every effort to learn and control it