why bother

[angry]

I originally posted on the 1st Jan this year in the newly diagnosed forum, talking a lot about why should I follow any sort of diet just because I have diabetes and there were a few replies about how I should due to getting this that and the other. Well i have been on medication for about a month now (or so my wife thinks, I actually throw them away). I still think what the hell. I have actually looked at numerous web sites and they are all so contradictory that you just don't know which way to turn it is absolutely ridiculous, I was also put out to read (somewhere on this site) that some body or other had the 'brilliant' idea to take 'suitable for diabetics' off food packaging, why? it is something like that, that could probably have helped me, so now i am just so fed up with it all i have had enough and stand by everything i said in my original forum post. I will live 'my' life how i want to live it and will leave this life how i want to leave it happy in the knowledge that i have done what i want to do. sorry if some of you think i have given up after only a month, but kay sera sera, what will be, will be.

 

[mo1905]

I think anger is the initial reaction to many newly diagnosed people. The majority go through this phase and reach a stage of learning/acceptance. I really hope you'll get there eventually. For now though, enjoy doing what you want to do. Eat and drink what you like. Ultimately, you're right, it's your life. However, your actions/choices may affect others close to you. I don't want to preach and am by no means a "goody goody" so please accept my words in good faith and not condescending in any way. Good luck buddy !


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Stichamus]

Hi angry. Know exactly what you mean- especially the bit about not knowing where to turn in relation to information. Oddly enough you using this forum shows you have more of a handle on the situation than your understandable tirade would give you credit for. I was diagnosed at the beginning of January. I am fortunate that I'm part retired and so don't have to schedule in a full days work so I can devote more time to trying to manage my condition. I am taking my medication and I've upped my exercise from not a lot to at least 30 minutes hard exercise a day (power walking). Diet- all I've done is cut out anything with an artificial sugar and I eat meat and fish with loads of green veg. I eat apples bananas and oranges. On the carbs front I only eat stuff with less than 10% sugar and less than 3% fat. I use the Glycemic index (GI) scale as a good food guide, I take no notice of stuff labelled in relation to diabetics. in my view I treat them as a con. I am very fortunate that my wife is supporting me 110% and has even started baking our own whole-grain bread. My aim at the moment is keep it simple. I hope I'm still this positive in another month at the moment the skin itching part of the symptoms is driving me up the wall. You say "sod it, kay sera sera" how about saying something different " I've GOT diabetes - its NOT got me!" Good luck

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I support everybody when they wish to exercise personal freedoms that do not impinge on others. You are at liberty to take advice and medication or not to take it as you wish and no-one else has the right to impose their wishes on you.

I don't understand the bit about deceiving the wife and doctor though. If you don't want to take the medication why don't you say so and stop having the pills dispensed.

 

[heidiphillips]

Dear Angry,
Why bother? It's completely up to you. The whole point of trying to keep your diabetes under control is to improve the quality and duration of your life. BUT, if by trying to keep your diabetes under control you are ruining your life then I really wouldn't bother.
My daughter has type 1 and she was diagnosed aged 7. It has become part and parcel of our lives but I know that when she leaves home it will be down to her. Ask 10 people and you'll get 10 lots of advice; the only way through it all is to make your own sense of what you hear.

 

[Chrispp]

I was diagnosed about 3 years a told the doctors, what they could do with their medication.
I' ve still never taken any and the docs are very happy with me.
I eat well, but far far less! I cycle & walk a LOT. I'm now an addict to green & mint tea. Olives and lettuce & onion based salads with chilli flavoured dressings.
Hot spicy foods are said to suppress the appetite. Chilli works for me, I eat far far less but it's hot!
& I bake my own bread now, healthier & tasty & my type 1 wife loves it including the chilli seeded version.
I've swapped quantity for hotter stronger asian flavours whilst cutting carbs and fats severely.
No medication without changing what you eat & how you exercise is unlikely to be a smart move. Experiment with what you eat and drink and get yourself up out and moving :grin:

Sent from my GT-I9100 using DCUK Forum mobile app

 

[izzzi]

Mr Angry,

You appear to have some kind of control which is cheating on our health system by throwing away your medication, are you scared to be honest to your doctor.

(or so my wife thinks, I actually throw them away).

Does you wife really need this kind of dishonest treatment.

Instead of saying "sera sera" we would prefer you saying "Ill be back"

Best of luck,

Roy,

 

[mobrien]

Denial is great isn't it, then comes the anger why me what have I done to get this, oh its only diabetes who the hell cares. Add to that the propaganda the gov push that all type 2 are lazy, fat unwilling to help themselves, its a lifestyle choice they made attitude doesn't help. Unfortunately in the long term you will pay the piper with complications but that is totally your choice all I would ask is instead of throwing the medication away do something for the tax payer and cancel the prescription. Have courage and tell you wife you don't see the point of all the fuss, however I would also say go back to your doctors and ask to go on a DESMONDS day. It may help it may not but it is only 1 day in your life

 

[Yorksman]

I was diagnosed about 3 years a told the doctors, what they could do with their medication.

I thought Metformin was oral, not a suppository :lol: I think that's more of a french thing.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm no fan of GPs who yawn, print off a prescription and say, 'take these'.

 

[Yorksman]

I'm now an addict to green & mint tea.

I got into green teas, they are great mid meals or with meals. Warm you up when you are cold. Cool you down when you are hot. Cheer you up when you are down and calm you down when you are exited. It's got to be the king of drinks.

