Now I really hate my diabetes, whats next?

[smc4761]

I have been diabetic since just before my 20th birthday, just over 34 years ago. As a result of being diabetic, I lost my job/career when this was diagnosed. I was a police officer something I had always wanted to be. I was also into sports in a pretty big way but lost all my confidence of participating due to fear of hypos. So I hated being diagnosed with this horrible condition. I eventually managed to get over this and move on

Since then I have developed a few issue probably as a result of diabetes, frozen shoulders, high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger on both hands. Not exactly major medical conditions but still irritating.

I do a little hillwalking nothing too strenuous and had not been for a while, so I decided to go to the gym. I am a little overweight, but still reasonably fit. I started off by walking on the treadmill, for 30 minutes, nothing too strenuous, just a very slight sweat. When I came off I was very light headed for about 5 minutes. Ddid the same again the following day and same again. I mentioned this to my diabetic doctor at my 6 monthly check. He was very good and sent me for a ECG test on my heart when exercising on a treadmill and a 24 hour blood pressure monitoring. BP was fine however the exercise test showed some angina on exercise, probably due to narrowed arteries in heart related to diabetes. Now i have to go for an Echocardiogram and a 24 monitoring ECG.I now have to take more tablets to help slow my heart down and reduce any angina.

When will this ever end, what else can I expect? I am getting really hacked off with this terrible condition, especially as I do tend to have reasonable control.

Sorry to sound off folks just felt that i had to get this out and sound off. Sorry to bring anyone down

 

[azure]

I don't have anything medically helpful to say, but I just wanted to send you a big hug.

azure x

 

[Sibyl]

Don't be daft! Crumbs! I would think that everyone on here goes through those feelings! Besides, even without Diabetes life seems to go in fits and starts. You're just going through one of the bad phases. It will level off again. Have a good rant and moan - I find it always helps! Don't forget " Diabetes is the gift that keeps on giving!"

 

[AndBreathe]

I have been diabetic since just before my 20th birthday, just over 34 years ago. As a result of being diabetic, I lost my job/career when this was diagnosed. I was a police officer something I had always wanted to be. I was also into sports in a pretty big way but lost all my confidence of participating due to fear of hypos. So I hated being diagnosed with this horrible condition. I eventually managed to get over this and move on

Since then I have developed a few issue probably as a result of diabetes, frozen shoulders, high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger on both hands. Not exactly major medical conditions but still irritating.

I do a little hillwalking nothing too strenuous and had not been for a while, so I decided to go to the gym. I am a little overweight, but still reasonably fit. I started off by walking on the treadmill, for 30 minutes, nothing too strenuous, just a very slight sweat. When I came off I was very light headed for about 5 minutes. Ddid the same again the following day and same again. I mentioned this to my diabetic doctor at my 6 monthly check. He was very good and sent me for a ECG test on my heart when exercising on a treadmill and a 24 hour blood pressure monitoring. BP was fine however the exercise test showed some angina on exercise, probably due to narrowed arteries in heart related to diabetes. Now i have to go for an Echocardiogram and a 24 monitoring ECG.I now have to take more tablets to help slow my heart down and reduce any angina.

When will this ever end, what else can I expect? I am getting really hacked off with this terrible condition, especially as I do tend to have reasonable control.

Sorry to sound off folks just felt that i had to get this out and sound off. Sorry to bring anyone down

I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time.

How do the medics know your angina is definitely related to your diabetes? You're a 54 year old man. It can't be something only diabetics can have at your age?

I'm afraid this is one of my hobby horses, so I'm going to allow myself a little rant on your thread, if you'll forgive me. I just hate the way it seems anything that could be related to diabetes is immediately attributed to it. Whilst some things, like retinopathy may be likely to be diabetes related, not everything will be.

I hope you feel better soon, and you can get back to some exercise, as it's such a great way of improving the overall mood.

 

[smc4761]

Thanks for your support, guys really appreciated. Sometimes I just think whats the point, then I come on here and read all the great advice and support you guys offer. maybe I was just having a bad day.

I have had a look at some of the side effects of my new angina tablet and I am not impressed. To be honest I feel absolutely fine and will wait fo the result of the Echocardiogram and 24 hour ECG before I go my GP to discuss the findings with him. I want to avoid taking any more tablets if at all possible

Again thanks for listening, really appreciated

 

[AndBreathe]

Thanks for your support, guys really appreciated. Sometimes I just think whats the point, then I come on here and read all the great advice and support you guys offer. maybe I was just having a bad day.

I have had a look at some of the side effects of my new angina tablet and I am not impressed. To be honest I feel absolutely fine and will wait fo the result of the Echocardiogram and 24 hour ECG before I go my GP to discuss the findings with him. I want to avoid taking any more tablets if at all possible

Again thanks for listening, really appreciated

Fingers crossed for you.

how's your blood pressure and weight? I know my blood pressure reduced quite a bit when I trimmed up a bit, and got my blood numbers into the correct ranges.

 

[smc4761]

i was put on a 24 hour blood pressure monitor at the same time I had my ECG. Doctor has advised that this was fine, typically I am around 120 /78. I am about 1 stone overweight, although to be fair I only eat around 1800 calories per day. problem I have is I sit at a desk all day and my only real exercise these days is walking /birdwatching and photography.

