What do you least like about diabetes?

[nosqey]

Hi everyone,I was diagnosed July 2011 type 2 3x500mg metfartin sr,10mg simvastatin,20mg citralopam.
As well as having type 2 i also have depression anxiety and panic attacks,what i dislike about diabetes is the unpredictability of it.
I go to bed and my blood sugars are lower than what they are when i wake up.Having to go for regular checkups,feeling like **** sometimes but not all the time,how this is going to affect my health further down the road i'm a bit of a loner and don't want to be dependent on anyone.When i was first diagnosed i was prescribed medication given a load of leaflets and left alone to get on with it.After a few months of stress trying to cope with it (every time i had high blood sugars i'd have a panic attack) i decided screw it.
I will live my life how i want and not have my body dictate to me plus trying to eat healthy on a low budget is hard,i now try to be wiser about my diet stir frys with chicken or turkey, wholemeal bread and pasta and the odd pie and bag of crisps i have even cut back on lager :-( baby steps i'll get there in the end.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Blokes don't go to the doctor's voluntarily. Any doctor will tell you that. Mostly the reason is because it has some things in common with being in prison. Such as you get told what to do all the time and once you are in you are unlikely to be released.

My HCP's were delighted that they captured me by a ruse. I went in for a flu jab, they said that if I came back in a month I could have a jab which would help in preventing lung problems later. In I went, had the jab and a smiling nurse said, "Would you let me take a blood sample?". Not knowing why I agreed.

Since then I have had my eyes photographed three times, been on a seminar, seen a dietitian (what a joke), seen my nurse every few months, had a blood pressure monitor strapped to me and had three colonoscopies (camera on a stick), taken pills every day, had an anal examination and been cured of Helicobactor Pylori. Apart from that it's been quite boring.

Would be nice if I could see a happy ending where I get signed off. No chance of that I suppose.

 

[robertwt]

HI
There are many aspects of diabetes that can be a pain.

Pains
OK so I have an occasional jab in the finger when I test (OK, once in a blue moon! The pain I mean, not the 6 times a day that I test - I'm a bit obsessional)
Then there's the (slight if any) pain in the arm when I have a blood test (my usual phlebotomist is an angel - it doesn't hurt at all and I get to watch the cannular sliding into the vein - mad as a box of frogs! :crazy: )
What about those crazy injections. They should hurt, in theory. Using a new needle each time limits a painful injection to once a month or longer.
The only 'pain' of injecting is the bonza of a bruise that looks like a love bite from a vacuum cleaner when the needle has hit a capiliary. That is only occasional too.

Tablets.
Two a day (plus 12 others from cancer, and some on-going medical problems.) Only down-side is that Metformin 1000mg tabs are a bit like a hockey puck.

Food
I refuse to give in to a pidgeon hole. I have several (many) others and diabetes is simply more of the same. I eat what I want (vegetarian, though I eat fish - I think the pidgeon hole is Piscatorian & teetotal but I like my grub.) When out, I don't overdo it, sometimes have a pudding. That's it, puddings. That's the worst thing about puddings. Wait a mo, last night didn't I have a portion of xmas pud and (sugar free) custard - thank you Mr Sainsbury? BG 8.7 before bed and 5.5 this morning. Hasn't my dear wife cooked a cake for my birthday? Will it stop me? You bet you know the answer.

Paraphenalia
I carry a spare BG tester with me, as I do a glucose kit (about six quid from the DUK shop) and another one in the car. Just to be on the safe side. Remembering to take an insulin pen is a bit of a pain, but if you're organised, (I have a 'leaving the house' list by the door) it needn't be very difficult.

People's attitudes
Mostly sympatico, mostly understanding.
Then there's the a*** hole who objects to one having your fix in a restaurant - or who suggests that you do it in the toilet.

THAT's IT. That's the worst thing about diabetes: The unthinking minority who inject (pun intended) our condition with bad vibes and make it something which it isn't, a tragedy.

All the rest we can control or minimise.

Phew.

