Type 1 About Determination And

[johnbfc]

Hello, last time I posted I got many helpful responses which really helped so here’s my next question, I’ve been a type 1 diabetic for nearly 7 years and I have had periods of really bad times but never been in hospital, I’m just so worried that the bad diabetes times have heavily damaged my body and knowing my expected life duration is heavily lowered, how do you stay determined and not feel rubbish really? I’m 20 also just to put

 

[Mike d]

What makes you think your life has been cut short? That is self defeat. You're 20 .... not 80

There are incredible stories on here from people who fight back from adversities before giving it up ASIDE from T1. Read 'em

... and good luck. All comes back to attitude mate

 

[kitedoc]

Hi @johnbfc, After 51 years on insulin I have had plenty of time in which to think about regret, diabetes-wise. But dwelling on the past and what might have been does not help me now or in the future. I can control neither. ALL I CAN TRY TO CONTROL IS NOW, the present.
Our lives are a sequences of the now, that a time traveller could view as a continuum or spectrum.
And I spent the early years of my diabetes, from age 13, in 1966 hounded by doctors that my BSLs were not good enough ( and affected their self-imposed egotistical ratings), sitting on hospital clinics alongside patients with diabetes complications, all back when glucose meters, pens, advanced insulin formulations and insulin pumps were just pipe-dreams. So much life and time spent on worry, negativity and lack of faith in myself. So much of the 'Victorian' era of diabetes management. What to I do.?
1) Shake off the negatives of the past but learn from them, ( this food did X to my BSL, choose a different food thereafter
2) live each day with purpose/meaning and trying to make each day unique in some small way, ( walk different ways to the shops, take photos on the way, test how well any adjustment in insulin dose works with managing the effect of exercise,. aiming for a better or equally good result), visit a place of interest, something new, incorporate exercise where possible
3) plan ahead if need be, as long-acting insulin will affect things ? 12 up to 24 + hours later, allow for up holds etc so insulin/syringes/food etc are there: that helps 'overcome the odds' of disappointment, improves the chance of enjoyment.
4) cultivate friends, interests, hobbies and social events whilst reducing and eliminating the negatives of alcohol and unsuitable food . Such things enhance life, reduce stress (and high BSLs), reduce heart and stroke events and increase enjoyment
5) set realistic goals and challenges. Whilst there are sayings such as' A kite rises against an opposing wind', that does not mean that taking on climbing Mt Everest is realistic, wise or fulfilling. Little victories add up.
6) develop self-humour - for example, I think in 51 years of injecting insulin I can only recall hitting a blood vessel about 3 times, What a terrible batting average !!; oops, I accidentally injected the incorrect dose of insulin, now I shall have to put up with having ice cream to keep my BSL levels up, what a shame ! ( and find out how to prevent it happening again.) Alternatively there was that out-dated practise of attempting to suck snake venom out of a snakebite, would take work here ??
7) ask for help where needed, we all may need help over and above own own capacity to pull ourselves up by by own shoelaces. I used to strive stubbornly for independence, which helped in one way but made me blind to accepting help. I got depressed and had to accept help, I needed to move to a pump - it is not easy to do so because of my stubbornness to be as independent as possible
8) share your experiences and what you have learned - sometimes helping others helps us define ourselves, as long as it does not replace or distract from our own care of ourselves
I wish you every success with each day of your present time.

 

[Alison54321]

The problem here is that worrying too much about what damage might have been done to your body in the past isn't a good motivator, there is a risk it creates a "what's the point" feeling. Which is not what anyone needs.

The best friend for someone with T1D in the fight against complications is good blood sugar control, but there are two other friends, the complications of diabetes are caused by oxidative stress, so a diet rich in anti-oxidants is good, plants have a lot of bioactive compounds that assist. So strawberries are good for you, which is good news.

The other friend is regular physical activity, which also counters oxidative stress.

You just have to get help from these friends, and a few human ones, and not to be too despondent.