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Losing control of my diabetes management

MarkEverden

MarkEverden

Newbie
Messages
2
Location
Swindon
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,

Has anyone had a period where all the diabetes management you've had in place just kinda unravelled?

Six months ago I had my diabetes generally under control, but then I got a a strep infection which triggered a rash on my body, and I felt ill as hell. I got that all sorted, but ever since then I seem to have lost control of all of my diabetes management. My blood sugars have been creeping up to 15 or 16 and occasionally 17. I've put on weight again, and seem to have lost all enthusiasm to manage my condition. At one point a month ago I didn't even bother getting a prescription for my Metformin.

I now seem to be in a bit of a rut and simply unable to get things back on track again. Just wondered whether anybody had ever gone through the same and have any advice. I'm Type II diabetes by the way and I was diagnosed five years ago.

Mark
 
Hi Mark, I would suspect as your blood sugars are running so high this would be the cause of being in a rut can't be bothered etc. Looking at things in a very simplistic way, those high numbers are basically poisoning your blood. I'm wondering if the strep infection just killed off more of your beta cells thus you are not producing as much insulin as before. (not your fault) Perhaps consider going to your GP and asking for a review and perhaps different meds or insulin to help you out.
 
you need to go back and tell your Dr
are you on a low carb diet?
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm For me, the more carbs we eat the more carbs we want. they don’t give up easy.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm
http://www.lowcarbdietitian.com/blog/carbohydrate-restriction-an-option-for-diabetes-management

blood testing
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm
food counting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

Newcastle diet aims in 8+ weeks to mimic or better the rate of ~80% remission, for surgery T2
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/
http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2010/mar/weight-loss-surgery-and-type-2-diabetes.html

American diabetic association ( http://www.professional.diabetes.org/)
http://www.professional.diabetes.or...=DP&s_src=vanity&s_subsrc=nutritionguidelines
Evidence is inconclusive for an ideal amount of total fat intake for people with diabetes;
therefore, goals should be individualized; fat quality appears to be far more important than quantity.

In people with type 2 diabetes, a Mediterranean-style, MUFA-rich eating pattern may benefit
glycemic control and CVD risk factors and can therefore be recommended as an effective alternative to a lower-fat, higher-carbohydrate eating pattern.
 
Hello Mark, and welcome to the forum.

You are in the right place for helpful friendly advice and support.

What sort of diet are you following. Is it different from before you were ill?
 
welcome mark
it can be difficult to get back on track
friday and saturday was bad for me, where as i thought sod it all and ate anything and everything which resulted in my readings going back into the 20.s
 
Hi all and thanks for the replies.

My diet hasn't changed, but I probably still eat too many carbs. I find managing food difficult as I commute to work and often have to grab things on the go.

Jack, those links are really useful!
 
Keep posting on here, and reading round the forum. There are plenty of tips about what to eat on the go. It can be done with a bit of planning.

Good luck, and ask any questions you like.
 
MarkEverden said:
Hi all and thanks for the replies.

My diet hasn't changed, but I probably still eat too many carbs. I find managing food difficult as I commute to work and often have to grab things on the go.

Jack, those links are really useful!
Click to expand...
That's simple to fix, take a packed lunch problem solved :)
 
Hi Mark,

I often get in a rut too, it feels like it's not woryh the effort and I start missing meds.
I seem to bounce back and get back on track then have another rut.
Posting on the forum has really helped, just the act of typing it out helps. My doc just reminds me how important it is to keep everything under control, the thing is that I Know that.
Keep posting even when things are down it helps to talk to people who know what you are going through.
 
I was in the same place as you Mark, I went for years not bothering to manage my diabetes from the day I was told I had it. I just didn't care tbh, and after awhile I stopped taking it altogether. I ended up getting very sick because of it and after a stay in hospital I finally snapped outta of it and started to take it seriously. I made a promise to a old man I met in there that I would get it under control and take my insulin. As he said to me "Do you wanna live or want to die?" I came here about a week after I got out and the support and feedback I've received is brilliant. The people here are so friendly and helpful. You need a motivator to keep you on track that helps you push through those times. For me its, I don't want any of the complications/problems associated with diabetes not to mention the promise I made to the old man I met.
 
Hello Mark. Welcome. What have you decided to do? There was a thread on here about lunches at work have you found it? Have you made any decisions?:)
 
Hi Mark, Sounds as if that strep infection knocked you for six.
When you were in control with your diabetes did you sort out packet meals etc; while commuting and at work.
Being in a rut is easy, getting out is a lot harder.
You have made the right start, it is a upward trend from now on.
Might be helpful to get proper medication sorted out from your GP due to your recent change of circumstances.
There is plenty of friends in this forum that will help you with good advice.
 
Hi Mark

I too have been guilty of taking a trip down that long winding river in Egypt. It's like I just get fed up of making the effort and let it slide. I took my oral meds but didn't test and didn't take novorapid for carbs. I always tell myself only for one day, get back on tomorrow. Then the next day the same. Then I look back and several weeks have gone by and it scares me. I decided recently that I had to get back on track, as I was scared of my future and what it would look like if I did not look after myself.

It's easy to do it for a little while, less easy to do it forever. Forever is a long time. But I'm so scared of getting further complications (yes, further, I already have retinopathy but stable for now) that I've begrudgingly accepted there is no out, not even for a day, this is for life. The only way I could get back on track was by scaring myself back on to the wagon, basically. But everyone is different. Hope you can find a way that works for you.
 
Hi Mark

Been there, done that, got the teeshirt.

Thing to do is go back to basics. Remind yourself what it was that you did before in order to stay in control.

My way back involved an intensive testing regime, before and after each meal and adjusting the carb content of my next meal until my post meal counts were within 2 mmol of the pre meals.

I started walking again, 5 km each morning. Pace was very pedestrian at first but I was soon able to pick it up.

One thing I had to do was manage my emotions; I did not want to be disappointed so I made sure that my expectations were properly controlled by setting myself achievable goals looking for steady gradual improvement rather than quick fire solutions.

I experimented with both my testing regime and diet and was willing to learn from my mistakes and change/adapt my approach accordingly.

I also found that coming back onto this forum and posting my experiences regularly was the best way for me to maintain focus on the task at hand. And of course the support from other posters was fantastic and helped me immensely.

Now, six weeks later, I feel that my control is as good as ever.

So stick around and you will soon be wondering what all the fuss was about.

If I could do it then so can you,

All the best.

Pavlos
 
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