Does 'IT' Get In The Way?

[OneDiabetic]

Hi folks

Ive recently started blogging about my life as a diabetic, being diagnosed at 15, and how i feel now im 21. As an avid readers of these forums, and other diabetes blogs, I would like to gather some sort of picture from you all.

Recently i watched embarrasing teenage bodies, featuring a boy with diabetes, who when diagnosed gave up Sport full stop, mainly rugby, his one and only true passion. I thought about myself aged 15, traumatised, but not realising it, i didnt revolt like many teens, i got on with it (in some ways good, in some ways bad, as only now am i realising the full extent of my diabetes) but i never quit anything, i still played football, still play football, i still went to the pub, i drank, untill recently i smoked, i went on the 18-30's holidays to ibiza and magaluf with 'the lads' i did everything i wanted to do, i may have paid the price, a the time i felt i was looking after myself adiquately, but recently ive realised its more than just doing my jabs and getting on.

My question to you all is:-

Have you ever given up a passion, or a hobby for diabetes? has it physically or emotionally made you give up something you love, made you change an aspect of you life in a negative way? has it ever simly, got in the way, and are you in anyway bitter?

Love, and health to everyone
Gavin.

 

[cugila]

IT.....you mean Diabetes.

No I have never given up anything at all. Just a few spuds and bread maybe.

As for passion, well there is much in my life now which wasn't there when I was not a Diabetic. So basically it turned my life around. I have never eaten healthier, felt fitter, full of life and energy.

Oh, I'm 61 by the way. Mind of a 20 year old, my son say's I text too much and why do I like his Music. :lol: Such fun. Best thing that ever happened to me.

Ken.

 

[hanadr]

I haven't given up anything other than carbs and I have taken up walking and aqua exercises. And campaigning. I'm too old for rugby. They don't have grandmother teams do they?

 

[ChocFish]

I used to be very bitter about being diabetic and all the complications I got and constantly feeling ill, this lasted for a few years and I was in denial and blaming everyone and everything for it all, I was hell to live with and I felt as if life just was not worth living any more. But then I got some help and advice and that actually worked and I saw results, but even that was hard in the beginning, I was very bitter and not being able to eat my beloved doughnuts any more, I missed them more than anything else, so yes in those days I practically gave up just about everything, I did not go to the cinema anymore, what was the point, I couldnt concentrate on a film and only annoyed others by constantly getting up going to the toilet, then when more and more complications set it I stopped going out and became a recluse, my quality of life was very poor.

Now all of this is behind me, with plenty of the right, good advice, self help, etc I am a totally different person and strange as it sounds I think the diabetes diagnosis saved my life before I ended up eating myself to death. I was forced to change my lifestyle, my eating habits and reaped the benefits, thank goodness. I am the first to admit that my case was/is an extreme one, but there you go, its been a matter of fumbling around in the dark and finally finding that elusive light switch.
So far so good, I am fighting fit, last year I even passed a GTT with flying colours, yeah, all well and good, but there is never ever room for complacency, once a diabetic always a diabetic but it is possible to live a full and happy life. And even if you feel that its no longer possible to play rugby, then go find a substitute that you will enjoy as much as you used to enjoy playing rugby?

Good luck, just never say never,

Karen

 

[Celtic.Piskie]

Nope.

I'm stubborn.
I used to be a ballerina. A very, very good one. But i broke my ankle one too many times, and sinmply can't take the strain. I'm more bitter about that than my diabetes.
I refused to let it get in the way. I fought it, learn all i can about it, and damm well beat it into a 'nuisance' state.
I've been heli-skiing, worked as a ski instructor in Switzerland for 18 months, lived in America for 18 months too. I go mountain biking a lot, sledding my dog, looking after my daughter (hardest).
I just flatly refused to let my broken pancreas stop me doing what i wanted.
Now it's just my husband that doesn't want me to go Avalanche skiing... He has a point, but still. Once an adrenaline junkie, always an adrenaline junkie

As for changing me, well, everything changes you. You are the sum of all of your experiences, and they all affect who you are, and the choices you make.

I think everyone is a little, not bitter. But irritated. We cannot simply go out and binge without thinking like most other people, we can't just sit down and eat without thinking and working things out.
It affects our daily lives, and yes, it would be wonderful to be able to ignore it.
But i'm not bitter. It's a rather useless emotion, wishing things were otherwise.
Things are the way they are.
Change what you can, try what you're not sure, and ignore the rest.

 

[chocoholic]

Shortly after diagnosis I was very bitter. I had always assumed I'd be 100% healthy, so that I might look out for my severely disabled brother, when my mum dies.That was my instant angry reaction on diagnosis.....why ME......why not someone who didn't need to be there for someone like my brother. Then out of that bitterness and anger came an utter determination to do EVERYTHING in my power to stay as healthy as I can. What better motivation could I have?
Diabetes or not, I'll still meet problems. Only yesterday I took my brother for a walk along the seafront and the wheel came off his wheelchair....the rubber had perished from inside...then when I tried to phone for family to help, the battery died on my phone.....I still sorted it though...and that wheel would still have come off regardless of me being diabetic or in full health. Life always throws us problems and bitterness can eat you up from within.
Having said that I was also rather bitter that things like Danish Pastries were off the agenda after diagnosis. I wouldn't say I sulked but I kept Kleenex in business for a good while!
Will diabetes stop me doing things? Will it heck as like. I actually now appreciate life more and tackle things with an enthusiasm and determination that I probably lacked prior to diagnosis.
You get one life and life is for living. I don't intend reaching the end of my life and feeling 'I wish I'd done that' because I'll have done it or at least tried to do it.

