Feeling down

[Sav1210]

I'm not one to complain about my diabetes to people because i don't think it's fair to put my stress on them when they don't actually have the disease. Lately I've just been depressed. I wear the omnipod and dexcom and my whole body is sore. I hate sleeping with both on me and they hurt me almost all the time. I'm tired of it all and I don't know who to talk to. I don't have a single friend who has diabetes and it gets hard sometimes. I feel like I'm alone in this. People who don't have it don't understand! My teachers think I'm faking when I ask to go to the nurse because my blood sugars low and they tell me to hurry, like it's something I can rush. I miss a lot of school because of it so my teachers think I just skip. I try to explain to them but they don't care. I just don't know what to do anymore, I'm tired of people telling me to stay strong and not let it affect me! I have a disease that affects me every day! How can they tell me how to feel when they don't know what it's like!

 

[jack412]

Hi, as a parent, it would be a relief to me if my kid shared with me how they felt. It was normally "how did it go..." with the answer "fine"
your feelings are your feelings, it's how you feel. even though it's meant to help, the 'stay strong' encouragement can go too far. tell your parents how you feel and that sometimes you feel sad now and again and need a hug and a cry about it too
I know that bottling up your feelings and not getting them out will make you feel worse

there are some that would be around your age in the children-teens section and would know exactly how you feel
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/children-teens.46/

 

[Juicyj]

Hey here's a big virtual hug ((()))

As Jack said if you don't talk to someone then your feelings can get worse, so can you talk to a nurse, parent, friend ? Because your body is sore please speak to your nurse and consultant to see if there is anything else that could be done ?

Diabetes can become quite a big thing in our lives if we let it, it sounds like you need to find a way to get your life into perspective and don't let this get in your way as it's affecting your attendance at school - how often do you have hypos and can you minimise them ? Carry small bag of jelly babies perhaps ? Can you educate your teachers on type 1, perhaps ask a teacher you can confide or speak to about how you can improve the knowledge of those around you ? It sounds like they don't know much at all as their comments are very insensitive,so if you could do something then it would help both you and other type 1's they come unto contact with, if you could do something then you would feel so much better.

Try a walk when your feeling down and concentrate on your breathing so really fill your lungs and walk briskly in a park or green area, this helps me, also try a 5 minute meditation again focus on breathing but just letting your breath come and go naturally but being mindful of the feeling of the air passing in and out of your body, this is a calming way of feeling present, hope it helps. Also remember that how you are feeling is temporary and will pass, it's a sign you need to make some changes so stay positive x

 

[Spiker]

Hi Sav

That sounds awful. I know what you mean about having devices on you all the time, even when you are sleeping. That gets me down too.

I didn't have diabetes when I was young so I can only imagine what it's like in school.

Can you talk to your Diabetes Specialist Nurse and see if there is a peer group for young T1s she can connect you with? Are you or your parents in the JDRF? There may be families nearby who are members and who have similar experiences. And keep talking here. We are here to listen.

Big hug.
X

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[diabeticdancer]

I hope you're ok. Feel better soon.

I had to step out of class the other day for a test and the teacher didn't seem too pleased it it's good job I did because I was very low. I try not to let it bother me because it's my health and it is more important than their opinion of whether I am "faking it" or not.

Xxx


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[michaeldavid]

There are plenty here who seem not to have any problem at all being diabetic.

I'm one of them. And I certainly wouldn't want anything attached to me either! - there'd be no advantage for me at all.

You're in the right company here.

 

[Jaylee]

My my,, it doesn't seem the attitudes have changed in schools toward diabetes since I was a lad...

However, ask yourself this.. Take the diabetes out of the equation & look at the general "professionalism" of the teachers in question towards other members of your class In.general..? Are other non D students having similar where they may feel "targeted" & misunderstood for other reasons?

I've been there too & never said a word a loooong time ago. I've seen cruelty that could go in a Dickens novel. But looking back so did some of my other classmates...

Form some sort of "alliance" with others in your classes they may not understand your diabetes but they will associate with the bigger picture.

The strength is in the numbers... Good luck!

 

[Scandichic]

My my,, it doesn't seem the attitudes have changed in schools toward diabetes since I was a lad...

However, ask yourself this.. Take the diabetes out of the equation & look at the general "professionalism" of the teachers in question towards other members of your class In.general..? Are other non D students having similar where they may feel "targeted" & misunderstood for other reasons?

I've been there too & never said a word a loooong time ago. I've seen cruelty that could go in a Dickens novel. But looking back so did some of my other classmates...

Form some sort of "alliance" with others in your classes they may not understand your diabetes but they will associate with the bigger picture.

The strength is in the numbers... Good luck!

I don't think that this is helpful advice to the op. In the first instance, this student ought to speak to their tutor. If conditions don't improve rapidly, then the head of year/house. Whatever pastoral system is in place. If this does not work then the ops parents need to complain vociferously. Encouraging students to form alliances with others may discredit the students argument in the eyes of the schools leadership team. Better to follow procedure in the first instance. Unfortunately, schools are under horrendous pressure from ofsted about attendance and teachers are now in trouble if students do not perform regardless of how unrealistic the students target is or what their medical condition is.
I can imagine that you probably have seen some incredibly unprofessional behaviour - teachers are people too and unfortunately that means there are good, bad and downright rubbish ones.
To the op- please speak to your tutor and parents. Is there anyone with whom you have a good relationship? It doesn't have to be your tutor. You must let your parents know. Good luck!