Load off

Robert WT

 

[Paul J]

So what do I dislike the most,other than being Diabetic,
Proboably feeling so hungry ALL the time . and even worse if I can smell something sweet, (cinema is out due to popcorn)
Bonus's,
Im male, and forced to get lots of check ups, something I was less likely to do before, and likely to take more care of myself, (Ive just joined the local SKI Club, (that is Spending Kids Inheritance, :lol) so now I need to stay fit and healthy to benift,
Free Viagra, :clap:
Free eye tests,
Free flu jabs

 

[Geri]

What I dislike about having diabetes! well, I think what annoys me the most is when people who dont know me or dont understand diabetes make judgmental comments as if they fully understand the condition!!! Grrr,
I think also because on some days I look well, people assume that Im fine to run up a mountain, which I could have done until a few years ago. Also, by contrast, peoples comments, and this includes nurses, dentists and other professionals, always like to tell me about people who have died of the condition! Whats worse is that these people have had diabetes for a less number of years than me. Gulp!

I have learnt to live with this condition, as its been with me for most of my life, and I just want to carry on doing the best that i can, no matter how rough or great Im feeling day by day and no matter how judgmental others comments are. :thumbup:

 

[Momblegoose]

having to stop doing what i am doing to test my blood levels and inject insuline.
not being able to eat what i what and when i want.
high blood sugar levels= going to the loo alot/ thirtsy/ fever/ being sick
not being able to go to resturants and eating anything i have limited choice ceoliac disease n diabetic!

That sounds a major failing on your so called care team.
Learn to carb count and adjust your insulin correctly and things will improve dramatically for you.
I also find it hard to believe you can not go to a restuarant for a meal. Not every food on the planet has gluten in it.

Actually .. it is not just a question of the food being gluten free when you are a Ceoliac, you have to be able to guarantee that there is no cross-contamination, which is NOT easy when eating in a restaurant!

 

[Signs]

What do you least like about diabetes?
Despite all the real serious issues what irritates me most is cold feet!

 

[Anonymous]

Watching people in restaurants, or watching cooking programs and knowing I can't eat when I want and what I want, sucks!! :!:

 

[Robinredbreast]

Young children getting Type 1, it breaks my heart, it's so b****y unfair. Me? probably the constant injections of 4 to 5 a day for 23 years, just wanting to crawl up to bed but cant because of the blood testing, then the injection, writing everything down in a book and just feeling fed up with the constant diabetes and knowing you have to do this for the rest of your life. I never used to feel like this, I still just get on with it, but, I am starting to dislike it and have negative thoughts. To be honest, it is starting to get me down a bit, but then I think there are worse things in life RRB

 

[Virgo123]

Everything!!!! :x

 

[nmr1991]

I like to think that in the future there will be a method of drinking insulin to allow it to absorb in the bloodstream, for instance in milkshakes or dissolvable tablets to be put in water or fizzy drinks (diet of course). Do you think things like this have been considered or being researched as we speak?

 

[Delphinum]

The mood swings with the sugar levels and no-one being understanding. Sometimes I don't know that my sugar is high, I just feel in a bad mood and then get made to feel bad for it.
Being tired all the time and when I want to sleep, not being able to sleep because my sugar is high or is going to go low - am I the only one who can tell they're going to have a hypo because they can't get to sleep?
Thinking about it all the time. Not knowing if it's a hypo or an anxiety attack. The sugar highs from stress. The depression. The doctors and nurses who think they know better when they have never heard of DAFNE or think carb counting is outmoded. I could go on all day.
Good things - free prescriptions and eye tests... and being an expert in nutrition due to 18 years of constantly looking at food labels. The diabetes knowledge helped me through my Biology Higher, that's for certain. Lots of my exam was on diabetes and associated things like the breakdown of sugars, recombinant DNA technology and the likes. Was handy when I didn't need to study that section.

 

[dave searle]

the thing i hate most is , injecting my insulin and beyetta, especialy in my stomach, as some times i get a blunt needle (fresh/new) and i curse and swear quite loudly, and yet i'm still having tattoos done (full leg sleve) @ the moment work that one out if you can, :!: :?: , and i also suffer from fibromyalgia... so have to work the whole pain manegment programe . but hay ho life's great . got to keep smiling ...

