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Hello Everyone...

JB1974

JB1974

Member
Messages
9
Location
Kent
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi, and firstly so glad I found this forum.

I'm not a diabetes sufferer myself, but my partner is Type 1 and I'm looking forward to learning everything there is about it. I'm sure as I read the forums I'll find myself nodding in agreement at much of what is said.

I'm relatively new to this, but I see diabetes as something that most friends & family of sufferers barely understand, many GPs don't either. With some diseases there are very visible signs you are ill. People can see that, they rally round. Partly because people see you're "ill" and they want you to get better. To me with Type 1 (and apologies it's what I have most (little) experience of) when you're diagnosed everyone is sorry and says they'll help but a a few months in, a year in they've forgotten - to put it bluntly the novelty wears off. Other diseases however cruel are ones that may be cured. Diabetes though is with you for the rest of your life. That's what I find most difficult.

I am very keen to hear what other Type 1 & 2 sufferers say, but I guess my personal angle is seeing what other partners / carers / friends of Type 1 sufferers have to say. as well. Are there any that have been the driver of helping their partner to get to grips and make changes? How did they do that? What challenges did they face in terms of getting help, and of pressures on their relationship?

I'm keen to understand from sufferers about how you manage your diabetes when real-life gets in the way - children, work, other stresses. How do you make sure that when every time you go to check bloods a child grabs you, the phone rings, or someone distracts you; that in that moment you've forgotten and onto the next thing. Thirty minutes, an hour later realising a low / high is hitting you and realising why.

How did you make those lifestyle changes? Did you manage to bring down your HbA1c levels after them rising year after year? Where you someone who didn't think that anything you did would ever make a difference? Used to bury your head in the sand?

As an "outsider" I think all the above are things I know are tough, and wonder actually if they're pretty common to Type 1. I think as much as we may all know we need to change XYZ we're all human, it's never easy.

Apologies it's a long post full of questions. Looking to find even just some of the answers here. To read some sad stories that I am sure will resonate, as much as the ones of inspiration that will make me smile and give hope.

To all of you with Type 1 & 2 - from someone that doesn't have it, I think you're all bloody incredible!

J
 
Hi @mahola -
I don't like to think of myself as a "sufferer" I don't suffer from diabetes, it's just an extra challenge I have to contend with. I have diabetes, it doesn't have me.
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please excuse me, as I wrote my post I know that I'm getting terminology wrong that either doesn't sound right or jolts. You're right I don't know anyone with diabetes who would consider themselves a "sufferer", as I said I think it's part of people like me who don't know, use these terms interchangeably without thinking.

You're spot on in that if you're functioning right then everything else flows. I do know that's the right way, the best way. It's about finding a way, perhaps of undoing ingrained habits, and not answering the phone or the children! :)
 
Hi and a warm welcome JB, I have had type 1 for 27 years, but there are some who have been a diabetic for 30, 40, 50 years +
It's a condition we live with, but it doesn't stop us from leading normal lives, it doesn't define us, it's just a small part of who we are. I have been on my own for many years and bringing up my daughter, who is a now a teenager. Just recently, I have met someone and he said having diabetes ( injections, finger pricks, hypers, hypo's etc) doesn't bother him at all, it makes no difference and he wants to learn much more about it.
Best wishes RRB :)
 
Hi and a warm welcome JB, I have had type 1 for 27 years, but there are some who have been a diabetic for 30, 40, 50 years +
It's a condition we live with, but it doesn't stop us from leading normal lives, it doesn't define us, it's just a small part of who we are. I have been on my own for many years and bringing up my daughter, who is a now a teenager. Just recently, I have met someone and he said having diabetes ( injections, finger pricks, hypers, hypo's etc) doesn't bother him at all, it makes no difference and he wants to learn much more about it.
Best wishes RRB :)
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Hey @Robinredbreast I love the spirit of your message. You're completely right it shouldn't define you, or be a tag that people refer to you as. That's the aim, the goal. I need to find a way of getting us there. I guess the frustration is there are so many people on here who seem to just nail it, make it look easy (albeit i'm sure it's the proverbial duck - calm on top, legs frantically wagging underwater). Your approach is most definitely the goal, but as a newbie, I guess it's also useful to see / hear those that did have that struggle. Otherwise you begin to wonder if it is that "easy" why you can't get there! Thank you :)

P.S - Huge amount of respect for the dedication to this forum - almost 14.5k messages. That's going somewhat! :)
 
JB1974 said:
Hey @Robinredbreast I love the spirit of your message. You're completely right it should define you, or be a tag that people refer to you as. That's the aim, the goal. I need to find a way of getting us there. I guess the frustration is there are so many people on here who seem to just nail it, make it look easy (albeit i'm sure ducks on the way - calm on top, legs frantically wagging underwater). Your approach is most definitely the goal, but as a newbie, I guess it's also useful to see / hear those that did have that struggle. Otherwise you begin to wonder if it is that "easy" why you can't get there! Thank you :)

P.S - Huge amount of respect for the dedication to this forum - almost 14.5k messages. That's going somewhat! :)
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No, it's not easy at times, I have been through some dark, dark places recently and I have been very, very low, life and what is has been throwing at me, took it's toll on me and the diabetes, but I fought to get out of it, with some wonderful support on here.
Believe me, for many it is not a walk in the park, but more like facing a hurricane or getting caught up in a typhoon, waiting and hoping for the storm to past.
 
