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Hello I'd like some answers...

A

allycatt22

Newbie
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I am a diabetic diagnosed since the age of 12, 6 years on and I do not yet fully understand diabetes as a life style.
I am a student at college who is making a project on 'how an individual adapt's to being diabetic' I have a few questions for people who have been diagnosed who could help me.
Id like to know what people would of wanted to no when they first received diabetes, what was going through your mind, the questions you needed answering, explanations?
Please help

Id like to be able to complete this with all the answers you needed, to help people like us who were left in the dark when needed answers. I could post it online for you all to see aswell
Allycatt22
 
Hi Allycat22,

I was first diagnosed at the age of 8, the day after my Family Christmas Party. I was dragged away from my new toys to the doctors, who handed my Mum a box of tissues and told her I was T1 Diabetic. I had no idea what diabetes was, my Mum started crying, so I started crying, because I didn't understand what was making her feel so sad, when I felt fine.

I went to the hospital, again, I was confused because I felt fine, in fact I was thinking about lunch! I met my Aunt at the hospital (who was Dean of Nursing at Guys Hospital) and I asked her why I was in the hospital, because no one told me and I wanted lunch.

My Aunt was the one who explained to me about diabetes and that, whilst I didn't feel poorly, my body was very poorly and I needed to stay in the hospital and be brave so I could get better.

I really had no questions, except for why it made my Mum sad. But that was probably an age thing as opposed to anything else, I didn't understand why all of a sudden I couldn't eat certain things etc. But the questions have only just started coming for me. (And I've been diabetic for 15 years!)
 
What are the questions now that you want answering?

I felt at that age very confused about what was going on, now its wanting to no what will change in my life due the illness and whether I can be 'normal' like everyone else.

My parents have always carried the guilt of whether there was anything they could of done to change it. When in actual fact mine was just a virus that got to out of hand. Its crazy.

Allycatt22
 
The only question I have, is for when I see my consultant next month, and it's simply asking for an insulin pump. When I have the okay, I'll have more questions about that.

I have more curiousities than questions, like, I was curious as to the different foot problems diabetics can have and the impact on thyroids and heart disease. I very much take it as it comes, if I need to know something, I look it up. If I want to know something specific about my care, I ask my DSN.

When I turned 14, I stopped looking after myself and had DKA a lot, I was on a pity party for a good 5 years. I'm 24 now and I've stopped feeling sorry for myself and asking all the 'why me?'s. I can't change my diagnosis, everyone in my life knows and accepts that. I try not to dwell on the future, there are people on this forum who have been diabetic for 40+ years, and they've had kids and grandkids and careers and lived a perfectly 'normal' life, so that sort of thing doesn't bother me. If I look after myself, there's no reason I cannot have my life; I have a career, a great relationship, a mother and brothers, a home, despite diabetes, I'm pretty content.
 
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