 

[richardinglis]

The mood swings with the sugar levels and no-one being understanding

I'll go along with that one, my marriage actually ended because of this. I work shifts and obviously diabetic. Trying to get people to understand is a nightmare, I would say i need to eat and the reply would be, Why you only had breakfast a few hours ago (she only ate once a day), then I would get all grumpy because I hadn't eaten and my sugar levels were fluctuating and it would cause an argument. or the other thing would be we would end up somewhere she wanted to eat but nothing I could eat without having to take a gallon of Humalog to balance it out, so I couldn't eat and that would be another argument. She would encourage me to eat really bad things full of sugar then have the nerve to have a go because I was snappy and tired due to the high sugar levels.

The other pet hate is that people believe you are diabetic because you are a little overweight, I have a few friends that have never been overweight in their lives and have developed type two, one doesn't drink or smoke and doesn't like sweet things and he was diagnosed a year ago at the age of 50.

 

[rinfrance]

I have been a diabetic on insulin for 12 years. The biggest problem, the side effects of certain insulins, the fact doctors do not listen, and having to ponce about getting the drugs and carrying same. Apart from that, no problems, had my gall bladder out the other day, told the doctors I will deal with the diabetes not them. They want to give me glucose when I am under. They did that some 8 years ago, it took 3 days to get under control, this time I came around, checked my bloods and they were a patch high, about 8 or 150 or so.
However, I rule my life, not the diabetics nor the doctors.
However, do realize avoid wheat, avoid many heavy carbs, but I drink, malt incidentally if you want to buy me one, NOT BLENDED as its wheat. Having any wheat makes me go to sleep.
3 jabs a day on Actarapid keeps me normally in control. I do know though of people who are in the *****, why, possibly they do not know their problem nor understand it, we are all different.
As for injecting, I do it anywhere and people do not realize, why? I wear a kilt almost all the time, just lift the hidden side and inject into my thigh. I have never had anyone question me. On boats, trains, planes, pubs, restaurants, in fact absolutely anywhere.
Moral there, if you are "out of the norm" then people do not query you.

 

[jayne15]

chasing my little girls hypos all the time with 'something sweet and then something to eat' and then getting told off at clinic that's she putting weight on and she needs to exercise more bloody hell she plays rugby, football, goes swimming, walking, dancing ect...Grrr the final straw ask mummy to take you on the trampoline ! err its -2 out there !

 

[craicdealer]

I least like the depression that comes with being diabetic. Its difficult at times, but with a close family, and a caring support team from my clinic I deal with it.

So as not to be all doom and gloom!

I most like the education I have received about insulin, food and how they both work respectivley. I have just joined a gym and I feel like I have been given a headstart with the knowledge about healthy living I have obtained as 12 years as type 1. :mrgreen:

 

[candish63]

Hi,

My daughter is T1 diagnosed 1 year ago. She is now 8
I hate having to test her blood when she is asleep. Having to keep on at her to test her blood and remind her to finish all of her food, as I have given her insulin for it.

We try not to let it interfere with daily life, I refuse to let it.
She's a little live wire, tennis club, Ice skating, Cubs, Dance and swimming.
But to do all those things I have to be organised, meals worked out in advance and taken with us to clubs to ensure she doesn't get too low and eats well and doesn't snack.
If there's a problem we sort it and move on.

 

[nickyjayne]

ive been diabetic for 23yrs now,...ive got a few onset of problems, but i get on with things. Iam a security guard, i work all over the place, all hours of the day and night, i take what i need etc, when working away at festivals for weeks at a time, my bosses are great and support me, and all ways check im ok. I even travel to the States every couple of years and just readjust things as i go along day to day. I live my life as i want and never let this diabetes hold me back. Like most people i do wish i could have a day off for once.....but until then, i just deal with it each day at a time.......

 

[Lucypieee]

A lot of things. Although, whilst I hate injections and blood tests, without them, I wouldn't be here.

The main thing that gets on my nerves is other peoples ignorance. ESPECIALLY on Social Media sites, the number of times a day I'll look on Instagram, Twitter or Tumblr etc. and someone has ignorantly (and often hurtfully) tagged a picture of sweets or McDonalds or someone who's overweight as 'diabetes'

Then profess to know all about it because they know someone who has diabetes.

Definitely my least favourite thing...