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Motivation Needed!!!!

C

Chelsy

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
hello everyone :)
i am 13 and finding life with diabetes very tough right now! i was diagnosed at the age of 9 and took it in my stride then not really thinking much of it. now i am finding it such a drag to have to do...all the extra blood sugar tests when no libre is on because it wouldn't stick on, the constant cannula changes and reminders, the fasting - which many of my T1D friends don't seem to do...etc etc. my family are very understanding and i do talk to them (especially my mum) about my struggles but i find that even though they help me its not like they have it so that they can exactly relate to me. i talked to one of my consultants but she just told me to talk to my family (which i do (as you can see from above)) and if it gets worse than i can have appts with a phycologist but i think that is going a lil bit overboard and im not really that kind of person to get all into it - id rather just have help from people who dont get really serious and over sympathetic about it! i often find myself snacking a lot and not bothering to do insulin even though i know i need to. i know the consequences yet im still unmotivated. i do insulin and blood tests but im sure im forever high and then plummeting down low. i also freak out and panic a bit - like if i go to clinic for a appt and they suddenly tell me that they want to do my bloods or any other tests (i do faint quite easily too when i have things like bloods done etc). i hope i dont sound to negative but really looking for some motivation! ...by the way - i am new to posting on here so not sure of my way round yet :)
 
Chelsy said:
hello everyone :)
i am 13 and finding life with diabetes very tough right now! i was diagnosed at the age of 9 and took it in my stride then not really thinking much of it. now i am finding it such a drag to have to do...all the extra blood sugar tests when no libre is on because it wouldn't stick on, the constant cannula changes and reminders, the fasting - which many of my T1D friends don't seem to do...etc etc. my family are very understanding and i do talk to them (especially my mum) about my struggles but i find that even though they help me its not like they have it so that they can exactly relate to me. i talked to one of my consultants but she just told me to talk to my family (which i do (as you can see from above)) and if it gets worse than i can have appts with a phycologist but i think that is going a lil bit overboard and im not really that kind of person to get all into it - id rather just have help from people who dont get really serious and over sympathetic about it! i often find myself snacking a lot and not bothering to do insulin even though i know i need to. i know the consequences yet im still unmotivated. i do insulin and blood tests but im sure im forever high and then plummeting down low. i also freak out and panic a bit - like if i go to clinic for a appt and they suddenly tell me that they want to do my bloods or any other tests (i do faint quite easily too when i have things like bloods done etc). i hope i dont sound to negative but really looking for some motivation! ...by the way - i am new to posting on here so not sure of my way round yet :)
Click to expand...

Hi @Chelsy ,

Welcome to the forum. I hope a member of your family is with you on-line for your own safety..

Can you clarify? What "fasting" are you doing?
 
There is a lot going on I am sure. At your age, it is very hard to be different from your friends and school life can't be easy. So motivation must be a problem - keep the communication going with your family, friends and doctors.

Do one day at a time, don't waste time beating yourself up if you have bad day but try to start each day fresh.
 
Chelsy said:
hello everyone :)
i am 13 and finding life with diabetes very tough right now! i was diagnosed at the age of 9 and took it in my stride then not really thinking much of it. now i am finding it such a drag to have to do...all the extra blood sugar tests when no libre is on because it wouldn't stick on, the constant cannula changes and reminders, the fasting - which many of my T1D friends don't seem to do...etc etc. my family are very understanding and i do talk to them (especially my mum) about my struggles but i find that even though they help me its not like they have it so that they can exactly relate to me. i talked to one of my consultants but she just told me to talk to my family (which i do (as you can see from above)) and if it gets worse than i can have appts with a phycologist but i think that is going a lil bit overboard and im not really that kind of person to get all into it - id rather just have help from people who dont get really serious and over sympathetic about it! i often find myself snacking a lot and not bothering to do insulin even though i know i need to. i know the consequences yet im still unmotivated. i do insulin and blood tests but im sure im forever high and then plummeting down low. i also freak out and panic a bit - like if i go to clinic for a appt and they suddenly tell me that they want to do my bloods or any other tests (i do faint quite easily too when i have things like bloods done etc). i hope i dont sound to negative but really looking for some motivation! ...by the way - i am new to posting on here so not sure of my way round yet :)
Click to expand...
Hello Chelsy. I was diagnosed at the same age and remember finding the teens tough with diabetes so I do not think you're alone with that. You have very clearly articulated that your diabetes is a burden in terms of the relentless routine it enforces upon you and you're right that only other type 1s get that though I'm glad ;you've got a supportive mum who is also going to be proud that you are working out how to cope independently with food, tests and jabs. I hope you will keep talking to her and clinic. Even better is getting some peer support so hopefully a fellow teen might be along here soon.
It is tricky because at 13 you are not going to see the damage of complications from highs and could choose to keep going with a relaxed regime as complications normally kick in after 20 years. No guarantee of that though and you sound as if you are feeling a little guilty about not quite being 'on it' ?
Don't bother with the guilt but I think its worth doing what you can to make it as easy as possible e.g. re testing get some FSL covers/armbands or see if you can use Dexcom G6 (your clinic may support this) - I find I struggle to get those sensors off! Amazon sell the FSL armbands anyway.
Re snacking - jar of peanut butter, cheese cubes, salami,nuts are not going to need a dose/test. If you're just snacking without even thinking about it perhaps you need your mum's help to get things like biscuit/sweets/crisps out of the house?
Not sure what the fasting is about? You are 13 and growing so giving your body good stuff 3 times a day (snacks shouldn't be necessary - see above) is important. Older people who need to reverse their type 2 diabetes can get away with fasting but it isn't something sensible for you IMO. For example at your age I went to diabetes clinics and was weighed a lot which led me to be overly conscious of my weight and food choices so I am not suggesting you get too strict with your food just that you make choices that aren't so tricky to correct after the event ( like the snacks).
Going to clinic makes me anxious too regardless of blood tests etc. but if you can get the FSL up and running again then you will have far more information to share with the DSN/doctors but will also know what's coming when they discuss things with you . I used to hate it when the doctor knew my results before I did because then I would get anxious about what he/she was going to say.
It will get easier and you're right not to bother with sympathy (doesn't help) but do take a bit of pride that you are doing okay and will work out your own best way to do this with the help of the better tools and tech that are coming soon (pumps talking to blood glucose sensors being the next thing).
 