 

[EllieLou]

Angry,
From what you have said I'm guessing your type 2 and can take pills well I'm 16 and have just been diagnosed with tye 1, I have to inject myself 4 times a day everyday for the rest of my life all you have to do is take poxy tablet. I suggest you man up and tell your wife or just take the bloody thing, you claim it's because you want to live your life the way you want but with all the complications uncontrolled diabetes can cause you won't be living a very good life for long. So stop being so petty and take your meds or stop getting them on prescription and wasting government funds.

 

[Faith*]

Angry,
From what you have said I'm guessing your type 2 and can take pills well I'm 16 and have just been diagnosed with tye 1, I have to inject myself 4 times a day everyday for the rest of my life all you have to do is take poxy tablet. I suggest you man up and tell your wife or just take the bloody thing, you claim it's because you want to live your life the way you want but with all the complications uncontrolled diabetes can cause you won't be living a very good life for long. So stop being so petty and take your meds or stop getting them on prescription and wasting government funds.

well said

In relation to the other comments: I understand the anger in relation to being newly diagnosed. We've all been there, I'm still a bit angry and I've had it for nearly 17 years but I want to live and I want my family to enjoy there lives knowing I'm in it. The decision is always up to the individual but I do hope that you consider to take your treatment, if not for yourself maybe for your wife, think about how worried she must be about you. And in fairness if you truly don't want to take the tablets please tell your GP so they can avoid prescribing them and then they go to waste, the NHS is nearly going under enough as it is.
I hope you find the answers your looking for. Take Care,

 

[AlanC]

I understand your feelings about the contradictory information that is given, but I think it is silly to abandon your medication. There is no doubt that medication works, and without it your health will certainly suffer. Diet is more controversial, so if you want to eat a normal healthy diet without going for low carbs (as I do) then that is fair enough, but there is nothing to be gained by throwing away your pills!

 

[Lily47]

You sound like a petulant child. You have diabetes, there is nothing you can do about it apart from accepting it and doing all you can to look after yourself. Your life is not over, you have a condtion and its up to you to deal with it. I was run over when I was 6 by a drunk driver, and got type 1 because of it. That was 41 years ago and I am still here. Because I WAS A CHILD I couldnt work out why the other kids in the ward were allowed sweets and I wasnt, no one told me and all I remember is big mental syringes and being ill a lot. I have suffered blindness and kidney failure, so unless you fancy going blind, having limbs amputated and having dialysis for 7 hours a day every day and waiting 6 years for a transplant, is it worth the petuance?

 

[MCMLXXIII]

The original poster has clearly put this post on here to get a rise out of the rest of us.

Probably not even Diabetic :yawn: (if it is true then I pity you're wife).

 

[Mamalu]

Dear Mr Angry

I am now 55, probably a similar age to you, however, I was diagnosed with Type 1 when I was 21. Like EllieLou, I have multiple injections and blood tests each day. This is by no means intended to criticize you and your unwillingness to take your medication, however you need to realise that there are many people who have had to change their habits to enable a longer and healthier life. There is no merit in not taking the medication you have been prescribed: if it is having a blip on your stomach engineering, there are other tablets available. Your wife deserves you to give it the best shot you can to ensure she has a healthy life partner.

Not wanting to give a sob story, with Type 1 I had fear with both of my pregnancies, which with lots of care from doctors and specialists, and dilligence from myself, resulted in two very healthy babies. A little bit of effort on your part may mean so much for your family as it did with mine.

We diabetics all get angry, Mr Angry, and this is the best place to get it off your chest.

 

[petertremelling]

Yes, get real! So you have diabetes, not a diagnosis of a terminal illness. You are recently diagnosed. You will experience many feelings from 'why me' to downright despair and eventually you will come out the other side with the reaisation that you have a condition as opposed to an illness and that it is a condition which, if you are careful, will not wreck your life or make you turn green! 'Sensible' is all that it takes. Far better than losing you toes through gangrene or your life because of coronary disease simply because you refused to take the pills. Things will settle down. Trust me. Good luck.

 

[carlos37]

you can follow any kind of diet you want to its just a case of finding one that works for you just try to cut down or stop having sugary things like sweetschange to diet coke instead of coke etc instead of having 10 peices of bread a day have 5 or 4 etc but to ignore taking medicaition in my opinion is just silly i have struggled for years with tabs tryed low carb even down to bout 30g diddnt work for me anything i eat sent my sugars upto 22 35 felt terrible i dont think ull have that attitude when you are in hospital because you cant function and you see your wife at side of your bed crying try to do something about it now me personally am now on insulin but only because i need it without it i dont like to think were i would be id say my quality of life is ok now on right medicaition feel more positive since being put onit but dont totally depend on it alone do exsercise and stay active if you can but to live in denial in my opinion will just do you more harm if not now then in a few years time but like said if thats your attitude fair play

 

[sue cope]

EllieLou's reply to Angry was quite right. It's not what you are (or are not doing now), Angry, it is the complications that could occur. Is your wife strong enough to push you around in a wheelchair for the rest of your life if you lose a leg (or both) ? Could you bear to be blind ? I am Type 2 but am on at least 4 injections of Insulin a day (around 200 units), plus tablets. I am very unfit, overweight, slightly disabled - and not a particularly 'good' diabetic, but by taking my medication, keeping GP appointments and at least trying to do the right thing, I have avoided complications for the 18 years since diagnosis. Think about it.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

The OP has not been around since 4th February so I no longer feel the need to give him encouragement.