 

[Jaylee]

I don't think that this is helpful advice to the op. In the first instance, this student ought to speak to their tutor. If conditions don't improve rapidly, then the head of year/house. Whatever pastoral system is in place. If this does not work then the ops parents need to complain vociferously. Encouraging students to form alliances with others may discredit the students argument in the eyes of the schools leadership team. Better to follow procedure in the first instance. Unfortunately, schools are under horrendous pressure from ofsted about attendance and teachers are now in trouble if students do not perform regardless of how unrealistic the students target is or what their medical condition is.
I can imagine that you probably have seen some incredibly unprofessional behaviour - teachers are people too and unfortunately that means there are good, bad and downright rubbish ones.
To the op- please speak to your tutor and parents. Is there anyone with whom you have a good relationship? It doesn't have to be your tutor. You must let your parents know. Good luck!

I certainly wasn't trying to incite a scenario like the ending of the 1968 Lindsay Anderson movie If.
You know how it works in these "institutions".. Maybe there are other individuals with different issues sitting in silence.
Structure a common complaint & lobby it on mass..

 

[creetiebabe]

I was 9 when I was diagnosed. I went from eating cakes and sweets with my friends to sat watching them do it with all the envy in the world. I felt alone and different. Kids used to call me a wierdo and freak but i dont blame them, they did it because they didnt know anything about it. I took a vhs into school (yes I know I sound old) that explained what was happening in my body and what diabetes meant. My whole class sat and watched it even my teachers, they were enthralled. I then became the one they envied as I got to eat in class etc. I grew to live with my diabetes and learn that yes it means that something isnt working in my body as it should but it doesnt define the person that I am. I have two gorgeous children a fiancé and a lovely home. Life will get better and this I promise. If you feel like your equipment is getting you down speak to your diabetes team, they should do all they can to make sure you're comfortable, after all its you that has to deal with it day in day out. I found that injections worked the best for me and always have done. Once you've had it thats the end of it until the next dose. Hope this helps xx

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[barbiedreams]

hey!

i know how you feel, and when everyones like go talk to your diabetes people or what ever they are... its not always what you want, you sometimes just want a friend that you can talk to and ***** about your issues and they just listen haha ive had diabetes since i was 3 and when i was in grade 7 i got a pump so i know what its like having things attached to you all the time, do you know what i hated most is with the pump it had this cord thing and it always stuck out from my top and some kids would come up to me a pull it and be like whats this.... or it would get caught on a door knob OUCH!! sometimes what you need is to just cry and be a sook about it to someone for a lil while so you can get it out of your system! and when i was in school and on school camps all the kids were like WHY DOES SHE GET TO EAT LOLLIES or WHY DOES SHE GET TO LEAVE CLASS...theres always going to be those kids and teachers that just dont understand and yes its sooooo anoying but hey you cant help it and if they dont want to understand why it is that you need to leave class or why your not at school then that is the teachers issue not yours love! i can say things will get easier but, yes people are HEAPS HEAPS better at understanding what diabetes is and how it effects people but as you said your the one with diabetes so only you know how to deal with it! i use to always say to myself that people with diabetes are awsome! and people with out diabetes are just jealous of how cool we all are!! but i will say the thing that helped me the most when i was feeling really sad and kind of depressed about being a diabetic.... DIABETES CAMPS! seriously they are the best i had some of the best times on those camps and ive made life long friends from them too! and also another thing that helped was i dont know if you have them in the UK but im from Australia melbourne and we have JDRF WALK FOR THE CURE and there is this lady or man who knows really that dress up as a giant jelly bean they are sooo cute! i asked if someone dressed as a jelly bean could come to my school and in a fun was explain what diabetes is because a lot of people still to this day have this understanding about it and its generally like..... did you eat to much sugar when you were young.... were you a really fat kid..... so you cant eat lollies.... stupid things like that! if you want add some fellow diabetics on skype if you want and we are always here to talk because diabetics have been through the same sort of things too and everyone needs someone to talk to!! hope your feeling better xx

 

[Caleyxx]

Hey I don't have a pump yet but I know how u feel about everything else. I feel like there is no one to talk to I have talked to my BFF and parents but they just don't understand the same as someone who's going through it does xxx I hope ur teachers start to understand ur health is more important than anything I was only diagnosed 2 weeks ago so none of my teachers know and because I'm using pens none of my friends realise xxx hope u start to feel better soon xxx

 

[kkkk]

