Emotional Stress And Diabetes

[banana2000]

Morning @banana2000 - I’m an old fart too, diagnosed 20 years ago at the age of 24, when I was studying for my PhD. I don’t know any T1s in the wild, so really rely on my online support network.

Stabilising your levels will really help your mental wellbeing, but I don’t think I’m telling you anything you don’t already know there. What testing and insulin regime are you on?

I test about 4-6 times a day and use carbohydrate counting ratios to calculate my insulin, the ratios can change and it can be difficult to find a happy medium. Sometimes I feel that I am completely lost when trying to change a ratio as my blood sugars go up and down like a yo yo

 

[Juicyj]

Hi @banana2000 What bg meter are you using, I found using the Abbott Freestyle Insulinx brilliant, as I could pre-set this with my ratios which made calculations much easier, generally ratios shouldn't change much day to day, however they are affected by hormones, heat, exercise, stress, so you need to be aware and ok to adjust when and where possible.

 

[kitedoc]

All the advice given here is good but I suspect it is mainly from older people who are talking about their struggles 30 plus years ago. It reminds me of trying to give advice to the younger generation now about (non diabetes) issues we faced years and years ago, it is a whole different society and a generational difference. Although diabetes remains the same of course, the way young people socialise now is massively different and it feels to me like Banana may benefit from those around her age in very similar situations. There seems to be such a lack of support (other than this site) and I'm not sure if that is because there are fewer type 1's out there or there is a lack of will. Banana, I cannot help you but I wonder if you could ask to be put in touch with other teenagers at Uni (yours or others) with type 1? It seems as if you feel isolated and this in turn causes a vicious circle with diabetes all mixed up in the middle of it. You are NOT a freak, there must be many individuals coping with all sorts of conditions whilst at Uni maybe all of them hiding away and suffering. Is it possible you could strive to get a group going? x

Just to remind you @KK123, that things were tougher diabetes-wise back then in terms of monitoring, choice of insulins etc and rites of passage as a teenager for example have not really changed that much. And how would you know what it is like 30 years ago to be able to compare to today? Let us agree that yes support groups are important in any 'age', were available 30 years ago albeit with a less sophisticated network/communication system and are just as important today and that peer group support is vital. But those that are relatively older have the experience of being able to say that diabetes, T1D-wise, is survivable and I am darned glad I made sure I obtained a good normal age retirement plan early on 30 + years ago.

 

[kitedoc]

I test about 4-6 times a day and use carbohydrate counting ratios to calculate my insulin, the ratios can change and it can be difficult to find a happy medium. Sometimes I feel that I am completely lost when trying to change a ratio as my blood sugars go up and down like a yo yo

An insulin pump might make the whole process easier if you are looking for something to try and can meet the eligibility criteria.

 

[KK123]

Just to remind you @KK123, that things were tougher diabetes-wise back then in terms of monitoring, choice of insulins etc and rites of passage as a teenager for example have not really changed that much. And how would you know what it is like 30 years ago to be able to compare to today? Let us agree that yes support groups are important in any 'age', were available 30 years ago albeit with a less sophisticated network/communication system and are just as important today and that peer group support is vital. But those that are relatively older have the experience of being able to say that diabetes, T1D-wise, is survivable and I am darned glad I made sure I obtained a good normal age retirement plan early on 30 + years ago.

I think I'm entitled to give my opinion the same as you are. My Mother was a chronic type 1 diabetic 50 years ago and we grew up looking after her and helping her cope with things such as choice of insulins and boiling needles etc, I most definitely do not need reminding of what a horrible condition it is, our entire lives were centred around my Mum and her many hospital admissions and this was the case for over 50 years. Granted I didn't have diabetes as a child but my actual point was that any of us born back then (socially) had different things to cope with from that perspective so my response to the poster was to emphasise that it could be just as much to do with coping socially as having diabetes. Simply an alternative viewpoint and I do hope those of us who haven't had to cope with diabetes for 30 years or more as you have would still be allowed to opine without criticism. Anyway my response was to Banana who seemed to appreciate it.

 

[kitedoc]

I think I'm entitled to give my opinion the same as you are. My Mother was a chronic type 1 diabetic 50 years ago and we grew up looking after her and helping her cope with things such as choice of insulins and boiling needles etc, I most definitely do not need reminding of what a horrible condition it is, our entire lives were centred around my Mum and her many hospital admissions and this was the case for over 50 years. Granted I didn't have diabetes as a child but my actual point was that any of us born back then (socially) had different things to cope with from that perspective so my response to the poster was to emphasise that it could be just as much to do with coping socially as having diabetes. Simply an alternative viewpoint and I do hope those of us who haven't had to cope with diabetes for 30 years or more as you have would still be allowed to opine without criticism. Anyway my response was to Banana who seemed to appreciate it.

 

[kitedoc]

@KK123, Yes we are entitled to your own opinions based on experience. Experience being the key word. And i appreciate your knowledge and experience in helping your mother.
I did acknowledge your idea that peer groups were a good idea. But it is tad troubling to suggest that older TIDs do not know what they are talking about re: social issues.

 

[KK123]

@KK123, Yes we are entitled to your own opinions based on experience. Experience being the key word. And i appreciate your knowledge and experience in helping your mother.
I did acknowledge your idea that peer groups were a good idea. But it is tad troubling to suggest that older TIDs do not know what they are talking about re: social issues.

Kitedoc, I did no such thing. Of course older people know what they are talking about re social issues, I am one myself and could probably bore you to death about growing up in the 60's. What I am saying is that there is no way YOU or any other 60 year old could know about what a current teenage type 1 is going through socially NOW because socially, times have changed. Surely that is the same logic you applied when you said how would I know what it was like 30 years ago for a diabetic to be able to compare it to today (diabetes wise). Well of course I couldn't because I wasn't a diabetic back then the same as you are not a teenager now.

 

[kitedoc]

Hi @KK123, Many of us have had children, nieces, nephews, and maybe grandchildren going through these times.
Some of us have been involved in occupations where we have helped young persons in recent times, diabetics and otherwise.