Accepting diabetes and contentment

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noblehead

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There's no disputing that the main objective of everyone with diabetes is to achieve good bg levels in the hope that it may well prevent or delay the onset of complications, however what is often overlooked and equally as hard to achieve is accepting that you have a life-long condition that will never go away, the initial stages of shock and anger often can lead to denial or partial denial where a person lives with the condition but struggles to come to terms with it. Over the years I have been in and out of both stages of denial and partial denial but believe that the last few years I may have overcome this hurdle and finally accepted my diabetes.

My reasons for believing this may be the case is due to the fact that I no longer deny or hide the fact that I have diabetes, I talk about it openly with family and friends and have even volunteered to take part in Q & A sessions with trainee doctors at the request of my consultant, also joining this forum has played a big part as I have asked for advice in the past and more than happy to pass on my own experiences living with diabetes.

Life is good at the moment and I am thankful that I have a supportive family and my diabetes control is fine, I class myself fortunate that after living with diabetes for 30 years I have no complications apart from previous episodes with diabetic retinopathy which has not troubled me for a good few years now...... how long this continues is any one's guess but I'll do my **** hardest to ensure that this continues.

You may well ask or question why I should write the above, well I thought it was fitting that I should at this time given what I have observed over the last few weeks on this forum which I will now lead onto.

To me if you are happy and content with your control and diet then you are less inclined to jump on others who may do things somewhat differently, over the last week or two I have seen a growing band of people who seem to think that it is fitting to attack those who include carbohydrates as part of a healthy well balanced diet, derogatory terms such as ''Carboholics'' has been used more than once to refer to members who choose to eat some form of carbs in their diet.

Demonising carbs and dictating what members should and shouldn't eat has no place on a forum such as this which attracts a wide diversity of people controlling their diabetes by various methods, thankfully these members who use words like ''Carboholics'' are very few and far between and the majority of members here are more than happy and content to follow a low carb/reduced carb/moderate carb diet without needing to resort to insults or scare tactics concerning carbohydrates.

It is and never has been anyone's business how members control their diabetes, we as members are only here to advise and offer support......nothing more and nothing less, so with this in mind I do hope that the Admin and the Forum Moderators will keep an eye on such tactics and take appropriate action where necessary.

Sorry for the long post but I needed to explain the above and make a few things clear! :)

Nigel
 

Gappy

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I'm keeping out of carb politics but agree with the sentiments of accepting your diabetes. And I like hearing positive stories how you're happy, supported and even giving a bit back too. Whatever it takes for an individual to achieve this contentment is what's right for them & that's all that matters.
 

AndyS

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Hi Nigel,

Nice post, I must agree that I don't understand why people feel the need to pounce on others and start with the mud slinging. But there again some people have got very strong feelings on some subjects. Again I can understand this and accept it.

I think perhaps, looking back at the title and what I just wrote, Acceptance is the key At least that is what I think you wer getting at.
Acceptance of the diagnosis.
Acceptance of the condition
Acceptance of other peoples opinions.

It seems to me that the very first word there is the key to being a little bit happier with ourselves and with what we find ourselves having to live with.

Here is a second to your sentiment.

Good health and happy life to you ;)

/A
 

carty

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Yep!
I like peoples personal stories of what works for them but not the inference that it WILL work for everyone else.
Onwards and upwards :D
CAROL
 

Sid Bonkers

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I became diabetic after long term steroid use so it was easy for me to accept it as I could almost see it coming but the steroids saved my life so swings and roundabouts eh :D I took it very seriously though when I was first diagnosed and changed my eating habits almost immediately thanks in no small part to this forum, and I lost 4 stone and managed to wean myself off steroids and insulin, so yes I have suffered the occasional am I really diabetic but a couple of slices of crusty white bread soon give me the answer if I am in any real doubt :lol:

As for the rest of your post, yes I am in 100% agreement with you and whilst diabetic complications should never be made light of we must keep things in perspective and no one should be allowed to use scare tactics to try to 'sell' a particular diet.

Good post Nigel :D
 

ClaireG 06

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What a great post :D As you say acceptance is the key. Acceptance that we have a long term condition, acceptance that we may need oral meds or insulin to control it and the main one being accepting that everyone is different and we all have different needs and different ways of doing things.
Please be assured that all the mods and admin are keeping a close eye and will and do step in if we feel it is needed. If anyone feels that something needs to be brought to our attention then please PM one of us or press the report a post button (the triangle).
 

WhitbyJet

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I enjoy reading other peoples success stories, find them supportive and inspiring. I am doing low carb, currently 40g per day, I kinda slipped into low carb as I found that it was really the only way that I could achieve good bg control at the level that I wanted it to be.
I do share my experience, but am always stressing that it must be personal choice and people need to carry out their own research and get to know how their body functions by testing and so work out a programme suited to their needs.
I wouldnt dream of forcing anyone to follow suit, I wouldnt dream of being disrespectful to anyone who chooses to do things differently, everyone must find their own way and that they are happy with it. And lets face it, if anyone finds out a little later that the first decision was not quite right after all, things can always be changed by trying something different. We dont buy the first pair of trousers that we see in the store, we try on a few before we eventually settle for one pair that really fits.
Ooops, my husband would beg to differ on that one :lol:
Good luck/health everyone
 

angieG

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sugar2 said:
Great post Nigel...and others above me in the "thread".

I'll second that.
Regards
Angie
 

Osidge

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Many thanks, friends, for your posts. I am sure that those who can follow a low-carb diet and who get benefits from it are on the right path for them. For those of us who cannot, well we need to find what works for us. I have managed to find a diet/medication regime that works for me and that has kept my blood sugars below 6.8 and more often far less, kept my blood pressure and lipids on target and kept me free from complications for over 12 years. That regime has been reviewed over the years but with me having a large input into to that. My medical practitioners are my partners and not my masters. My other partners are those around me and you, dear friends - a source of information and encouragement.
 

ailz

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I agree with the 'great post' verdicts given above.

