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Helping a friend

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EmmaB27

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A colleague of mine at work has Type 2 diabetes and I have little experience of this myself not being diabetic although type 1 runs in my family and I wondered if I might seek some advice from this board?

She is prone to dramatic mood swings and sugar highs that have been having an impact on her ability to do her job. Like the rhyme, she’s good she’s very very good or when she’s bad, she’s horrid. I only know her side of the story but can clearly see that she struggles with confidence as she’s overweight and surrounded by skinny young things that make her jealous (being a bit curvy myself and older I totally get that!) and often loses her temper which of course gets her into trouble at work but feel that she deeply regrets it and it always happens when her sugar is raised. But she doesn’t manage her diabetes – so today she has left us to go home with high sugar levels over 20 having eaten a jam doughnut, a pastry, cornish pasty plus egg and chips for lunch! Unfortunately her attitude is that she should live life to the full but of course, she isn’t able to as there are bouts of depression (I know she takes Prozac). Ultimately it’s up to her to help herself but our boss is running out of patience with her claiming that she’s not her mother. I can see her frustration as we both feel that my colleague might feel a lot better emotionally if she was able to manage her diabetes but any attempts to do so are meet with a brick wall.

Does anyone have any advice?
 
Hello Emma, what a lovely friend you are to seek advice for her ! Theres an old saying , You cant help those that wont help themselves , and sadly its true . Your friend simply must get to grips with her diabetes because unless she does , she is heading for serious complications . Its tough , some days its really tough to deny yourself some food stuff that you love BUT, the choice is yours, its in your own hands to either tow the line and make an effort, or be ill . I`m really sorry if this sounds harsh and blunt but thats the way it is . Your friend must know that what she is doing is wrong and that she is running a huge risk but until she faces it herself , there isnt much you can do except be there for her and let her know that you will help and support her all the way, if she put the effort in and I really hope she does .
 
Hi Emma

Kate is right and until your friend is ready to take charge of her life no-one can really help her. We are all prepared to encourage and support but until the chips are down (or in some of our cases crossed off the menu :roll: ) she probably won’t accept any help.

She obviously doesn’t see the crossroads she has arrived at yet.

Perhaps you could print out this thread for her and give her the link to find her own way onto this site? There is always someone on here to help, give advice and support.

Thank you for being such a good friend – we all need those! :D
 
Thanks guys.

I've calmed down a bit now - she was making me so angry on Friday but yes, I now realise I can't really 'save her', that's her responsibility. I'll stay close touch with her and just be there.
 
Emma
you are a true friend
Can you point her towards this forum?
She might get enough from here to let her cope better.
Hana
 
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