Hi all,
I was diagnosed with Type 1 about 8 years ago. I'm 33 now. At the time of diagnosis I was a bus driver, and so, given the then current rules and regulations, I lost my job. I was devastated. I paid no attention to the disease after that - didn't bother to test, ate as I pleased, and descended into some pretty severe depression. Initially I'd always weighted around 9 stone.....but gradually, through poor control, I crept up to nearly 13 stone. I was hospitalized twice for DKA. I just didn't care.
Through all of this, I kept on working - it was a struggle, mind. I took on some pretty active jobs. One being a traffic warden. I was walking up to ten miles a day, eating sweets to keep me going, and the odd time I tested my blood, I was hitting readings of 25+. I felt terrible on a daily basis. No energy, just awful. All I wanted to do was eat. I don't know how I kept going, but I did. And life went on like this for quite some time.
Then my hair began falling out, and I panicked. I started to do some research, started to pay attention. It wasn't easy. Its a hard disease to reign in once you let it escape. Its not something you can sort out within days, or even weeks. Its been five years since I began to take note. Three years in to that, I read an article which suggested that I could get my PCV licence back depending on my health, etc. At the same time, my boyfriend of 11 years had been diagnosed with terminal Prostate cancer. Watching his bravery throughout his slow, cruel death, helped me to realise how lucky I was - for the most part, I have control over what this disease can do to me. He didn't.
We'd both met on the buses some years earlier, when I was 21. I was going to get my licence back. For me, for him.
Anyway, I've been back behind the bus wheel for well over a year now - never had a day off sick, and never felt that I don't want to/can't go in. I make the most of every single day that I can, and am able to,do the job I enjoy. I'm never without testing strips, and my numbers are always what they should be. If I run out of strips for whatever reason, I'll go buy a tub to last till mine are dispensed. I'm back to my normal weight, and I've maintained it for the last year or so. I get the disease now. I totally get it. I understand how it impacts on me, and I can smack it in the face every single time it tries to rear it's head. I'm not caught in that ever-decreasing circle anymore. I've come full circle and am in better health now than first time round driving buses, at age 21. And i wasn't unhealthy then.
That's just my story. I'm lucky to have come through. But i'm not so naive to think it'll last forever. Diabetes is an unknown quantity. Great control doesn't always mean great things.....but right now, we're getting along fine.
Having said that, I've just broken my hand.....so have had to take a few weeks off work!! Don't suppose anyone has any stories relating to diabetes and healing time of broken bones?? I know we can take slightly longer. Apparently.
Anyhow, I hope this gives some hope to someone......
I was diagnosed with Type 1 about 8 years ago. I'm 33 now. At the time of diagnosis I was a bus driver, and so, given the then current rules and regulations, I lost my job. I was devastated. I paid no attention to the disease after that - didn't bother to test, ate as I pleased, and descended into some pretty severe depression. Initially I'd always weighted around 9 stone.....but gradually, through poor control, I crept up to nearly 13 stone. I was hospitalized twice for DKA. I just didn't care.
Through all of this, I kept on working - it was a struggle, mind. I took on some pretty active jobs. One being a traffic warden. I was walking up to ten miles a day, eating sweets to keep me going, and the odd time I tested my blood, I was hitting readings of 25+. I felt terrible on a daily basis. No energy, just awful. All I wanted to do was eat. I don't know how I kept going, but I did. And life went on like this for quite some time.
Then my hair began falling out, and I panicked. I started to do some research, started to pay attention. It wasn't easy. Its a hard disease to reign in once you let it escape. Its not something you can sort out within days, or even weeks. Its been five years since I began to take note. Three years in to that, I read an article which suggested that I could get my PCV licence back depending on my health, etc. At the same time, my boyfriend of 11 years had been diagnosed with terminal Prostate cancer. Watching his bravery throughout his slow, cruel death, helped me to realise how lucky I was - for the most part, I have control over what this disease can do to me. He didn't.
We'd both met on the buses some years earlier, when I was 21. I was going to get my licence back. For me, for him.
Anyway, I've been back behind the bus wheel for well over a year now - never had a day off sick, and never felt that I don't want to/can't go in. I make the most of every single day that I can, and am able to,do the job I enjoy. I'm never without testing strips, and my numbers are always what they should be. If I run out of strips for whatever reason, I'll go buy a tub to last till mine are dispensed. I'm back to my normal weight, and I've maintained it for the last year or so. I get the disease now. I totally get it. I understand how it impacts on me, and I can smack it in the face every single time it tries to rear it's head. I'm not caught in that ever-decreasing circle anymore. I've come full circle and am in better health now than first time round driving buses, at age 21. And i wasn't unhealthy then.
That's just my story. I'm lucky to have come through. But i'm not so naive to think it'll last forever. Diabetes is an unknown quantity. Great control doesn't always mean great things.....but right now, we're getting along fine.
Having said that, I've just broken my hand.....so have had to take a few weeks off work!! Don't suppose anyone has any stories relating to diabetes and healing time of broken bones?? I know we can take slightly longer. Apparently.
Anyhow, I hope this gives some hope to someone......
