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Am I the only one?

I agree, the carbs and cals app is brilliant!

I would ask for another nurse if this is available to u. One of mine is amazing, considerate, realises that you have a life as well as diabetes and wants to help, she would go out of her way intact! The other one loves the sound of her own voice and is like a breathing text book!!

You have to have a good relationship with your dsn. Especially if you are hoping to start a family, because u will be seeing a hell of a lot more of them if a family is in your plans!

It's not too late, you have realised what u need to do, my advice to u is to take baby steps. Forgive yourself for the past for a start. Start monitoring your bloods more, look for patterns, adjust accordingly. Don't get stressed with yourself, forgive mistakes. Use the carbs and cals app, look at what you are eating and see how many carbs are in it. Take it from there.

I say this, I am the most frustrated, impatient person in the world at the moment! I have just started on the omnipod, instead of injections and my levels are running higher than I am used to! I will take some of the advice about baby steps and being patient myself!! Good luck! If u need to talk please give me a message! I'm also 28, same age as u, been diabetic 18 years, been through similar and now have a beautiful 5 year old boy x x x
 
Sarahkylie88 said:
I agree, the carbs and cals app is brilliant!

I would ask for another nurse if this is available to u. One of mine is amazing, considerate, realises that you have a life as well as diabetes and wants to help, she would go out of her way intact! The other one loves the sound of her own voice and is like a breathing text book!!

You have to have a good relationship with your dsn. Especially if you are hoping to start a family, because u will be seeing a hell of a lot more of them if a family is in your plans!

It's not too late, you have realised what u need to do, my advice to u is to take baby steps. Forgive yourself for the past for a start. Start monitoring your bloods more, look for patterns, adjust accordingly. Don't get stressed with yourself, forgive mistakes. Use the carbs and cals app, look at what you are eating and see how many carbs are in it. Take it from there.

I say this, I am the most frustrated, impatient person in the world at the moment! I have just started on the omnipod, instead of injections and my levels are running higher than I am used to! I will take some of the advice about baby steps and being patient myself!! Good luck! If u need to talk please give me a message! I'm also 28, same age as u, been diabetic 18 years, been through similar and now have a beautiful 5 year old boy x x x
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@Sarahkylie88 your message has given me a huge boost of hope! I get very frustrated with myself so quickly & that soon escalates to taking steps backwards in my progress.
I would love nothing more than to be start a family & I will put the past where it belongs so I can concentrate on moving forward :-)
It means a lot to me that you (and others) have offered the opportunity to chat if needed. Thank you xx
 
Hey! I have had T1 for 7 years now and I am only just getting to grips with it! There is a great app called carbs and cals, there is a book too, but I find the app much better on the go! It is fantastic for helping calculate your carb intake - I'm sure it's been mentioned already.

Often people who don't have diabetes see the condition as very black and white, very do and don't and as we all know it's just not that simple!

I'm new to the forum and I haven't really added to it much .... Until this post haha! It's great for little hints and tips and just to hear about people going through similar things so honestly you will crack this!

Good luck!!
 
Hi very similar to you. 30 and desperately wanting a family. T1 for 23 years and have only felt in control over the last 3 years and still find it impossible sometimes. Have the same problem as you when I eat out. Have found my fitness pal useful for some chain resturants such as spoons etc. also was once brave and asked for a resturants nutrional value menu (pizza express I think). Always find it's far more than I would have estimated carb wise. Keep on the forum, I love it. It really helps to motivate me. Good luck : )
 
If you would understand and know how to control diabetes by just reading a book or go and take some classes (as the nurse did). Then we would all just do that and the nurse would be out of a job. After just a couple of years with diabetes, you know more about this disease than any doctor ever will. There are unfortunately both good and bad doctors and nurses. If dumping into one that is not your style, do not hesitate to find an alternative. We diabetics are also humans and we are not all perfect (all of the time at least. ;o). Patience and perseverance is key. And be proud of yourself whenever a result to celebrate.

Congrats also to Amy.W above - Fantastic improvement you achieved and perfect HbA1C level already now!!
 
