- Messages
- 284
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Diagnosed type 1 44 years ago. Had undiagnosed epilepsy at the same time that was only discovered 38 years later ( always looked like a hypo seizure ). Because of this I fell on a convector heater aged 18 and had 3rd degree burns which meant being hospitalised for 6 months. Had a miscarriage then a lovely boy when I was 30. Had the inevitable injuries from seizures and stuff, progressed onto thyroid problems too. Then diagnosed with Spondylitis and Dupytrens contracture.Then last year after 3 years of what the medics thought was neuropathy I was given opiates - horrible drugs for me. This year in June I was told I had coeliac disease and that had caused irreversible neuropathy. I’m saying this to help anyone who feels in a corner and lonely. I’ve always made a joke of it all ( ‘you couldn’t make it up could you?! ’ or ‘my records at the doctors are like War and Peace!’ ) but it’s not what we feel. Inside we feel sad, different, alone and hugely resentful. On a good day I’m really resilient but we all have those days where our readings are wrong, we are frightened we’ll be ‘told off’ by the nurse, we’ve eaten everything in the kitchen like Pac Man at 3 am, but still gone to work smiling on a 22 test with a huge headache. Talking helps me a lot. I work in a secondary school and have 4 little diabolical friends at different stages of their journeys. All boys. Two at the refusal stage, one coming out of it and one so new to it he cries when his test goes below 4. I’ve set up a little support group where we share stories and laugh about people trying to give us insulin when we are hypo or saying ‘are you having a funny do?’ ( not that funny ).I’m the school librarian so my secret cupboard doesn’t have books or magazines, just Lucozade, Dextrose, water and some hankies. I’ve not seen it all and I’m lucky to have a lovely supportive family - I just think if we share on here it’s so useful when we are down or just confused. Have a lovely evening, I’m off for a gluten free cracker with some ‘free’ cheese on it 
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I got told off last week as I’m one of the school’s first aiders and was rung to sort a hypo with one of my boys who was doing p.e. My nemesis ( boss ) said I wasn’t the only first aider who could have dealt with him as ‘they all have diabetes training too and you weren’t in the library where you should be.’ The thing is if a student had a nut allergy reaction or asthma attack, obviously I might not be the best gal for the job and another first aider might be,but I’m boringly knowledgable. I got there while he was rambling and looking like Dracula and the p.e staff said ‘well he’s had a glucose tablet but not got better?’ Plus he was circled by a viewing party of 30 sweaty lads all adding their testosterone and bits of knowledge - smelled like a hamsters cage in there. You know how the story ends anyway - all good eventually but he’s mine now, I tell you, all mine!!!!! Cue demonic laughter! I’m overly protective because I was 7 when the p.e teacher told me off for having glucose before the lesson, and 8 when the woman from the local Spar dobbed me in to my Mum for buying 5 sugar shrimps one morning ( that was my post swimming lesson treat endorsed by my Mum but hey, who would know? ). Pass on the message to those who glean their knowledge from the press - no one knows diabetics like diabetics themselves - fact Have a good day people and may your Libre’s be flat lines in the green zone x
On Epilim now. Put 2 stone on, hair fell out then grew back curly but no seizures for 7 years and can drive again 
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