Well i started on injections when i first got diabetes in 1979 and i was put on a pump when i was 31 i think but the first 5 months were a nightmare, so i change hospital's and it was sorted in 3 weeks. At the minute i am having a break from diabetes as in 2015 i had a pancreas and kidney transplant but with all the problems that the diabetes has caused over the year's the only thing i don't do is take insulin and do my BS as much as before. Even now i still get low blood sugars which feels like a hypo. I know it sounds great having a transplant but it is a 7 hour op and then you are in hospital about three weeks. my transplant went well both the kidney and pancreas are working well. The thing is once my BS were at a normal level for a long time the damage the diabetes caused came to light, in the first 6 months after the op i was in and out of hospital and in 2016 i had 62 appointments at different clinics and last years 67. The nerve damage can not be fixed and causes pain in my whole body that even the painkillers can only dull the pain, i also get a lidocaine infusion every 4-6 weeks which makes my life a bit easier for about 10 days. With having diabetes it makes you stronger to fight for the little things that people don't even think about, i am not saying i don't have down days because i do and i am at the stage after my transplant that i should have been at after 3 months but it is getting to be 3 years. Just before Christmas i had my 3 month check up with the transplant team and i asked them when would i be able to return to work and was told it would be a long time if ever. I am 41 and cannot go back to my old job as it involves heavy lifting and as i am in constant pain i would not know what days i would be able to work, plus as the team said how many people would employ me with all these problems and having to go to hospital at least once a week.
