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Daily Mail article...

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Helen**

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Hello, Apologies if this has already been raised, i am brand new to this site having registered 2 mins ago.

I just wanted to hear some words of encouragement because I am feeeling sooo low at the mo due to an article I read on the Daily Mail site yesterday...did anyone else read it? A lady lost 3 limbs due to not taking her diabetes seriously previously to being married and having children. She wanted to warn other diabetics to take is more seriously --"too little too late" and "the damage had already been done"...she stated about her condition. It really upset me after reading this.

It was like reading about myself!! I am 28 and up until I got married and wanted children 2 years ago I hadn't taken my type 1 diabetes seriously. I was never a saint, I ate what I liked (within reason), and I tested my blood sugars when I could be bothered. I never failed to take my insulin though.

Getting pregnant with my son kicked me in to touch and I got my HBA1C down to 5.9%. I test my blood 10-15 times per day (yes i know this is OTT eek) and I felt really good about my diabetes up until I read this article yesterday. I felt like I was reading an article about me.

I feel really really stressed about it. I cant stop thinking about it and have been obsessively checking my feet and hands for any cuts or bruises that might lead to an amputation. My husband thinks I am going mad and he is upset that i have written myself off over this article as I have been handling my diabetes so well of late.

I feel really low. (
 
Hi Helen and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear you are so down. This is a horrific article. But it doesn't mean it will happen to you. You say you didn't take your diabetes seriously in the past but you always took your insulin. She was eating loads of sugary things - sugary drinks and large chocolate bars. You seem to be on the right track now and are doing really well. Your numbers are good and you are testing regularly. You are right to care for your feet - I am fanatical with mine.

You also did the right thing by joining this forum. It will really help you to keep on top of things. I knew nothing about diabetes until I found this forum and it's taught me everything.

For those who haven't seen the article. Warning this is depressing:


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... ously.html
 
Hi Helen,

This lady's story made distressing reading and brought home the potential horrors of uncontrolled diabetes.

Most of us have at some point had erratic control, more so those that are long-term diabetics that have experienced denial or taken a relaxed approach to their condition in the past, but one person's unfortunate experience doesn't necessarily mean that the our future holds the same fate. There are countless members on this forum who have turned their lives around and tightened their control after many years, which in time has resulted in a reversal of complications or seen big improvement in symptoms and general well-being.

What you are doing now is great, you have a excellent hba1c at 5.9 and obviously take your diabetes seriously enough to want to test 10-15 times a day. Just keep doing what you are doing and keep good blood glucose control and attend regular clinic appointments, but please don't worry yourself needlessly over this and try and get on and enjoy life.

Nigel
 
Hi again Helen,

One thing you should know is that you have a lot of friends on this forum who care about you.
One important thing that can help you is to cut your carbs right down and avoid or reduce bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and flour-based products. On the other hand a glass of red wine will do you good and even reduce your BG a little and is a nice treat.

You're right to inspect your feet every day for cuts or blisters or cracks in the heel. If you have any of these you should see your doctor right away. Give your feet a regular pedicure gently removing any hard skin build up on the heels and anywhere else then hydrate the skin with a good foot cream.

Hope you are feeling a bit better about yourself. I shall be thinking of you
 
Ah thanks for the replies. I am feeling bit better after reading them. I have just realised I needed another diabetic to listen to me. I don't have any diabetic friends or family.

I'm just going to plod on as always. Onwards and upwards!

Thanks again
 

That's more like it Helen!

Think positive and keep good control and hopefully everything will work out fine!

Nigel
 
If you have decied to CONTROL your condition now, It ius probably NOT too late for you. Some damage does repair
Hana
 
Onward and upward is one of my sayings when things are not going my way .Perhaps we could all sing a rousing"Always look on the bright side" :lol:
CAROL
 
No one can change the past, what has been done in the past cannot be undone so all the worrying in the world won't make the slightest bit of a difference. But we do have control of how we manage things in the present and the future so this is what we must focus on. I really sympathise with the lady in the article and I applaud her for telling her story so that others may learn from her mistakes. I know in her story they said it was too late for her and the changes she made were too little too late but I think people should be encouraged to change their ways if they haven't taken good care of themselves in the past. It may be too late for some, but not necessarily, and when there's the slightest bit of hope then I think people should strive to make changes and hope for a good future. The article concerned me that some people who have not had good control in the past may think there's no point trying to make changes now and for the future, they may think it's too late for them and that's not necessarily true.
 
Its amazing how often The Daily Mail has diabetes related articles. So many in fact, that its not unfair to assume that there is obviously at least one person there in an Editorial capacity who happens to be diabetic. You see these articles linked all the time.

Unfortunately its in the nature of Tabloid journalism that everything has to be alarmist. I suggest you buy another paper. I don't read The Daily Mail myself. Seems to be written by people who think they would have been comfortable in the 18th Century. Drives me crazy.

That sad fact is that that unfortunate lady must have had extremely bad control to have got in that situation. So don't let it worry you, just let it be a gentle warning.
 
Helen
I'm so glad you're feeling more cheerful now. Now get those horrible pictures out of your mind and fill it with nicer things. It's up to you now, and keep visiting this forum
 
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