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Lack of support for working out.

cwalkero32

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Hi Guys,

I am new to this forum and I have been a T1 diabetic for over 20 years.

I thought I would come on this and share my experience with being a T1 diabetic and my love working out at the gym. Now I dont know how it is for other people but I have found an extreme amount of negativity from my diabetes clinic towards me doing bodybuilding.

When I was 18 years old I decided that this was something that I wanted to do with my life. I attended the diabetes clinic as I normally did and expressed my ambitions with the nurse specialist and the dietician. The reaction I got was pretty horrific as I was told straight off that if I decided to take steroids then they would not offer me any support on my diabetes with this. Now, I never have or will take steroids and this was never brought up by myself but it was amazing just how quickly they went against me. The dietician looked at my supplements and told me all of it was rubbish and I was wasting my money. I was angered by this as I know quite a lot about nutrition especially sports nutrition but I was interested to see what her reaction was to that. The dietician then told me "why do you want to look like arnold schwarznegger, why not look like sylvestor stallone, he is a lot more smaller and has a best body"......jeezuz! I just looked at her and thought what a complete hack. My diabetes clinic showed no support whatsoever and I decided that if they were not going to help me then I wont go.
After the grilling I got from the nurse specialist and the dietician, on my way out I heard one of the nurses talk to this diabetic obese girl "Your doing really well, just try not to eat too many sugary snacks but keep up the good work". I thought to myself "hold up!, I literally had a zero sugar diet combined with a lot of very healthy nutritional supplements with an intense workout regime....and I am the bad one while tubby who is one mars bar away from a coma gets a pat on the back!". I did not attend the clinic for almost 10 years and the funny thing is that they never made much of an effort to contact me. When I decided to return (having still not taken steroids) I apparently had become this legendary ghost that no one has seen but knows is out there.

I never did go down the route of competing in bodybuilding but I have done it as a hobby on my own without the help or support of the nhs diabetes centre. Its a shame that they did not embrace the sport because even now I could do with some help on using my insulin for gains instead of fighting against it.

Also just on another note. I do have about 6-7 mini hypos a week (I have great awareness so they drop to about 3.0 and I shoot them back up) is this normal because whenever I tried to use the diabetic centres plan on my diabetes, I would end up having a blood sugar level of 24.0 for a good month while they would say "well add 2 units of insulin here, and take a unit off there" to which it did ****** all for my blood sugar level. Also I would say that I am completely at a struggle with impotence and do many male T1 diabetes suffer with this as I do and viagra does not help. :oops:
 
I attend the gym 3 times a week and do a number of classes with a Sports Therapist. It's at "Keep Fit" level, but can be quite demanding for us. All are older [50+ to 80+ years] and have varying forms of imperfect health.I also walk with Health Walk groups. Just this morning, we were discussing how Physiotherapists tend to stop their patients doing things the sports therapist working alongside encourages them to do. With the proviso that the patient feels OK doing it.

Ican tell you that had I stuck with what the physios told me I could achieve after my stroke, I'd probably be riding around on a mobility schooter instead of being able to hike miles across country.
I don't know if "medics" truly believe what they say. [Just try to get one to give verifiable reasons!] But I know how much better feel for pushing myself.
Go with what your body tells you. and if you have access to a fully qualified Sports Therapist, ask there for help and advice. However do keep up your blood checks, eye checks and kidney checks.
Hana
Ps I'm too old for body building now, but Ido "Weights" with resistance bands. they hurt less if you drop them
 
I run about 2-3 times a week and weight train on the days I don't run. Occasionally I do both. I think it's shocking that you were made to feel like that at your diabetes clinics. I can't really comment much as I've never really had a problem with mine in the last ten years.

I've come to the conclusion during this last year since I've been heavily training that no one understands the need to train or the feeling it gives you unless they train themselves. I've got friends who think I'm crazy because I'm up at 6.30am everyday to go the gym and that I refuse chocolate and crisps unless I'm on my "cheat day". I think it's hard for people to understand why we do it. All I will say is that if your happy and you have a good balance on your diabetes and lifestyle then there should be no reason for you to carry on and do what your doing. I would however, definitely advise you to get back into the clinic just so they and yourself can monitor your Hba1c and standard blood tests etc. They may even have new docs/nurses who will be more understanding and helpful too you... Good luck :D
 
hanadr said:
Ican tell you that had I stuck with what the physios told me I could achieve after my stroke, I'd probably be riding around on a mobility schooter instead of being able to hike miles across country.
I don't know if "medics" truly believe what they say. [Just try to get one to give verifiable reasons!]
Hana, as a fellow stroke survivor too, I have long ago learned to ignore the "Oh, My, haven't you recovered well" mentality of most HCPs.
I feel that many of them lack the mental capacity to think outside the narrow, restrictive NHS inspired box in which they exist!
With physios they got me to the walking-with-sticks stage then abandoned me, and with GP nurses they only care about ticking their NHS standards boxes, not dealing with the ailment consulted on :cry:
As for depression help they take you through the questionaire then say, "No, you don't mean that you mean this!",and change your answer and decide you are not depressed. :thumbdown: :thumbdown:
 
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