Emotionally still struggling

So sorry that your struggling to cope with things, there is help out there for those who are effected by the emotional impact of diabetes but you do need to let your HCP's know that there is a problem, have a read of the following:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Emotional-issues/

they also have a phone care line, any help would be tailored to your needs
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Careline/

this anon forum may be helpful too, there isn't much that hasn't been said here

princessleia29 said:

<snip!>I wasn't even told what to expect the appointments just arrive out of the blue and that is it. Why does no-one care about the emotional impact?

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This could be said for so many things in the NHS. I had to have an MRI last week and I really got myself into a right stew about it with the anxiety working overtime. If they'd let me just go and have a look at it and tell me what to expect it might have been a lot easier. I think sometimes they forget. I know they do as I used to work in this system! On hindsight, I should have just rung them up and asked, but I hate telephones too LOL.

Ok, so I admit I'm a fruit loop when it comes to health stuff...comes from my GP trying to kill me a few years ago...

Your appointments would be 1 on 1 with a diabetic consultant no need to worry there just daily check ups tell them how you are felling when you are there i was sceard at the start too but im sure you will get all the help you need

if you are feeling anxious about being a new diabetic, that's very normal and there would be something wrong if you had no concern whatsoever.
everyone goes nuts to start with
http://www.diabetesexplained.com/the-five-stages-of-grief.html

if this is your old stuff fairing up and it's over the top to the situation and you really don't feel well and need to reach out...then I would ring my Dr for a referral

Hi princess,

I don't think some HCP's realise the impact. It is not them with the condition and some just expect us to get on with it. You also have to consider the impact that the growing numbers of diabetics have on the NHS. Type 2 used to only affect the older population but now it is affecting all age groups and is costing the NHS a fortune. Any chronic condition does need some input from our Health Care Team and the forum highlights the postcode lottery as to how our diagnosis is handled by professionals.
What you really need is some reassurance and explanations along with some education about your meter readings. I am sorry that you have been left to flounder and you really need to speak up at your next appointment and explain how you are feeling

The condition is manageable fro most of us, even if it means medication for some of us. I would advise you to take things slowly, read up on different approaches and most of all relax. This is a marathon not a sprint and stress is known to raise blood sugars.

((((hugs))))

THis article may help,

http://www.diabetesexplained.com/diabetic-emotional-issues.html

CC.

princessleia29 said:

Thank you I will mention it at the clinic. Do you know if diabetes clinic is one on one or a group of people? Thanks

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I'd imagine if your refereed for counselling then it will be one-on-one.

Do seek help for your problems and don't suffer in silence, there's a good support network out there which can help you overcome these difficulties, good luck and best wishes for now.

princessleia29 said:

Hi all

I'm not sure if I should still be posting in this section so forgive me it its wrong I got diagnosed in June of this year so I still consider myself newly diagnosed. The thing is I am not coping with the diagnosis at all. I have suffered from anxiety on and off over the years and it has come back ever since I found out even causing a panic attack which I have not had in years. I was worried about traveling long distance and I had worked myself up into a state in case "something happened due to diabetes". The thing is my diabetes is currently food/exercise controlled ( I am hoping it will stay this way) but I am so freaked out with it all. I imagine all the worst case scenarios happening to me and I can't cope. The only positive thing is I have lost 1.5 stone already and I am continuing to lose weight to help myself.

I did not like the way I was told I had Type 2 over the phone by a doctor who said she had no time to talk then and this was on a Friday so I worried all weekend. I was just given a testing kit and told to get on with it and I have had to do so much research myself into finding out what I should be eating. I have my first blood test since diagnosis next week and then diabetes clinic and I am dreading it. I did have my eye screening and my eyes are fine but I wasn't even told what to expect the appointments just arrive out of the blue and that is it. Why does no-one care about the emotional impact?

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Hi there,

Well done for posting such an honest and sincere account. I've been diagnosed 2 years ago and there was a while where I felt pretty crummy and like I was going to be more of a liability to my family than any kind of help or contributor.

What external elements are there in your day that potentially trigger internal stress? Work / a commute / difficult people - are there environments, people, TV shows, books, activities that help to distract or put in perspective the situation - have you noticed any patterns in times of the day or situations where you feel better or times when it feels worse?

Sounds like a ****** way to find out with the doc over the phone.

Hi Leia, the manner of your diagnosis does seem to be a particularly bad one, although most are not far behind. The good thing is that you have got your BS under control with diet and exercise, and you have lost some weight, so despite everything you are managing your condition really well so well done you! Give yourself a hug and we can give you virtual ones from here.

I can't speak about anxiety attacks but one of the positive things about this condition is we can do so much about it ourselves and be able to say to the NHS "see, despite your lousy service I managed to do all this myself". That's empowerment, feel good about that, you deserve to.

Hi Leia

I totally understand where you are coming from - I suffer from health anxiety and have a past history of depression. I always think the worst ... I haven't even got diabetes (yet), I have insulin resistance so just 2 steps away. I felt ok about this, it was a wakeup call and the kick up the bum I needed to take control of my health and lose some weight (I had put on quite a bit over last 5 years). I am under an endocrinologist for other conditions and he suggested I get a BG monitor as I had been having some kind of 'hypo' symptoms late morning some days. So of course, a toy like a BG monitor can be more of a dangerous weapon for a hypochondriac like me, as anything untoward sends me into a complete panic! Now I'm not sure if the light headedness is a decrease in blood sugar or a panic attack!

Like you, I am not working and have way too much time on my hands to worry, mainly about potentially getting LADA and having to inject insulin. However, just last weekend I'd been feeling a bit sorry for myself cos I wanted to comfort eat and was wrestling with myself, trying to keep control. I found out the very next day my best friend in UK has Motor Neurone Disease. I was devastated and ashamed of myself for moping around; but it really changed my perspective ... at least with diabetes it is something you can help take control of, it's not a death sentence. And here I am, worrying about something I may or may not get in the future - might get hit by a bus tomorrow for all I know!

I have today just started doing some voluntary work ... so good to get out of the house, make yourself useful and give something back to the community. Is this perhaps something you might consider? It will certainly help take your mind off things

princessleia29 said:

Hi I'm sorry to hear about your problems too I hope you feel better soon too. I do voluntary work on an ad hoc basis as a first aider but it's not enough really I only do it every now and then perhaps for an evening. I should really find something in the daytime it's just tricky when I've been feeling so jittery but I know I won't get better sitting at home worrying.

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Yes it becomes a bit of a viscous circle, doesn't it? Sometimes it's just a question of being with other people, takes your mind off things somewhat.