 

[kegstore]

The only thing I've ever had to give up was driving, two years ago following a really bad hypo while at the wheel - I wrote off my beautiful car and so voluntarily surrendered my licence. I HATE not driving every day because I love(d) it so much, but I'm a realist too and am just thankful no-one else was ever injured or worse. Still bitter about it though...

I was diagnosed aged 14 and it never stopped me doing any sport - I used to row and play rugby for my school 2-3 times a week, have always cycled madly, windsurfing most weekends in my teens, even started skiing at 24 and still manage a couple of weeks somewhere every year or so. So I guess I'm lucky, but could never see any reason to give up any sport?

 

[sugarless sue]

Two years after diagnosis I'm fitter ,healthier and happier than I was before!! Getting diabetes does change your life,but sometimes it is for the better!Given up anything? Only the foods that were killing me! Now I enjoy all the things I eat and certainly don't miss the others,....well maybe chocolate

 

[Celtic.Piskie]

Sue, have you heard of Hotel Chocolat?
They do absolutely wonderful chocolate, with high chocolate content.
No rubbish. Their extremist bar with a sweet coffe is absolute heaven.

It's a little pricey, but you definintly do get what you pay for.

I treat myself to a box of six a week... one a day.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Marky74]

There is no way I am giving up rugby.. it broke my heart that I was diagnosed towards the end of the season and had to stop untill my BS had come down, now it is down.. bring on the scrums :lol:

I am only 35

 

[Handyníall]

Actually I took up rugby when I was diagnosed. It's been good to me as well, I guess I owe the 5 000 euro per annum scholarship I got for rugby to diabetes. My brother stopped playing gaelic football because some idiot at school told him he could pass it on by blood to blood contact and he didn't want to be responsible for 'giving' somebody diabetes.

I've stopped eating bread and potatoes. Although I have 3 'normal' meals a year: Christmas (roast potatoes... yum yum), New Year's Day and My Birthday.

Níall (openside flanker/represented Ireland Schools, U15s, U17s and U19s).

 

[Handyníall]

There has got to be things you like about being diabetic, we've created our own little list of things we personally are thankful of and might not have happened if we hadn't been diabetic (there are of course things NOT to like about it... Wouldn't be much of a chronic illness is we all loved it would it?)

Níall

- Taking up rugby
- Getting into good shape
- Those few seconds after I've tested my BS and they're within range
- The way that I'm no longer on a permanent sugar high, like I was when I was a kid

Eoin

- We're allowed to take a few shots of the strong stuff before we go to sleep (for medicinal reasons obviously :wink: )
- People seem to listen to us when we talk about diabetes (and we do bluff a lot of the stuff)
- Going on clinic/hospital visits and being able to empathise with other diabetics
- And of course, losing a stone of fat helped :wink:

 

[tsronaldo]

That's pretty good.

 

[yipster29]

I like that I'm fitter, healthier, don't crave chocolate and biscuits anymore, can officially eat ice-cream on occasion, can still drink alcohol, HAVE to be allowed to find time to exercise even when work tries to take over, met lots of decent people on here, understand some of the workings of the human body a little better... and am amazed how much 1 little pancreas had done with no recognition!!

So as you say... not all bad!

 

[jumbleannie]

Being able to fit into size 10 skirts for the first time in 15 years. Having a good excuse to flake out on the sofa when I want, ( hubby read diabetes causes tiredness) :lol: , which ain't true cos I feel more energised than I have in years, (probably been uncontrolled diabetic for years). Having the occasional treat, eg a cream bun, cos when your eating sweets all the time they cease to be treats, and I did eat quite a lot of sweet stuff.

 

[suzi]

When my son was diagnosed, i think he spent the first summer pended in the back garden, i didn't let him out of my sight. Now 3yrs later at the tender age of 10, equiped with a bumbag containing bs kit, lucozade tabs, snack, sos tailisman and mobile phone, and usually older brother, i let him venture to the park and trim trail. I have given him his independance and the freedom and hope it will stand him in good stead for when he's older. Of course i phone him regularly to check up on him, and i worry the whole time hes away out playing. We haven't let Diabetes rob him of his childhood or the things he can do, we don't let 'IT' get in the way.
Suzi x

 

[chocoholic]

Now 3yrs later at the tender age of 10, equiped with a bumbag containing bs kit, lucozade tabs, snack, sos tailisman and mobile phone, and usually older brother,

Cor,he must be a very small older brother!!! :lol:

Sorry, I jest, of course. I admire so much parents dealing with children with diabetes. It's hard enough to judge things as an adult but to have to deal with children, especially the very young ones, who can't always express themselves accurately, it must be so tricky.Thumbs up to all the mums and dads who cope with diabetes in their offspring.

 

[chocoholic]

I was always very envious of the boys at school playing rugby. It looked so much more exciting than the girlie sports I had to play.I was saying this to hubby the other day and said I just loved the idea of running away from everyone with the ball clutched tightly in hands. His reply......"I used to love running away too......only I used to do it without the ball." Apparently the sight of lads much bigger than him,bearing down on him at speed was not his idea of fun. What a wuss!

 

[phoenix]

No, I think if I hadn't have go it I would be less active than I am now. Fourteen months after diagnosis I ran my first marathon.
The biggest nuisance is having to eat dextrose tablets when I don't want to eat anything let alone those horrid sweet things.

 

[lionrampant]

As a direct link, no - I've not given up on anything due to diabetes. However, for a long time now I've been inexplicably tired all the time and since the logical course of action is to try and eliminate diabetes as a primary or secondary cause (something I haven't done successfully yet) I would say there is the possibility that IT has prevented me from socialising, holidaying and even working as much as I otherwise would have.

Strange life, isn't it?