• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Help please need some friends and not handling things well

Bigcal

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello
I'm going to be honest I'm just looking for some help I was diagnosed 2 years ago a day after my 16 birthday and I'm struggling with it still now.
I have some issues I am alone in this and I have become angry and depressed and have done things that i wish i never had at my age allready. I ask myself why I had to get diagnosed at such a aquard age as I'm going thorough puberty as well and hormones are really noy helping either. I test my bloods but they are not where they should be and I can't inject infornt of people yet I am a idiot because I should be an independent guy by now but every thing just seems to be negative like there is no hope or light I was just wondering if anyone else was like this or is and how they are dealing with it or dealt with it because evidently I'm not going the right way about it.
And I could use some friends that have this illness
 
Last edited:
Hi @Bigcal Welcome to the best place for any anxious patient. Firstly I would like to say I admire the fact that you have taken the plunge and been so open. This suggests that you have the necessary qualities to make a success of managing a complex condition that can harm if ignored.
I was diagnosed Type 1 as a baby in 1959 and spent my childhood with resentment, denial and setting myself up for serious problems including eye haemorrhages at the age of 20 and the need for a kidney transplant by 2012. This took place, together with a pancreas transplant in 2013. I have not had Insulin since.
From your position, it is more than understandable that you are angry and depressed and that your bloods are not where they should be. You still feel that you are somehow different and therefore injecting in front of colleagues would make you feel even more obviously different. You are not an idiot. Keep in contact on the forum with literally any question even if you think it is stupid or just ranting. There is no better place. There are many Type 1s here who can share similar experiences, but give yourself a chance, diabetes is all to do with having a reliable energy source for every function of the body, whether it is breathing, sleeping, thinking, running, burping, injecting or even laughter. Over time you will notice patterns, especially if you are regularly testing. Talk to your diabetic team about technological devices such as Libre, which are computerised monitors of exactly what is happening in your body at any given time. I wish you success and a long decent life ahead. Good luck
 

Hi @Bigcal ,

Welcome to the forums.

What you're experiencing is perfectly normal. It's difficult to take on board at any age. I was 54 when it started and I don't know what I would have done or how I would have felt had I been told when I was a younger man.

I know it's a lot easier to say than it is to do, but all I can say to you is, you can spend your life rejecting it, and feeling bitter about it, continuously thinking 'why me' and probably getting nowhere, or you can find some way of accepting it and embracing it. Get to know your enemy and you weaken its power.

'Jack up' (with insulin!) in public one time and you'll soon realise that very few people actually care - they all got their own problems to deal with. I didn't like doing it in public to start with but now it's just part of my life. You can still find ways to be descrete, like injecting on the side that most people in the restaurant can't see.

Feel the fear, and do it anyway - Susan Jeffers (Phd).
 
Hi @Bigcal ,

Welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place.

First off, your not totally alone in this. Most of us at some point have bought the "tee shirt."

What insulin are you prescribed?

& now the seemingly pointless question.. Are you the driver or the passenger in your profile pic??

Edited to call in some more of the T1 "lads.." @Scott-C @novorapidboi26 @therower
 
Last edited:
Hi Bigcal,
Please, please, please don't get stressed about your diabetes! I know it's easy to say but it will have an impact on your sugar levels!
I have been diabetic for 21 years now, (diagnosed at four) and when I was 16 it was the biggest pain in the ****! It is completely understandable that your feeling self conscious about it, up until recently I have always struggled to be open about it, mainly I was worried about what people would think but the best thing you can do it simply get on with it.
Blood sugars are a nightmare to keep in range when your going through puberty, don't beat yourself up if they are not perfect! Even now if I'm having a particular stressful week I know I will be running high, aim for a range that is more realistic, if it's not 5.0 every time you check, that's okay!
I would also think about getting a sensor rather than finger pricking, have you been offered or looked at the libre? It's much more subtle than finger pricking and gives you much better control.
Injecting infront of people is not going to be easy, but that doesn't mean your doing anything wrong, honestly your not alone and I think most type Ones have been were you are now and I promise it gets better.
Your not going to wake up and be completely happy being diabetic or being comfortable with it overnight, take it a little step at a time, do an injection in a public place and be happy at what an achievement that is, after time you will build it up and it will just be part of your routine.
And by all means post on here, in Facebook groups any public formum with other diabetics and have a good moan, we get it and it really helps to get it off your chest.
Hope tomorrow is a better day for you!
 
Hi, I have been diagnosed recently too. Being 16 for me was soo dificult without t1 so I can only imagine how hard it is for you.. My advise is talk about things. If not with friends and family than on the forum. Write what you think, what challenges you have, just everything. Even if you will not feel like it, just do it. It will definately help you.
As for injecting in public, I don't think people really notice. I remember when I was in uni (i was not t1 then) we were in canteen and coursmate said 'I have diabetes' and casually injected with pen, and absolutely no one cared.Everyone has so much stuff to think about.
I inject in public and some ppl are just curious, most don't notice. And I really don't care, it is my health and wellbeing and thats the priority
 
@Bigcal I was diagnosed with Type 1 @ 16 in 1995ish. I still had the time of my life in Jungle raves and Happy Hardcore clubs. Very quickly you will understand that modern diabetes does not rule your life. Embrace your condition. Embrace your life. They are some of your best years.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…