I am an older type parental person But had it from when I was younger.....I would also recommend a holiday camp type thing I don't know whether JDRF or someone like that does them, when I was young I went on a weekend away with diabetes UK (then the BDA) and it was just soo nice to meet with others and talk about it and have all my food counted and all that - definitely worth looking at. You aren't alone, most people have no idea about it all, but you can manage it and manage it well, but it does take work, but then that work leads to a better quality of life in the short and long term. It does effect everything you do pretty much but you just get better at planning so that you can do it. A T1 completed the marathon at the weekend which I think is AMAZING and it won't have been easy and it will have been a tonne harder than a non-diabetic person...but it isn't impossible. Take small steps and see what you can do to avoid you missing too much school - is it hypos and stuff? - if you are on a dex maybe set your hypo alert higher so that you can avoid it, work out what you can do to avoid hypos and missing lessons or not functioning so well in lessons (I know it won't be always possible but work on it a little at a time) - speak to the school and maybe get your parents in on it too so they know how you feel and how they can help you too. I found out that there was a parent of a diabetic child and a diabetic teacher in my school so you never know - maybe they would be able to help and talk to you. Definitely talk about it, talk to the diabetes nurse see what they can do to help too.

 

[sammi4688]

I'm not one to complain about my diabetes to people because i don't think it's fair to put my stress on them when they don't actually have the disease. Lately I've just been depressed. I wear the omnipod and dexcom and my whole body is sore. I hate sleeping with both on me and they hurt me almost all the time. I'm tired of it all and I don't know who to talk to. I don't have a single friend who has diabetes and it gets hard sometimes. I feel like I'm alone in this. People who don't have it don't understand! My teachers think I'm faking when I ask to go to the nurse because my blood sugars low and they tell me to hurry, like it's something I can rush. I miss a lot of school because of it so my teachers think I just skip. I try to explain to them but they don't care. I just don't know what to do anymore, I'm tired of people telling me to stay strong and not let it affect me! I have a disease that affects me every day! How can they tell me how to feel when they don't know what it's like!

Hi ive just seen your post. I am due to go on the omnipod tomorrow. I havent heard of anyone on it, could you give me abit of info of how you are on it? Thanks Sam x

 

[Patch13]

Well it's definitely a good thing you came on here then as I am sure there are plenty of people who understand how frustrated you feel sometimes and maybe able to offer advice.

I would talk to your DSN about being sore and see what they can suggest.

It might be an idea to keep dextrose tablets or similar in your school bag. If I felt like I was having a hypo at school I used to just test where I was and hid the meter under the table on my lap or reached into my bag. I then just used to eat dextrose if I was low. This also meant I didn't have to do a long walk to the medical room whilst hypo. I was lucky as none of my teachers commented at all.

I think your teachers are probably just worried about you missing lessons and valuable information. I doubt this is out if spite. It is probably due to a lack if understanding about what a hypo is and how it makes you feel / the fact it is hard to concentrate and also concern that your grades will dip and you won't achieve what you are capable of. I really like the idea of sharing information with them about diabetes. Perhaps you could find some information about diabetes and ask if it can be given to teachers so they have a better understanding of what you're going through.

I also agree with posters above that suggest talking to your tutor and expressing your concerns. Or if you aren't that close to your tutor you could speak to another teacher or member of staff that you feel comfortable with. Or if you aren't much of a talker then how about writing it down?

Best of luck.


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[devexity]

I'm a teacher, and can tell you that your school is doing absolutely everything wrong. Here's how it's supposed to work: all staff, but especially your subject teachers, should have detailed information about your status as a medically at-risk student. In every school I've worked at, your picture and a description of your treatment plan would be displayed in the staff room, either as a print out, or as a slide on a rolling screen, along with information about other students whose needs have to be accommodated in the classroom. Have to be. It's a legal requirement.

The burden of making sure that your individual teachers understand your medical needs shouldn't fall on you. Your parents need to get in contact with your form tutor and Head of Year immediately and explain that you are having problems managing your well-being and your blood glucose because your teachers are putting up barriers. At my school, your Head of Year would then alert your teachers via email, and make a whole-staff announcement about your current status in morning briefing. The way they're treating you is shocking.

 

[Charles Robin]

You will probably be pleasantly surprised by how interested people can be to learn about your diabetes. I used to wonder if people would switch off if I started explaining things. Then I saw things from the side of the listener. I was at a concert put on in aid of the Osteoporosis society, a condition I knew next to nothing about. As well as the music, a lady suffering with the condition gave a 20 minute talk about how it affected her, and what it meant to have osteoporosis. I was enthralled, along with the other 300 people in the audience. As well as being sad for what she had been through, I was genuinely interested in what she had to say.
There are a lot of parallels with diabetes here. Despite how common it has become, it is still a very misunderstood condition. I believe that the more people we educate about what we deal with, the easier it becomes. As a teenager I used to dream about talking to my family about the problems I was having with my diabetes, but I never found the words. If you can work up the courage, you can improve your situation vastly. First of all, remember you are loved. Your family and friends will go to great lengths to help you, just as you would for them. Keeping your feelings to yourself can actually be more of a burden on them. If they are anything like my wife, they will know something is wrong, but might also be too afraid to bring it up. It's amazing how something can seem impossible to cope with, and then just letting someone else in presents solutions.
I have probably gone on a bit, but to sum up, you are not alone. Let those close to you in on your situation and things will improve sooner rather than later. I know it's not easy, and I wish you the best of luck. Let us know how you are getting on