Hi @JB1974,
I don't have diabetes, the wife has T2!
I have a condition called Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
Which if you look up is I react because quite a few food groups I can't tolerate.
It is a blood glucose insulin disorder.
Much like diabetes, but my hba1c levels are normal
I have to live being a bit weird!

I control my condition by diet, I have no other choice, as there is no cure or meds to stop the reaction. I do take some meds but they are just inhibitors. They do help.

I have a full time job and have to eat regularly and look after the wife, do the shopping, the chores, cooking and cleaning.
How I cope sometimes but my family help.
I also follow my local football club and coach at youth level at my local youth club.

I don't let my condition win at any time, to let myself go and be ill, how could I?
I'm fitter and healthier because of the great advice on here and doing the lifestyle change to very low carbing.

My battle to get diagnosed and get myself fit and healthy has been long and hard.
I'm not going back!

The wife has got her bloods in good order thanks to my insistence to cut the carbs.

Despite the hardships, we are happy.
I have learned so much from this forum and its knowledgeable posters.
 
nosher8355 said:
Hi @JB1974,
I don't have diabetes, the wife has T2!
I have a condition called Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
Which if you look up is I react because quite a few food groups I can't tolerate.
It is a blood glucose insulin disorder.
Much like diabetes, but my hba1c levels are normal
I have to live being a bit weird!

I control my condition by diet, I have no other choice, as there is no cure or meds to stop the reaction. I do take some meds but they are just inhibitors. They do help.

I have a full time job and have to eat regularly and look after the wife, do the shopping, the chores, cooking and cleaning.
How I cope sometimes but my family help.
I also follow my local football club and coach at youth level at my local youth club.

I don't let my condition win at any time, to let myself go and be ill, how could I?
I'm fitter and healthier because of the great advice on here and doing the lifestyle change to very low carbing.

My battle to get diagnosed and get myself fit and healthy has been long and hard.
I'm not going back!

The wife has got her bloods in good order thanks to my insistence to cut the carbs.

Despite the hardships, we are happy.
I have learned so much from this forum and its knowledgeable posters.
Click to expand...

And nosher has an exceptional taste in music too :singing::)
 
@nosher8355, thank you so much.

I have to say I like to think (pat on own back), I'm pretty good at being aware of most things, but never come across Reactive Hypoglycaemia which kind of proves my own point about diabities (and Reactive Hypoglycaemia).

Well you've had a ringing endorsement from @Robinredbreast on your musical tastes!

We're all a "bit weird". Nothing to do with diabetes or reactive hypoglycaemia. Just all wired differently.
 
JB1974 said:
@nosher8355, thank you so much.

I have to say I like to think (pat on own back), I'm pretty good at being aware of most things, but never come across Reactive Hypoglycaemia which kind of proves my own point about diabities (and Reactive Hypoglycaemia).

Well you've had a ringing endorsement from @Robinredbreast on your musical tastes!

We're all a "bit weird". Nothing to do with diabetes or reactive hypoglycaemia. Just all wired differently.
Click to expand...

I'm not weird, I'm gifted ;):)
 
JB1974 said:
@nosher8355, thank you so much.

I have to say I like to think (pat on own back), I'm pretty good at being aware of most things, but never come across Reactive Hypoglycaemia which kind of proves my own point about diabities (and Reactive Hypoglycaemia).

Well you've had a ringing endorsement from @Robinredbreast on your musical tastes!

We're all a "bit weird". Nothing to do with diabetes or reactive hypoglycaemia. Just all wired differently.
Click to expand...

All the different types and sub groups of the diabetic umbrella are so individual to each person, everyone is different.
And yet, they sometimes group us all together as one disease especially in the media.
Knowledge is the overriding key to be able to cope with diabetes.
Why some things work for some and not for others.
I understand why we are told to eat certain foods by our medical practitioners, but they don't realise it is flawed and harmful.
It is so often a dietary condition especially T2, Are diet is the treatment but protocol says meds be used! I don't get it!

If you want to get a handle on the control of diabetes, read a lot of information concerning what has cause and the effect. The more you learn, the better you get to know if something goes wrong, or you get something like the flu or a common cold.

Read about what you should get from your surgery, clinic.
Get knowledge, you won't be sorry!
 
I have been diabetic since I was 5 (almost 30 years).
I've had times where I've. Felt in control of it all, and on the flip side I've had times where I've lost control.
It's important to have a good support network.
I have two children, aged 10 and 13. I have taught them all about diabeties and blood testing and injecting.

My 10 year d now does my blood tests for me (she enjoys it). And she is always on my back about have u done ur needle mum, have u eaten, you're sweating are u hypo.
So I don't get time now to miss anything.
I do find it easier when off work to keep on top of it all, but still manage at work too.

Again I think this is easier if u have a good work support network.

The more u learn about diabeties, I believe the easier it will be on your partner.


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JB1974, I'm just a baby within this community at only 7 weeks T2 post diagnosis:)

The forum have been terrific, pointing me in the right direction so that I can get ahead of the curve, read, learn, apply and get good control of my entire Metabolic Syndrome:)

Of course I've had to sit up, be pragmatic and take personal responsibility and I've done that....sort of flicked the psychological switch in my brain to say "let's get on with it".

In terms of my wife Yvonne , she has been nothing less than a tower of strength and encouragement. She has fantastic BP (95/68 average) and great BG ( average of about 4.2)... yes we've tested them both:) yet she's still joined me on a modified LCHF diet, ran with me and worked with me in the gym...what a girl:)

So all in all, I think partly because of my natural disposition and Yvonne's unstinting support, the journey so far has been straight forward and the benefits to my health and lifestyle have been incredible.


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