Jaylee said:
Hi @Chelsy ,

Welcome to the forum. I hope a member of your family is with you on-line for your own safety..

Can you clarify? What "fasting" are you doing?
Click to expand...
thanks :) yep my mum comes on here
my consultants / nurses ask me to do it so they can see what my numbers go like without any food input so yeah it does help but hehe
 
1970clea said:
There is a lot going on I am sure. At your age, it is very hard to be different from your friends and school life can't be easy. So motivation must be a problem - keep the communication going with your family, friends and doctors.

Do one day at a time, don't waste time beating yourself up if you have bad day but try to start each day fresh.
Click to expand...
thanks so much :) defo helps even though such a simple thing if you know what i mean :)
 
NicoleC1971 said:
Hello Chelsy. I was diagnosed at the same age and remember finding the teens tough with diabetes so I do not think you're alone with that. You have very clearly articulated that your diabetes is a burden in terms of the relentless routine it enforces upon you and you're right that only other type 1s get that though I'm glad ;you've got a supportive mum who is also going to be proud that you are working out how to cope independently with food, tests and jabs. I hope you will keep talking to her and clinic. Even better is getting some peer support so hopefully a fellow teen might be along here soon.
It is tricky because at 13 you are not going to see the damage of complications from highs and could choose to keep going with a relaxed regime as complications normally kick in after 20 years. No guarantee of that though and you sound as if you are feeling a little guilty about not quite being 'on it' ?
Don't bother with the guilt but I think its worth doing what you can to make it as easy as possible e.g. re testing get some FSL covers/armbands or see if you can use Dexcom G6 (your clinic may support this) - I find I struggle to get those sensors off! Amazon sell the FSL armbands anyway.
Re snacking - jar of peanut butter, cheese cubes, salami,nuts are not going to need a dose/test. If you're just snacking without even thinking about it perhaps you need your mum's help to get things like biscuit/sweets/crisps out of the house?
Not sure what the fasting is about? You are 13 and growing so giving your body good stuff 3 times a day (snacks shouldn't be necessary - see above) is important. Older people who need to reverse their type 2 diabetes can get away with fasting but it isn't something sensible for you IMO. For example at your age I went to diabetes clinics and was weighed a lot which led me to be overly conscious of my weight and food choices so I am not suggesting you get too strict with your food just that you make choices that aren't so tricky to correct after the event ( like the snacks).
Going to clinic makes me anxious too regardless of blood tests etc. but if you can get the FSL up and running again then you will have far more information to share with the DSN/doctors but will also know what's coming when they discuss things with you . I used to hate it when the doctor knew my results before I did because then I would get anxious about what he/she was going to say.
It will get easier and you're right not to bother with sympathy (doesn't help) but do take a bit of pride that you are doing okay and will work out your own best way to do this with the help of the better tools and tech that are coming soon (pumps talking to blood glucose sensors being the next thing).
Click to expand...
again thank you will defo look at low carbohydrate / no carbohydrate snacks next time we do a supermarket shop! used to have a good stock but that has obviously stopped happening somehow!! i guess sometimes it is just easier having someone else tell me things i do already know but had forgotten / not reminded myself etc iykwim! :) also...will see what i can find about the armbands etc. libre 1 would stick on fine but libre 2 just seems to last about 2 days and get sore and itchy often...dont know if this is just because i only do them on my arms....?!
 
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