Feeling drained, depressed and alone

[cezli84]

Im having more down days than i care to admit let alone accept. T1 is affecting everything i do, its controlling me and i cant shake this!!

 

[TorqPenderloin]

What in particular is frustrating you? Sometimes it helps to air out what's on your mind and talk about it.

 

[cezli84]

I jus cant seem to get anything right with it. And the fact that i, along with many others, have to inject 4 times a day, i bruise like a peach an i hate everything bout T1. I no im one of millions that have this but im really struggling to actually accept this for life! Sorry

 

[AdamAdam]

I jus cant seem to get anything right with it. And the fact that i, along with many others, have to inject 4 times a day, i bruise like a peach an i hate everything bout T1. I no im one of millions that have this but im really struggling to actually accept this for life! Sorry

Can I say I feel the exact same! Type 1 since 1996 now 24, feel depressed, high blood sugars, tired etc. What can we do?

 

[cezli84]

I havent been one for a year yet but still feel like im failing at it i hardly have hypos which is good but feel so poorly wen they are high an especially with my water infection theres jus no reducing them! Hope your ok adamadam

 

[SamJB]

It's easy to feel like this when you're not in control. I went years with **** control. If you can concentrate on two things, your control will improve dramatically.

First, your basal must be correct. This is the most important bit of Type 1 control. Don't eat or inject within at least 3 hours of bed. Take the difference of your before bed and before breakfast levels. For each 1.6 mmol/l difference, adjust your dose by 10%.

Once you've figured that out, you need to figure out your fast acting insulin to carb ratio. This is trial and error, but stick to relatively low levels of carbs because there are errors in the quantity of carbs written on nutritional labels. Best to stick to around 20g carbs and look at the difference between your before and 2 hours after eating levels. Take into account that 1 unit of insulin lowers levels by 2-3 mmol/l

Finally, consider low carbing. It makes excellent control easy.

 

[cezli84]

It's easy to feel like this when you're not in control. I went years with **** control. If you can concentrate on two things, your control will improve dramatically.

First, your basal must be correct. This is the most important bit of Type 1 control. Don't eat or inject within at least 3 hours of bed. Take the difference of your before bed and before breakfast levels. For each 1.6 mmol/l difference, adjust your dose by 10%.

Once you've figured that out, you need to figure out your fast acting insulin to carb ratio. This is trial and error, but stick to relatively low levels of carbs because there are errors in the quantity of carbs written on nutritional labels. Best to stick to around 20g carbs and look at the difference between your before and 2 hours after eating levels. Take into account that 1 unit of insulin lowers levels by 2-3 mmol/l

Finally, consider low carbing. It makes excellent control easy.

Thank u so much. That makes sense

 

[azure]

Good general advice from @SamJB above, but do remember that we're all different and very few of us follow the rules, so always err on the side of caution if you adjust your insulin, and if in any doubt check with your DSN.

Your basal is the foundation on which you build, so getting that right is an important first step

This might sound a bit sad, but I found keeping a little notebook helped when I was on MDI and having control problems. Seeing it all written down helped me make adjustments and realise how certain meals affected my BS.

Another thing to remember when you're feeling down is that a cure is getting closer and closer Someone diagnosed decades ago might have had To deal with Type 1 for the rest of their life, but hopefully we won't

 

[AndyS]

All amazing advice above. Speak to your dr and dsn and see if you can get on some formal education course like dafne. It does help give you the basics so you don't feel quite so out of control and drifting.
Do a quick search on the forum to find a link to the bdec online course, that can help to get you started with carb counting.

All that aside bear in mind you are trying to learn to do something nature spent millions of years perfecting. While it is possible to get near perfect control it is exhausting and not really sustainable. If you can generally keep good control with the occasional blip then you are doing great. The first couple years can be the hardest, it is a lot to adapt to so try to take a breath and try to enjoy the little things when you can.

When you have the bad days try to reset overnight, forget yesterday and deal with today. It does get easier I promise but if you continue to struggle then lean on the knowledge here or speak to your dsn or dr for more help.

Hope you start to see some light.
A

 

[azure]

Here's the Bdec link:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com

 

[alicerebekah]

Im having more down days than i care to admit let alone accept. T1 is affecting everything i do, its controlling me and i cant shake this!!

I was only diagnosed late November so I know exactly how you feel. I hate myself for having diabetes but I know I cannot change anything for now.

I have no idea what I'm doing but I have found keeping a food diary with what I'm eating, how much insulin I give and how it affects my blood glucose levels has really helped me.

Stay strong my love, there is a cure out there somewhere, we just need to hold on until it's found️

 

[Shar67]

Hi
First you have about about a quarter million people on here lots of them including me who are happy to hold out our hand and say you have me for support, someone to talk to PM me if you need just an ordinary chat or if there is something major, the old saying a problem shared is a problem halved.

Some of the non diabetic meds I take make me have super sensitive skin, my OH says I look like a bad graffiti wall all shades of purple and green blotches.

Every day with no let up inject inject, you know it is better than the alternative. I read your info and you are a successful beautiful lady, Mother Nature never lets us have it all
I hate the expression what doesn't kills you makes you stronger, but diabetes changes something in our brains you have to use that inner strength to be "normal" and it's a grind a weary weary pressure.

Do you know that that silly good feeling when you put your penny change in the charity box, well I do a little thing to make me feel good, it isn't a bigggy bit daft really, once a day, I put 50p up to a pound in a jar at the end of the month I check what the local food bank is short on then use the money to buy some things they need, Tesco own brand coffee is 49p for a little jar if I can buy 30+ jars to donate it makes me feel good knowing that some one can get a few cups of coffee. Now the good feeling isn't the end it's every day that I put the money in the jar.
Doing a small thing for someone else can make a huge difference, there is lots of charities that need help not necessary money but physical, like offering to walk someone's dog (cinnamon trust), making up food bags (local food bank), puppy walker (guide dogs for blind) etc.

