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lost the will to test

M

madgeandtheboys

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello everyone, I am new to the forum in that I have never posted before but do look at the discussion boards regularly.

Was diagnosed Type 2 two years ago and have been doing really well low carbing and testing to check which foods agreed with me and which did not. I was getting readings of between 4.5 to 6 and was really enjoying taking control of my illness and my life.

I lost my job in July and since then have been suffering with depression and have just stopped testing. Today I went to see my doctor (who has been very supportive even when I persuaded him to prescribe me strips even though he felt that type 2s should not test more than twice a week) and he is sending me for the usual 6 month barage of tests, I know my bloods are high at the moment as I have a virus and can feel the tingling. Quite frankly I do not want to know what the results are as I know I will have to start all over again with the dietary control. I think that I am suffering from burn out that I have read about but am really just fed up wiyh it all. I know why and what I have to do, have given myself aood talking to, to no avail.

The point of my wittering is to ask you fellow suffers how you have managed to get yourselves back on track without beating yourself up too much!

Thanks in anticipation of your answers.
 
OK, I can understand why you feel the way you do, but what about family and friends. Don't you think they would hate to think you were giving up? I don't know you, but I feel for members in here, which includes you and I would much rather think you were going to going to give yourself a fresh start. Why a fresh start? Well, a fresh start will mean you are starting with a fresh approach and with a fresh approach can come a new will will to attach the diabetes more determined to succeed...
I know you can do it because many of us have been in your situation and come out the other side all the better for a fresh start :clap: :thumbup:
 
Welcome Madge !

You are certainly not alone in those feelings ! I am sure that most people have gone through that phase, and I use the term phase advisedly, 'cos I have certainly been through it. I expect most posters on here have too. The thing is that you gained good control once and by golly you can do it again !

I can't offer any advice on depression, never been close myself, but I have a 34 year old daughter who suffers with it, I can only offer support as you will find from the replies to your post which will undoubtedly show.

Daisy will probably be along soon with solid advice that is given to all new posters.

Keep your chin up Madge, you've done before, so second time and so on will become easier !

Superchip
 
Hi Madge and welcome to the forum :)

In addition to the advice you have already been given, here is the information we give to new members which you should find useful. Ask as many more questions you need to and someone will help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 30,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
Hi and a big welcome to you :thumbup: When the blackness is there, it is very hard to see any glimmer of light shinning through.
I really hope you find the strenght and the hope to move forward.

'What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us'

With best wishes RRB
 
Hi Madge, welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place. When I was first diagnosed I did well, lost weight, got my numbers down, but then life got in the way. I lost my way, got confused about what I should and shouldn't be eating, I was drinking too much which made me put on weight and lowered my control. I had a treat here and there and then more treats crept in until I was eating complete rubbish.

But then the nurse put me on Gliclazide, and told me that this would wear out my pancreas more quickly and therefore would hasten my need for insulin (I'm not sure now if thats true) but it was enough to put the wind up me! Sometimes you just need a trigger, fear, happiness, kids, grandkids, something to trigger you getting back on track. Luckily I found this forum and the support and motivation I have received has been incredible.

Draw a line under whats in the past and look to the future! Now you can take control, its your life, and its time for you to live it. Good luck Madge!
 
Hi there im 34 type 1 diabetic and have also been there where i havent wanted to test quite a few times actually teenage years as i didnt want ti be different and let it get in my way and a couple more after that but now i gave children i dobt think its worth not doing because of all the risks involved with bad glucose control and it not being fair on my kids or husband but u will snap back into it everyone goes through up and diwn points even if they are not diabetic :)
 
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