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Describing symptoms to non-diabetics

jddukes

jddukes

Well-Known Member
Messages
83
Location
Chippenham/Oxfordshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
How do / would you describe the way the following sort of situation makes you physically (and mentally) feel:

Waking up in AM with sugars at 15 mmol/l.
Correcting and later on in day bloods going to 2.1mmol/l.
End of day bloods at 17.2 mmol/l.

I find it hard to describe to others. For me, in the AM it was lethargy, foggy brain, poor energy. Then when hypo initially shaky then nausea, feeling very faint and likely to pass put, cold sweats, can't think or function properly, insatiable hunger, but this takes from a hypo as low as 2 a good hour to start to feel normal. Even then feel like ribbish the rest of the day. Then when at 17 could barely stay awake and irritable, thirsty, need to urinate constantly, just generally like death.

Others?
 
I would feel angry and frustrated at the morning high - probably having to get up early to dash to the toilet. I wouldn't feel so bad if I could figure out why I was so high. I would also be testing for ketones - and I HATE it if I'm not quick enough and have to prick my finger again!

I would feel anger and frustration at the 2.1 but I would also be afraid because I probably wouldn't have hypo symptoms. I would want to curl up and go to sleep, if I did have the symptoms.

I hate being high before bed, having to give a correction. I would then worry about going hypo while sleeping. I would be tired but wouldn't be able to sleep - wondering if I should have given the whole correction.

How I feel depends on whether I can figure out what went wrong. If it was my fault, that's something learned. If it was nothing I know I've done (or not done) then I worry about it happening again. With the pump, I have more options, so I don't worry as much as I used to.
 
Hyper? Bit like a hangover. Most of my non D colleagues could associate with that one..

Hypoglycaemic? Not dissimilar to being "stoned".. Most of my non D muso mates would understand too! ;)
Even the law understands the implications on the hypo if in control of a motor vehicle...
 
If I was Hyper I would be dying for the loo and I usually get over emotional mainly angry and probably feeling sick.

If I was Hypo you wouldn't want to be around me. I get very tired and angry so easily and sometimes I cry. It's like an emotional roller coaster when I'm Hypo!
 
Hypo just describe as losing cognitive ability, hyper I don't know as I don't detect it.
 
Being diabetic and trying to control it is like walking a tight rope blind folded. It's like having someone else to look after. It's definitely not black and white and despite ones best intentions diabetes does what it wants. If there was any kind of pattern we would all be living life to that pattern but no one day is the same despite our diet and work routines largely being just that. Swinging from low to high high to low -

I become disorientated when hypo and do my best to remain normal if I'm with others but I know I walk into things and can't speak properly.

Hyper I feel tired and thirsty and tired and yawn and lethargy like nothing else. I'm sure the ups and downs are draining so by night time my head hits the pillow and I'm out.

I love to not have diabetes but dream of just one day without it, without the chains of bs levels round my neck to take the dog out for an all day walk and not worry about have I got enough food to get me there and back. To go swimming with the kids and not worry about hypos in the water and to not worry about the future of my eyes, limbs and vital organs.

Too often lately I hear of another person passing away from diabetes complications yet still the general healthy population know nothing about what we have to live with.

A hidden disease that is a killer. Make no bones about it. If you don't look after yourself it takes you.


On that cheerful note I'd better go and test my blood. :-)
 
Jaylee said:
Hyper? Bit like a hangover. Most of my non D colleagues could associate with that one..

Hypoglycaemic? Not dissimilar to being "stoned".. Most of my non D muso mates would understand too! ;)
Even the law understands the implications on the hypo if in control of a motor vehicle...
Click to expand...
Hyper definitely feels like a hangover for me too!
 
Lillymoon you are so spot on, that was such a fantastically sad, but brutally honest account of what it's like to have type 2! If it's ok with you I'll put this on my Web page at positivechangeuk.co.uk

J
 
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