Do you feel 'lonely' with your Diabetes?

anna29

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Hi All ...

Decided to post this as I have been giving this some thought ...
Not with myself - but with if any members may feel isolated or alone in
coping/dealing with their Diabetes.

Do you ever feel 'alone' whilst living with Diabetes .

Please let us all know if you do .
How you cope with this .
Please add any suggestions or ways you may have overcome any isolation or loneliness .

Thanks Anna.
 

mickey121

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140
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I felt isolated worried and overawed last month when told out of the blue I was prediabetic then the following week that I had type 2 diabetes. After a meeting with the diabetic nurse and having used Diabetes UK and the forum to research the condition I am a lot more relaxed with things . Thanks to all that have contributed to ease my mind.


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punto53

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Hi Anna yes some days I do feel very isolated and out of place ! Since I was diagnosed with T2 in January this year I've since lost two stone which has helped me (even feeling healthier) and dropped two dress sizes yippee!! But at work they say oh you can't have that can you but now it seems its on a daily basis I now rise above that and say you can have my sugar and fat ha ha!! But going to family parties and restaurants that's another problem no one seems to fully understand what we have to sheet clear of!! I am still new to this and read things on a daily basis on this forum which is fab and it keeps me going. My husband is very understanding and keeps me on track so I'm not lonely thankfully

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donnellysdogs

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Not particularly. All family, friends and my customers etc treat me the same, no different.
How do you mean feel alone?

Everybody knows I'm diabetic, but at the moment the only persons I think that ever made comments about'you cant have that to eat can you?' was my parents.

Every person I have ever met seems to know another diabetic!! Went to hosp physio last week and there was an elderly coue there... She aas making comment to her hubby that she thought lift lemon tea had to much sugar in. I asked if she was diabetic... Yes.. Looked up myfitness pal on phone told her the sugar value in her lift lemon tea and progessed on to all about their life's.

At home, when quiet I log on to forum. Have made many superb friends from forum.

I never feel alone or isolated because of or due to my diabetes... I am pretty out going though, and talk to everybody and anybody about anything. I do have the habit of talking on some pretty divers subjects to male s for some reason, I've always been able to enjoy male company more.

If my close friends ask me about my diabetes I tell them, but if not I dont. Even if I do tell them, I try to keep it brief
as listening to someone elses illness to me is like looking at other peoples photos.... Ok to see/hear once... But then put photos away please!!!!- or for me shut up quickly.
 

Andy12345

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I suppose I do feel lonely at times, it's always food related, when all around me are eating nice things hat I'm not allowed, but always try to think positively to snap myself out of it, and always feel better when I'm on the forum surrounded but you all who understand, what it the saying.....sometimes the loneliest place is when your in a crowd, well that's the the only lonely place for me, the wife has said many times that it upsets her that I seem to want to cope on my own and I am on a journey on my own, well....I am I would want to take her or anyone along for the ride
 

donnellysdogs

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I think type 1 and injections makes you more able to cope with food issues, as we can just give more insulin. With remote control of a pump we dont even have to take injections or pump out, so do feel more for type 2's.. That must be really hard with friends n family etc..

I wouldnt wish on my worst enemy...
 

Dougal

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I feel very lonely with my Diabetes. My Diabetes has always been very difficult to control, and I feel as though I am fighting with it all the time. I suffer from severe depression as well, and find it difficult to socialise.


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Thundercat

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I always felt quite alone with diabetes. I was very young when diagnosed and got the idea that I'd just worry others if I shared my feelings about it. I'm not the best at sharing my troubles to this day. Not very healthy I know. Since joining this forum I no longer feel the same isolation. Since getting the app I can tune in throughout the day and I feel part of something. That's new for me and I cannot express my gratitude for this forum and all its members whether for all the information and advice or for the things that make me smile.

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Montana

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Loneliness and diabetes

:roll: diagnosed T2 2003 and diet controlled until docs caught up with me again 2012. Now that was lonely! Told at time of diagnosis to go away and get on with it-that was quite scary! While in hospital last year had bg readings of around 23. I surrendered and started on 1 x metformin 500mg and 1 x sitagliptin 100mg. Since discharge my gp delighted that at last i'd taken my head out of sand but it wasn't that simple. In hospital i had wonderful support and that is when my loneliness began. I asked to be referred to local community diabetic team. I had several one to ones and then referred on to Xpert patient diabetic prog which is just about to end. I've been told I can contact them anytime if anything is worrying me or ask for further one to ones. Maybe this approach will help some of you too. Good luck everyone.
 

Montana

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Loneliness and diabetes

. . . . . Also my belief is education, education, education will always help you make sense of what you read on this forum and use it wisely. When first stepping out to deal with your diet Pauline, just remember a healthy food plan is all you need, the same as a non-diabetic does and occasionally allow yourself a treat especially if you can take it immediately after your main meal. Hope this helps a bit. . . . Linzi
 

Montana

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Loneliness and diabetes

Montana said:
:roll: diagnosed T2 2003 and diet controlled until docs caught up with me again 2012. Now that was lonely! Told at time of diagnosis to go away and get on with it-that was quite scary! While in hospital last year had bg readings of around 23. I surrendered and started on 1 x metformin 500mg and 1 x sitagliptin 100mg. Since discharge my gp delighted that at last i'd taken my head out of sand but it wasn't that simple. In hospital i had wonderful support and that is when my loneliness began. I asked to be referred to local community diabetic team. I had several one to ones and then referred on to Xpert patient diabetic prog which is just about to end. I've been told I can contact them anytime if anything is worrying me or ask for further one to ones. Maybe this approach will help some of you too. Good luck everyone.
Never look back. . .unless you are planning to go that way. [Henry D Thoreau.]
 

Andy12345

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hi, montana may i ask what the significance of taking the treat immediatly after a main meal is please?
 

noblehead

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By it's very nature diabetes is a lonely condition as its with you 24 hours a day 365 days a year and is never far from our thoughts, even with the best intentions of HCP's , friends, family and fellow diabetics on forums such as this we still have to deal with it on our own and understandably this can be hard.

My own coping strategies is to look to the future and never behind, what's been has been and there's no point in dwelling on years where your control has been less than perfect as it ain't going to change things, diabetes is a livable condition and there's no reason why we shouldn't lead full and active lives for many years to come, also diabetes research is moving at a fast pace and I for one believe that they'll be a cure of sorts in the next 10 years.....something I wouldn't have said only 5-10 years ago!!!
 
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catherinecherub

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Andy12345 said:
hi, montana may i ask what the significance of taking the treat immediatly after a main meal is please?

Hi Andy,

If you eat a treat between meals then it will raise your blood sugars significantly.

If you eat it as part of a main meal then the overall impact will be lessened as the meal will have a lower G.I. if it is a diabetic friendly meal.
 
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Hi

Lonely or alone ? Thats a hard one really, I don't really think I have felt lonely with diabetes TBH, I have felt other emotions, but trying getting to grips with those two words, maybe I'm just too long in the tooth now after 20+ years........... :think:

RRB
 

ivinghoe

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I`m in the same boat as Dougal. If it wasnt for diabetes I would almost certainly be doing a different job to what I do now. I was 13 when diagnosed and it shattered my confidence. :oops: