Lost Motivation

meg7024

Member
Messages
24
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm new to this forum! So apologies if I'm just repeating what someone else has said!
I am 20 years old and I have had diabetes type 1 13 years. I'm a exercise addict and I never eat bad foods e.g. chocolate/sweets/crisps etc.
Since the summer, I have noticed how bad my bloods are getting, they are so high constantly or unexpectedly. Most of them is down to stress from assignments, as I am in my final (stressful) year of university. However, I am always correcting even the slightest high, and they will jump up hugely! I know the best advice is to go to the hospital to change doses, but I am so down and unmotivated from it I feel like giving up! I often have days thinking why do I bother. I know this post sounds a tad depressive but I would really appreciate if anyone also faces situations like this. I am so keen to grow up healthy, have a family and continue my ballet dancing (no way can I have bad feet from diabetes!) If anyone has any advice or can simply join me in a rant I would be very grateful.
 

pavlosn

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,705
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi Meg

Welcome to this forum.

It really does not matter if something similar to what you describe has been mentioned on this forum before or not.

I believe it is not uncommon for sufferers with a long term condition such as diabetes to grow tired and demotivated in dealing with it. I believe they even have a name for it "diabetic burnout".

If you do a search on the forum with this title you should find lots to read on it.

I am not t1 and I am not on insulin so I can not advise on the issue of adjusting your doses. Hopefully someone will come along soon who is and who can. It does sound like a sensible suggestion though.

You are correct that stress will cause our levels to become elevated and yes final year at University can be stressful. Perhaps you can work on reducing this stress by adopting a more methodical approach to your studies.

To be honest, reading through your post you do not sound like a person who lacks motivation. You sound more like someone feeling the pressure a bit, feeling frustrated and wanting to let off some steam. Which is all fair enough and perfectly good. Rant away if it helps.

You also sound like a person with a clear vision of what she would like her future to hold.

It sounds like you have a lot going for you, you are young, at university, a ballet dancer.

It really would be a shame if you somehow allowed diabetes to steal all that away from you and rob you of the bright future you are dreaming of.

So do not let your guard down!

Seek as much help as you need, whether from this forum or through formal counseling (the University must have some such facility or you could be referred to someone by your doctors) if you think necessary.

Whatever you do, do not give up! Do not give in to Diabetes!

It really would be a shame!

All the best

Pavlos
 
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jack412

Expert
Messages
5,618
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
HI..at !:15..are you in the uk or using mm numbers...ike fasting 4-7mm?
.most would suggest your get back to basics and do a basal test http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120 and then work out your I:C ratio and correction dose again

are you having a bit of burn-out?
http://www.diabetesexplained.com/diabetic-burnout.html

There is an online course for background and an idea to it. Free to register
http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/

This set of workbooks are worth reading and practising working examples of carbs and doses and corrections. Don't change dose without nurse approval

Workbook 1
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9225 Carbohydrate Counting.pdf

Workbook 2
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9226 Carbohydrate Counting the Next Steps.pdf

Carb list
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9227 Carbohydrate Tables A6.pdf

Diary
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9228 Free Diary Portrait A4.pdf

Basal testing
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120

Sick day rules
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=141
http://www.diabetes-healthnet.ac.uk...flet_-_Sick_Day_Rules_for_Type_1_-_Nov_13.pdf

Sick day rules flowchart
http://www.leicestershirediabetes.org.uk/uploads//documents/Type1 Sick_day_rules_InsulinV3.pdf

A workbook with USA numbers and math rules, but it has a good trouble shoot at the end
http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/download/insulin_adjustment_workbook_complete.pdf
 

Mike d

Expert
Messages
7,997
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
idiots who will not learn
I'm new to this forum! So apologies if I'm just repeating what someone else has said!
I am 20 years old and I have had diabetes type 1 13 years. I'm a exercise addict and I never eat bad foods e.g. chocolate/sweets/crisps etc.
Since the summer, I have noticed how bad my bloods are getting, they are so high constantly or unexpectedly. Most of them is down to stress from assignments, as I am in my final (stressful) year of university. However, I am always correcting even the slightest high, and they will jump up hugely! I know the best advice is to go to the hospital to change doses, but I am so down and unmotivated from it I feel like giving up! I often have days thinking why do I bother. I know this post sounds a tad depressive but I would really appreciate if anyone also faces situations like this. I am so keen to grow up healthy, have a family and continue my ballet dancing (no way can I have bad feet from diabetes!) If anyone has any advice or can simply join me in a rant I would be very grateful.

Cannot add too much of substance to what Pavlos has written.

Rant away as you need to release it and NO-ONE here will condemn you for it. You're entitled to that and maybe much more. This is as much a forum to let go as it is to confide in others who may help you with guidance with years of experience beyond yours. Learn from that ... please :) It will help, trust me.

I had NO idea what to expect when I was first diagnosed in June 14 and without this forum, I still wouldn't. One goal at a time, one foot in front of the other and one persistent attitude works wonders. Set yourself targets that you feel you can achieve and don't resile from it.

Bit by little bit, you CAN do it. .......

My best

Mike
 

Nyxks

Well-Known Member
Messages
292
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Discrimination based on gender, age, medical conditions, etc.
You thought about getting a CGM (Continus glucose monitoring system) and or Pump? sounds like for how active you are that both would be ideal for keeping your levels in range for the active lifestyle you live ... I know mydoc and i have talked about it, but getting it approved is a real bug (as in because i'm managing to control it with daily injections the pump isn't seen as necessary)
 

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Disrespectful people
Welcome to the forum Meg.

You can bolus for stressful situations that result in high bg levels, often by taking pre-emptive steps beforehand, Gary Scheiner discusses this in his book Think Like a Pancreas, however given how you feel emotionally at this present time I would have a chat with your diabetes team and seek their advice.

Good luck with your studies and hope you get the grades you were looking for.
 

hannahlou

Member
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi Meg.

I'd give your diabetic team a shout and have a chat with a nurse sometimes a fresh pair of eyes helps when you have been doing battle with making adjustments... Even when you are competent at it.

I love the term 'diabetic fatigue' I think we all have phases where we get fed up with the daily balancing act.

Good luck with uni, I'm sure stress isn't helping I think it's one of the hardest factors effecting blood sugar to control x