Hi Again
@JShep07, When diagnosed with diabetic in 1966 at age 13 I had needle phobia. The only way I coped for the first few months (admittedly on one injection of insulin , a mixture of soluble and Isophane) was
with an auto-injector device.
Gradually over time I learned to do without the auto-injector.
Later on when I used to help out at
Diabetes Camps for children and teenagers I saw the effect of seeing others giving their own injections had on those fearful of injections. Nothing like a bit of peer group pressure and seeing others coping to encourage bravery!!
I was lucky to have a really good GP who actually diagnosed me and specialist.
Going through the teenage years was and remains the greatest challenge I have faced in my 52 years on insulin. Back then there was only the two insulins, no pens, glucose meters or pumps. And only urine testing for monitoring.
Imagine you are on the ocean, with episodes of big waves when my BSLs would rise and my insulin requirement went up x 2 to x3 times normal for some weeks as growth spurts occurred, followed by the start of hypos and then need to reduce insulin doses quickly as the growth spurt waned and the ocean flattened out. And that went on for years.
Despite all I managed to
use exercise as my way to keep feeling well and motivated. Yes it was a lonely existence as I did not know others with diabetes until much later. There was no internet or mobile phones back then.
By joining Scouts I learned how to sail, hike and canoe. That gave me more scope for exercise and interacting with my peers. To enjoy activities I had to look after my diabetes - it gave me an incentive plus a knee injury in my late teens led to me doing swimming as an exercise.
Loneliness and the striving for independence went hand in hand and I proceeded to indulge in the riskier side of early adulthood by undertaking things like 7 day canoe trips through wilderness country (In Australia). The sort of thing I look back on and would say now: Do not try this!! It did teach me to be prepared and plan for all the possible 'disaster' scenarios!
It was my GP and specialist who were able to talk me out of even more adventurous exploits in the name of common sense!!
University provided companionship and the chance to meet other diabetics. There were the Diabetes Association magazines and advent of glucose meters (and I met the maker of the first such meter for home use at his home and factory in Sydney).
Life seemed to accelerate through University, graduation as a doctor, relationships. marriage, fathering children, employment, yes still lots of exercise and developing hobbies/interests until today happily retired but not due to any diabetes-related issue.
Yes, I have had cataracts treated (I blame diabetes AND the Aussie sun), carpal tunnel releases (tissue builds up and pressures the nerve as it goes through a tunnel in the wrist to the fingers) but no heart, other eye issues or kidney problems. I may be getting some low blood pressure problems related to diabetes but that is still being sorted.
To summarise what has helps keep my diabetes at bay and helped deal with loneliness:
Hobbies and interests: and the
meaningful exercise: canoeing. sailing hiking, gardening now more walking and making and flying kites. You meet people from all walks of life and by walking to the shops, meeting people there, taking pictures of interesting things on the way and even though swimming can be boring I found that my subconscious would go to work and solve some outstanding problems. Meaning gave and gives motivation to keep going with that activity.
Humour and self-humour: these things helped me cope and somehow were applicable to friendship also: Injection time was 'javelin practice", I recall talking with a diabetic mother whose husband and son would bet on what her BSL before dinner would be and the loser did the washing up, - not taking oneself too seriously emanates openness, free thinking (but hopefully not rashness and irresponsibility)!!! Also see cartoon at the end - we have to become less stressed when we make mistakes and by all means learn from them and find some humour in them.
Connections: I read a book called "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell, in which one chapter is devoted to the fact that the difference between two communities in terms of heart problems when all other variables had been excluded was found to be the existence of a higher level of social cohesiveness, social interaction in the more successful community. So friendships, celebrations etc are important. This website is a plus in this way.
I do not claim to have all the answers and I have never felt that I know all there is about diabetes but hope the above provides some food for thought. Best Wishes.