Probably need to exercise more but now my angina may put a stop to that

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hi, diabetes is a toughie at times, I'm sure we've all been through it. Life and possible diabetes problems
( other auto immune conditions) have taken their toll on me at some point over the past 3 years, but the more I get hit by things, the more I will fight back. Decades and decades are a long time time to have diabetes and the feeling of despair and the frustration at times can be over whelming. But you just have to keep on going and give diabetes a kick up the backside from time to to time, to show who is the boss, you're in charge. Help and support from like minded people are half the battle, so try to keep on top of it best you can.
Wishing you all the best, RRB

 

[Robinredbreast]

i was put on a 24 hour blood pressure monitor at the same time I had my ECG. Doctor has advised that this was fine, typically I am around 120 /78. I am about 1 stone overweight, although to be fair I only eat around 1800 calories per day. problem I have is I sit at a desk all day and my only real exercise these days is walking /birdwatching and photography.

Probably need to exercise more but now my angina may put a stop to that

Ask your cardiologist about exercise, I'm sure it must be a good thing. It's great for the mind and body and I love your exercise hobbies
Everyday life with angina

After treatment most people with angina can get back to a normal life. However, many people with angina have previously been living excessively busy and stressful lives. You have a good reason to cut down on your commitments, if you want to.
Exercise will help to keep your weight down – most people feel better generally when they are fit. Walking, swimming, and cycling are all good for the body's systems. You should take 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 times a week.
But weight lifting and press-ups are types of intense exercise that are not recommended. Highly competitive exercise such as squash may be dangerous if you have a heart condition.
http://www.bcpa.co.uk/factsheets/Angina.htm

 

[fred1234]

My sympathizers are with you. I know how you feel but its not diabetes that I want to rant about ...it's bloody steroids. I need to have a maintenance dose of steroids daily. Through this I have had 2 cataracts removed, gained 2 hearingaids, diabetes type2 insulin, skin that looks ravaged and resembles an elephants skin and if I bang into anything a huge bruise appears or tear that needs treatment, so yes it's good to have a rant. Other medical conditions and treatment can cause so many things but mine's, including diabetes is due to steroids.

 

[Juicyj]

I feel your pain, but please don't stop exercising as a result of this, as robinredbreast as said, exercise is a good thing and will do lots of things, it will improve your mood, help with weight loss and get you fit, a little, often is better than nothing. Swimming or treadmill is fine. I find I also get little head headed and eyesight gets blurry when I start exercising but I push on and this disappears quite soon after.

Don't let diabetes rule your life, give it a good slap on the back and carry on enjoying your life

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Hugs.

I think I can empathise as I live with a number of ongoing conditions that cause pain, extreme fatigue, insomnia, reflux, stomach bloating, constipation, bladder irritation, low mood, anxiety, heart palpitations, restless legs syndrome, dry mouth, and dry skin, so I know what it's like to feel "over it" at times. Most of the time I am able to be positive about it, since there are many things I can do to feel better, and I am lucky things are not worse.

I recently came across an article by diabetes specialist Dr Richard Bernstein about medical conditions that are often associated with diabetes but are misdiagnosed or mistreated. He shares his experience treating these problems in his patients. I hope there is something in it you find helpful:
http://www.diabetes-book.com/long-term-sequelae/

(Currently the website appears to be down, so if the link doesn't work for you, let me know and I will try to sort something out.)

 

[toby64]

Hello I feel your frustration, but I agree with some of what has already been spoken about let me offer some advise first though, this year i have been a diabetic for 54 years and have worked in very highly competitive and stressful jobs, but i will also say this at no stage have i let my employers know of my condition only my staff ever knew all my appointments for work was proven by mty track records so i moved up the employment stream by my efforts. Appart from a lot of laser work in the mid 90s until a fall at work were i tore tendons in my shoulder through mismanagement of the right transport company and before i was able to go back to wrk full time i was involved in a car accident which i was stopped and another car hit me from behind and pushed me into the car in front which has damaged my neck, from these 2 accidents the stress started to increase. eventually having injections into my neck for pain to be able to keep working but in 2011 after a reaction to the next neck injection i ended up in emergency where they also found that i had very high blood pressure Very long story short ofter many years of angiograms and blood pressure med and anticlimactic reactions. I am now on no Blood pressure meds because of reactions to them and now have not had to use GTN although when i work had i do get palpitations but my recover is fast and no chest pains. the real point i am try to say is this Stress is the one thing that i feel needs to be limited as this in my case has done more damage than diabetes has in 54 years, but i will also add that i have never smoked or drank, wether this has played a part in my longevity, i do not know, there are many things i have been through that could be diabetes related but i look at outside influences rather than just at diabetes, and in my case maybe if i had not had this disease i may not be here now to tell you about it.
I guess what i mean is to do the best you can with what you have that suits you after all is not the case that you are the only one in control.

Hope this may help
Best regards
Toby.

 

[sd29]

You only see the stars when it's dark. Sounds trite, but sometimes, we just need to keep on shining.

When I feel like just throwing my insulin away and to hell with the BG meter, very littl helps. So I start plotting to murder diabetes. What could I do to it before it gets me?

As has been said, not everything is caused by diabetes, it can't be that that evil. But we are made to feel that it is the patient zero of everything. Read about illness identity. I know of very few other conditions used to define a person. At 33, with quite a few complications from it, I can empathise. I have lost my job too because of it, and resent it. But hey - with a pump and artificial lenses in my eyes after double cataract surgery, I'm thinking 'we can rebuild - we have th technology!'