So I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 15 years. I am 19 years old and have been through the 'burn out' stage with my diabetes. However for a few years now I have been wanting to make it better and live a healthy normal life for myself. Right now I just can't seem to push myself further? Once the legs bruise and the fingers don't give me blood, I stop. I try to push myself and it just feels like I cannot. So for about 6 years I've had really bad management and over the last two I've wanted to get better. Are things this way simply because of it being a bad habit to break? Is it more than that? I have had therapy to help me think differently about how I see diabetes and ways to cope but nothing seems to work?
I also have a rubbish team at my hospital, I might as well be alone as that's pretty much how it is anyway.
I've heard 'Try more blood tests' 'See someone about it' 'Tell your DSN' Nothing works and I have no support from my hospital.
I just don't see this ever ending, if it was to get better, it would of even slightly by now?
Hi there
@itsthatbecky
I'm really sorry to hear how you're feeling and how things are going for you; I've been there too - and it really sucks.
I gone through burnout several times over the years then found this forum and also started to read "Dealing with diabetes burnout" by Ginger Viera. The combination of real-life, real-time empathy, understanding, hints and tips, and the solid words of published books have really helped me overcome the obstacles to the emotional and psychological feelings and the small habits that would undermine my attempts at gaining good control.
Go back to basics:
As
@Daibell asks: what are your injection and blood testing techniques like? That can make all the difference between erratic results / insulin performance and stable results / insulin performance. Check out Youtube for videos on correct injection and blood testing techniques - the Yanks love putting them online, but that doesn't make their message any less relevant!
What blood meter do you use? Get something like the Accu-Chek Aviva Expert with its built-in bolus calculator (
https://www.accu-chek.co.uk/gb/products/metersystems/index.html?product=avivaexpert ) to help you minimise bolus errors at mealtimes.
Download the "Carbs & Cals" app and use it in conjuction with your smartphone's built-in calculator to correctly calculate the carbs content of your meals and snacks.
Consider reducing the carb content of your meals so that you can work on getting your insulin to carb ratios right (the more carbs you eat, the more insulin you need - but if your I:C ratio is wrong then the more carbs you eat = bigger dosing errors).
Don't expect or try to achieve massive changes / improvements - that usually results in failure and frustration and the cycle of doom, which is where you're at right now.
Get organised, and aim for small improvements for each period of the day (e.g. night-time, wake-up, mid-morn, etc.) because improvements in one period WILL have a knock on effect upon the following parts of the day - and not all of those knock-ons will be as you may expect / plan / want them to be!
Can you change to another hospital? If so, see your GP and get it done.
How is your family / peer support? Empathetic, understanding and supportive or something else? Even if you are getting excellent support from them in reality they'll never quite 'get it' unless they too 'have it'... as
@himtoo says, keep posting on here and we will do all we can to help you get back on track.
I send you a warm hug and my very best wishes.
Conrad