Maybe do some adult education, just something that is not your usual routine, I did an art course, it wasn't physically painting etc, it was about the appreciation, the techniques etc. I have been doing my family tree researching is a good way to lose yourself.

Anyway here to offer a shoulder to lean on, PM if you want but there is a lot of people on here if you post in open who will be there for you.

 

[SamJB]

I'd second what @azure said. Whenever things change for me (ratios, basal rates do sometimes change), writing BG levels and insulin doses down makes it so much easier. Your DSN will have some diaries to give you.

A great book to buy is Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner, it will definitely teach you to get to grips with insulin dosing, which is what it's all about. The more you educate yourself, the better your control and the better your quality of life becomes.

 

[cezli84]

Hi
First you have about about a quarter million people on here lots of them including me who are happy to hold out our hand and say you have me for support, someone to talk to PM me if you need just an ordinary chat or if there is something major, the old saying a problem shared is a problem halved.

Some of the non diabetic meds I take make me have super sensitive skin, my OH says I look like a bad graffiti wall all shades of purple and green blotches.

Every day with no let up inject inject, you know it is better than the alternative. I read your info and you are a successful beautiful lady, Mother Nature never lets us have it all
I hate the expression what doesn't kills you makes you stronger, but diabetes changes something in our brains you have to use that inner strength to be "normal" and it's a grind a weary weary pressure.

Do you know that that silly good feeling when you put your penny change in the charity box, well I do a little thing to make me feel good, it isn't a bigggy bit daft really, once a day, I put 50p up to a pound in a jar at the end of the month I check what the local food bank is short on then use the money to buy some things they need, Tesco own brand coffee is 49p for a little jar if I can buy 30+ jars to donate it makes me feel good knowing that some one can get a few cups of coffee. Now the good feeling isn't the end it's every day that I put the money in the jar.
Doing a small thing for someone else can make a huge difference, there is lots of charities that need help not necessary money but physical, like offering to walk someone's dog (cinnamon trust), making up food bags (local food bank), puppy walker (guide dogs for blind) etc.

Maybe do some adult education, just something that is not your usual routine, I did an art course, it wasn't physically painting etc, it was about the appreciation, the techniques etc. I have been doing my family tree researching is a good way to lose yourself.

Anyway here to offer a shoulder to lean on, PM if you want but there is a lot of people on here if you post in open who will be there for you.

Thank you so much. This has all helped me so much. I always feel ten times worse wen im at time of month an havin this eater infection hasnt helped either. I think its amazing what u have been doing. I have recently enrolled onto an online counselling course which i absolutely love so that should keep me busy. Xx

 

[Shar67]

@cezli84 if you keep yourself occupied it helps no end. The time of the month is a bug bear, a new charity I'm involved in are looking to fund research into pancreas damage (either genetic or other) and hormones released during periods, if it makes periods heavier or making Pms worse, if female hormones actually cause damage to panc.

Counciling course sounds very interesting, I think it's one of those courses that makes you want to look at people and emotions further, like body language or psychology. I wanted to do a course in criminology but don't have time just now, something for the future.

 

[Juicyj]

Chin up lovely it will get better, try and focus on the positives in your life, dwelling on negatives can get you down, go for a walk in the country as that's a good serotonin release or do some exercise.

Type 1 literally does have its ups and downs, I found by getting better control helped my moods, hope your feeling better today ?

@Shar67 I would be fascinated to learn more about your charity, I have had a real issues with periods, control and my type 1 ?

 

[Jibbers]

Im having more down days than i care to admit let alone accept. T1 is affecting everything i do, its controlling me and i cant shake this!!

Ello you ..... So u being a stig eh .... Same here ...total stig of the dumps ......
So I was bad an eat whole bag of jelly baby's ........no feel worse lol ....
So I take no one has asked you if a silly pic may place a smile on face ....how about this ....

 

[Westley]

Hi @cezli84,
Sorry to hear that. It does get better.

Take the difference of your before bed and before breakfast levels. For each 1.6 mmol/l difference, adjust your dose by 10%.

Just one note of caution on this - I went through a phase where I kept increasing my basal because I was always waking up higher than I went to sleep, but later found that most nights I had actually been dipping to hypo or borderline hypo in the small hours of the morning and sleeping through it, and my morning sugars were bouncing back up in response to this, coupled with dawn phenomenon. So by increasing my basal I was actually making it worse. I spent quite a while always waking up still tired and feeling as though I was hungover - not a nice start to the day control-wise or mood-wise. I had heard of setting an alarm to check in the night, but put it off for quite a while before discovering. Obviously it's a bit of a pain interrupting your sleep like this, but I'd say well worth doing if you think it's a possibility.

 

[cezli84]

Ello you ..... So u being a stig eh .... Same here ...total stig of the dumps ......
So I was bad an eat whole bag of jelly baby's ........no feel worse lol ....
So I take no one has asked you if a silly pic may place a smile on face ....how about this ....

Aww thats so cute!! One of my cats looks like that but shirt haired. Yea am bein a stig. Well emotional an moody as hell but that defo put a smile on my chops ta huni. How u feelin?? Xxx

 

[Jibbers]

Aww thats so cute!! One of my cats looks like that but shirt haired. Yea am bein a stig. Well emotional an moody as hell but that defo put a smile on my chops ta huni. How u feelin?? Xxx

Am good am good ... Just playing back last night show with a cuppa ....an ready for the morrow'