SamFergusson said:
Hi,

I am 28 & I've had T1 for 21 years now.
I can openly admit that I rebelled during my teenage years & went off the rails a little. Now I am older & wanting to start a family I would like to have my diabetes under control. But I am finding it really difficult. My levels are all over the place, I don't understand carb counting & just can't seem to get my head into what I need to do.
I started seeing my diabetic nurse for the first time in a long time & I just felt like I couldn't be honest with her as from the first 5 minutes of sitting with her she was so judgmental & opinionated I just put my defenses up. She made me feel like I was the only diabetic in the world who couldn't cope.

Am I?
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No, you are 100% typical. Go on the offensive. Ask her, "Why didn't the NHS teach me how to carb count when I was a child? Why wasn't I taught how to do a basal test when I was 13 or 14? Why wasn't I taught how to work out my insulin to carb ratios at different times of day? Why wasn't I taught how to calculate my correction factor? Do you know, I am wondering about taking legal action against the NHS for medical negligence? You could be a witness for me because you can see that I have never been taught any of the essentials. What do you think?"
That should make her sharpen up. Then make it clear that you will tick each element of your list as she teaches it to you. And she'd better teach it well.
 
100% agree with you there @Celsus a huge congrats to @Amy.W you've done so well :)

Wow @RuthW that is a very strong approach. As tempted as I am at times to be like that I'm not one for confrontation lol.
But I have made an appointment with a new diabetes nurse at my local GP. I'm looking forward to taking that step with her & moving forward. I've also just started using an app called 'Diabetes:M' & I'm finding that very useful. It helps me calculate my insulin ratio & shows my levels in a graph etc. I'm a bit of a nerd so having a chart or graph makes it much better for me to track :)
Just wanted to let you all know about it too :)
 
I have three thoughts
The only stupid question is the one not asked
Those who do not have, do not know
Not all those who know,care

Make it your mission to make tomorrow a better day than yesterday,
U can do no more! ⚒
 
I can't help but share the following with you all.. .. .. ..
My my reading right now is 5.4 .. .. .. :D
I have been carb counting everything today & it has made a HUGE difference!! Thank you all so much for your help, advice & encouragement. I have a long way to go, but I am feeling so positive right now x
 

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SamFergusson said:
I can't help but share the following with you all.. .. .. ..
My my reading right now is 5.4 .. .. .. :D
I have been carb counting everything today & it has made a HUGE difference!! Thank you all so much for your help, advice & encouragement. I have a long way to go, but I am feeling so positive right now x
Click to expand...

Well done Sam that's brilliant! X
 
Hello, am definitely another in the same boat as you. Diagnosed T1 aged ten, now 22 years down the line and I only really started looking after myself about a year ago. Best help I found was a book called Think like a pancreas - the guy who wrote it has diabetes and writes sensibly, not in a preachy way. Carb counting is still really tough at times, and I can go sky high without really knowing why (turned out my insulin had 'pocketed' under my skin and hadn't absorbed). But it seems to get a little bit better each month......xx
 
Hi @VP83 there seems to be a few of these sneaky little bumps in the road that will throw things out every now & again! But you're obviously doing really well to see it getting better each month :-)
The book sounds good, I might get a copy x
 
nice work on that 5.4 - :)
really pleased for you !!
 
Such a relief to read this I'm in the same boat sam. 31 years old, never could get tight control, dying to get pregnant doing the dafne course in April. Current hba1c is 8.3 far too high! Always feel very alone but reading this thread makes me feel better. I agree being honest is the way forward I go to a pre pregnancy diabetes clinic and told them from day 1 I'll never be a star student but nobody wants me to improve more than me
 
Hi @wannabemammy I'm glad to hear that someone else can get something put of my post too. I was amazed by all the comments in here & the amount of people that are or have been in a similar situation has given me such a push to move forward. I hope you're course goes well in April & if you ever want a chat or a moan just shout x
 
SamFergusson said:
Thanks @himtoo I was gutted with a reading of 18 this morning but I'm back in the 7's again now :)
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small steps:) and keep records of what happens:eek: ( and try and keep a corner of your brain reserved for "remembering" so you can alter what you do if the circumstances fit , the next time.)
I always think i am still learning even after 43 years and especially after starting on the pump recently.

ps -- better add I was 13.7 this morning -- totally aggravated with myself - so you're not alone there either.
 
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