Meeting other people with type 1

[Levy]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum (nice to meet you all!) but I'm definitely not new to having diabetes. I've been diagnosed with type 1 8 years ago, I was 14 at the time. Back then, I didn't fully realise what having diabetes really meant, and I have to admit that my mum was a lot more upset about it at the time than I was. Over the years I have come to realise how serious it really is, and I've been having a really hard time coping with it recently.

In fact, I don't think I have ever really accepted it. I found out that I am more often than not trying to live my life as it was before, not having to worry about testing bloodglucose or taking insuline. I don't do this consciously, and I have been trying to take charge and get everything under control better many times before. Somehow, I just always seem to end up like this in the end.

I finally took steps this morning to admitting all of this to my doctor, and she will be setting up an appointment with a psychologist for me soon. Something I hope will be making a big difference in accepting that I am a diabetic and getting a bit more of a positive view on it all.

I have never known anybody else with type 1 diabetes, so I have never really had anyone to talk about it with. I'm not sure if this is the right place, or if anyone of you know a place where I could meet (and hopefully make friends with) other people with diabetes? I think it would help me a lot!

 

[shedges]

Hi Levy,

This is a great virtual place to meet people and talk about diabetes.

Are you looking for a more physical meeting? Where do you live? I'm sure there'll be some other T1's near you... you just have to look around. Does your care team have details of any diabetes support groups, etc, in your area?

Sam.

 

[Levy]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your reply! I will definitely ask about the support groups next time I go to hospital, never actually thought about that before but it sounds like a good idea!

I would be interested in both virtual and physical meetings. Maybe more physical though, also because I'm still quite new to England. I moved over here a few months ago from the Netherlands where I'm originally from, so meeting some new friends that I could hang out with as well would definitely be a plus! I'm from the Leeds-Bradford area.

Ilse.

Edit:
Anybody interested in meeting up please pm the member your details........
Do not post personal details on the board. We would have to remove them. Forum Policy.

cugila
Forum Monitor

 

[noblehead]

Hi Levy,

In your own time why don't you ask your diabetes nurse to enroll you onto a carb counting course such as DAFNE, here you will meet other type 1's in a group of 6-9 people where you can chat and share experiences of living with diabetes. These courses are a godsend in controlling and managing diabetes and a ideal oppertunity to form strong friendships with other patients should you wish.

Nigel

 

[Levy]

Hi Nigel,

Thanks so much I will start looking into that straight away! I never knew any of these things even existed. Should have done my homework better it seems!

Ilse.

 

[Matthew1990]

Im new to type 1 diabetes aswell, welcome to add me my friend on facebook etc or whatever

Be glad to find someone around my age that we can chat about diabetes and get through it together

Im 20 btw - Matthew Edwards

 

[kareeta]

Hi Levy

Have pm'd you - I'm from the same area and too would welcome a meet with people who can actually understand what I'm banging on about :mrgreen:

 

[Levy]

That's great! Looking forward to it :mrgreen:

 

[head323]

i new to this forum . i hve diabetes for 23 yrs now and i in my early twenties and i hve serious probs ahead .

my hab1c is high my bp is high . i feel like i the onlynone in the world who hve this . i feel so alone docs nurses r great help but tey dont know everything i know bit more then they do cause i live with it docs dont tey just there to help me .

i hate injecting meslef 4 times a day hate taking extroxin tablets for thyroid glands . i feel so alone its getting me down most of the time .

does anyone feel like this or am i going through a bad patch in my life

 

[kareeta]

Hi Head323

Sorry to hear you are not doing so well. I can assure you it does get better and more manageable but yes it can get the best of us down at times.

Have a word with your Diabetes Specialist Nurse, they can be more helpful than just seeing your GP, who usually knows the bare minimum about living with Type 1 (imo)

You will find this forum is a godsend for when you are feeling alone, especially if you have no-one at home who understands what you are going through.

Take Care
Karen

 

[unicorn]

You don't know how much reassurance these posts have given me! I am in the process of starting a 'buddy' group (don't you just hate the term support group? yuk!) for some students with T1DM - I wondered if it was a lost cause but knowing that some feel 'physical' meetings with people in the same boat would be useful gives me the energy to continue - wish me luck!

 

[Levy]

Hi Unicorn,

Best of luck with your buddy group I really wish I had something like that around here! I'm sure everything will work out just fine

 

[ewan]

Levey,

You defo have one posative, living in that area, i used to live in menston, fab area!!!!! if you get no luck with support group, you could start one, an advert in the local paper and a poster or two in your local DB centre and uni

I've started many clubs that way, (though not DB related).

good luck

 

[squishee]

Does anybody know of, or would anyone be interested in starting, a buddy group type thing in the Bristol area??

 

[levana]

Hi Head323, and Levy too

I wanted to say to Head323 that your unhappy feeling could also have something to do with your thyroid gland. It is worth asking your physicians about it, at least. It could be related.

Levy, I hope you will find some friends with type 1 diabetes soon. From my experience, it can be very encouraging. Yet, you should perhaps take into account that different people experience different levels of difficulty with their diabetes. I used to get frustrated by the feeling everyone have easier time than I do controlling their diabetes. People who conduct a more regular way of life probably have it easier. Also, many people have the tendency to show out only their successes rather than failures, so this should be taken into account as well.

 

[unicorn]

An update on the buddy group - 40 invitations sent out - 8 people came - is this good? I was disappointed but then realised some folk just aren't into this sort of thing. But some had text me to say they would definitely come and then didn't- why would they do that? I didn't set an agenda hoping conversation would just happen - it was really quite strained. I have 2 reasons why that should be - firstly - no agenda so no guidance and secondly this is a group of students and I am old enough to be their mum - older infact so perhaps I should have left them to it- what do you think? I am not going to stop tho- i still believe this is a good idea but need a bit of help please!

 

[ewan]

Not bad for a first group, especialy getting young people, keep going and well done.

As you organised it, they will be looking to you for some structure to the group? could ask people to introduce themselves and perhaps tell their story then be blatant and ask people what they hope to get from such a group.

could then ask about problems etc.

I think you did well, i would keep going/advertise and give it a good number of meets, is it once a month?

you know there was a lot more people interested