Being contented with life and accepting what happens to us means that we can live rather than just exist on worry.

Ailz
 

borofergie

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noblehead said:
thankfully these members who use words like ''Carboholics'' are very few and far between

Yes. Well there are four them apparently, including you (five including this post):
search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=Carboholics

One of them was from 2009 (confessing to be a carboholic), and another is saying that non-diabetics that eat too much pasta and pizza are carboholics, which is fair criticism. Hardly an epidemic is it?
 

borofergie

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and on the only other use of the "C" word:

raydavies said:
I know there are carboholics who are prepared to risk high readings, they are, of course perfectly free to go ahead and enjoy! They should, however, be apprised of the risks.

How exactly is that untrue or offensive to anyone?

Surely there are diabetics who eat too many carbs and suffer the consequences? If you want me to I can search this forum and find dozens of examples of people who are struggling with control because they don't want to give up their favorite food.

I'm a carboholic too, I love bread and pasta and rice and sharing large packets of Haribo with my son. I'm on the waggon at the moment ("it's been 4 months since my last donut"), but Carbaholism is only ever just one pack of chocolate Hobnobs away.

mod edit -a bit too 'political' here
 

anna29

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Hi, Please can we all remain friendly and 'accepting' of each members individuality and choices as how to self manage their diets and eating plans regardless of any category. Thanks. Anna.x :D
 

noblehead

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Thanks Anna for that and could I also thank those who replied and endowsed my post both on the thread and via pm! :D

borofergie said:
and on the only other use of the "C" word:

raydavies said:
I know there are carboholics who are prepared to risk high readings, they are, of course perfectly free to go ahead and enjoy! They should, however, be apprised of the risks.

How exactly is that untrue or offensive to anyone?

Surely there are diabetics who eat too many carbs and suffer the consequences? If you want me to I can search this forum and find dozens of examples of people who are struggling with control because they don't want to give up their favorite food.

I'm a carboholic too, I love bread and pasta and rice and sharing large packets of Haribo with my son. I'm on the waggon at the moment ("it's been 4 months since my last donut"), but Carbaholism is only ever just one pack of chocolate Hobnobs away.

I really don't understand all the hidden agendas that lurk behind this forum...

Hi borofergie,

Unfortunately it is impossible to avoid carbs and eat a zero carb diet without falling ill so I assume you do consume some carbs yourself, I appreciate you are quite new to the forum and may not know that we have members here who control their diabetes extremely well or are working to towards this using various methods and quantities of carbs. How many carbs people consume is a individual choice and is based around experience from their bg readings, there is no right or wrong and it doesn't matter if someone is eating 20g a day or 150g, what is important is that they are achieving good bg control and are happy and healthy.......nothing more......nothing less! :)

The ethos of the forum is to support and encourage one-another on this journey called diabetes, the members here are very friendly and sensitive to such emotive language as ''Carboholics'' or the like and I am very surprised it is allowed to stand, also let us not forget that this is a family forum and parents of type 1 children may be deeply upset by such words being used.

Best wishes and take care!

Nigel
 

searley

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I am a member to several specialist forum, mostly related to my trade as a locksmith

It's always the case that there will be a small number that are over opinionated often to the point of getting baned and it a shame because they can offer some excellent advice if they were a little more open to other peoples thoughts

Myself I have not accepted diabetes yet, almost every drug I have tried has come with unbearable side effects, the result is that on Wednesday I stopped my insulin I guess I'm just lucky being in the honeymoon period that my body is still helping me a little - but I guess this is for another post

Good post Nigel, and I'm glad what you are doing is working for you!
 

viviennem

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Good posts all round on this thread!

I too was in denial when first diagnosed Type 2 (Doctor - "You're diabetic". Viv - "No I'm not!"), but I knew, deep down, that even if I wasn't I would be soon, and went straight back on to Atkins, which I know from previous experience works for me. Nevertheless it was 8 months before I let them register me as diabetic.

As you all know, I am a confirmed low-carber, and I like to share my diet because it works for me and, who knows, it may work for someone else too. But I hope I'm not dogmatic about it - I try not to be, and if I get that way, please tell me! After all, I know how angry I get when people tell me I must eat carbs at every meal; and when they tell me I can't eat strawberries and cream :shock:

Thinking about it, I am almost pleased that I have diabetes; in terms of weight loss and general health it has been the kick up the backside that I really needed. I am lazy and self-indulgent, but not to the extent of committing suicide slowly. I'm going to beat this disease, and I'm going to enjoy myself in the process.

It's just a pity that when I finally achieve my ideal weight, my skin won't fit any more :lol:

When it does become my turn to go to the great restaurant in the sky, I want my legs propped up on my death-bed so that I can see that my feet are still on the end of them! :lol:

So yes, I guess I have accepted my diabetes, and I am very content. Doesn't that sound smug? :oops:

Viv 8)
 

noblehead

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Thanks searley and thanks Viv! :)

Nigel
 

Etty

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noblehead said:
Thanks searley and thanks Viv! :)

Nigel
Sorry Nigel, although I can see that after 30 yrs.of experience, acceptance seems right to you, for me trying to keep from being diagnosed, it's the last thing I feel. What I want is hope-- and that means the best information on how to reverse the progress of this rising blood sugar level and instability, and a chance to get back to normal levels.

As for `'carboholic``, I don't mind admitting to the description. I'm a sugar addict and have been all my life. It's because I am one, that I'm in the pickle I'm in, and have to avoid foods that are converted to sugar.
 
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