Motivation

[aaronjunited]

I'm type 1, and have been for around 3-4 months now. At the start I managed i was really looking forward to the new diet I had to get used too. While off work i was managing brilliantly in terms of eating the right food. Getting used to the amounts of insulin was of course the challenging part and still is. But that will only come with time.

I've went down hill now, I went back to work too soon because of lack of income. I'm not looking after myself and not taking my insulin when I should be. I take it every now and then instead of every time I eat.

I've lost all motivation to work, I really really dread the fact that I have to go to work, and can't cope with it, constantly telling myself that i need to go, but then going on in my mind thinking I can't face it. I haven't really got used to diabetes while working, as i feel under pressure that I must stick to my breaks and not take the mick if you want to call it that.

I'm just lost most of the time, bored, always hungry, get cramps during the night in my legs and feet, drink to much coffee, eat sweet things, can't be bothered doing anything but play games.

I do eat proper meals as well as this, my dinner being a good meal most of the time.

I know I need to go see the doctor and talk it over. I haven't attended the clinic in the first month at my hospital, probably because im being stubborn and i don't answer the nurses phone calls.

Am I being plain ignorant, or is there something else wrong with me?

Thanks.

Aaron.

 

[Grazer]

Am I being plain ignorant, or is there something else wrong with me?

Probably the first if I'm honest! Time for some tough talking - this thing is with you for life, and you have to learn how to deal with it, or it will deal with you. It won't go away if you ignore it. Life will be what you make of it. You can sulk, ruin your career and income prospects, suffer complications and potentially, of course, die. Or, you can live long and prosper as Spock would say. I don't know how old you are, but I'm guessing young. Therefore there's a good chance that science will find a way to cure it in your lifetime; who knows, common pancreatic transplants? Effective stem cell treatment? But you will have to be around and healthy to get those treatments! In the meantime, make the most of your life. I have type 1 diabetic friends who have a completely normal happy life, they're just a bit inconvenienced by their diabetes. Talk to that nurse now, go to the clinic, and get sorted. Get a routine you can get used to. And if you start to feel sorry for yourself, go to a childrens ward and look at some of the kids like my nephews 3 year old daughter who has neuro blastoma and think how lucky you are.
Good luck!

 

[Daver]

Hi Aaron,

Sorry to hear you're not feeling tip-top!

I don't think you're just being plain ignorant, it's a combination of all of what you said. I'm all for some tough talking, and everything Grazer said is true, but it's not always as simple as that. Diabetes is a huge thing to get your head around as well as adjusting to the physical changes and taking insulin shots/testing dealing with the lows and highs etc etc.

Your cramps will be down to you not taking your insulin as you should. Before I found out that I had Diabetes (2 years ago) I was getting cronic cramp in my legs in the night. Your lethargic behaviour such as boredom and lack of motivation will also go when get a regular pattern of taking your insulin correctly and getting your your blood levels right. Testing yourself regularly and accepting that you need to take the insulin and the time to do this will solve your problems here, in my opinion. Once you get into this life-style it becomes second nature and the sooner you start the better. I would also suggest stepping up on any exercise - nothing major, but you'll be surprised at how much exercise helps control your levels too.

It's good that you're eating proper meals but you simply can't go on the eating sweets binge anymore - it's completely counter-productive. If you have a sweet tooth then this is going to be a life-style change that will be hard to break but you might be eating them due to the boredom and the fact that you have this to get your head around.

Can I ask - how old are you? And what do you do for work?

I was lucky with my work as they were over-and-above supportive with the things I need and hospital appointments etc.

I hope you feel better and more motivated soon. Start looking after yourself with your insulin and accept the help that's on offer with the nurses/diabetic specialists. If you want to chat some more just give me a shout.

Best of luck

Dave

 

[SandraR]

Aaron

Hello. Reading your post, it seems to me that there is every possibility that you are feeling depressed.

Don't underestimate the psychological impact of the diagnosis. At first there was the drama of the diagnosis and the challenge of the new practicalities to keep your mind very busy. A few months later and the drama has passed and maybe you have (understandably) sunk into a dark and gloomy place.

I do recall that my son felt emotionally at his worst just a few months into being diabetic and I too suffered a period of misery for which I needed a little help from my GP. My son even said it was quite exciting at first, what with all the attention around him. When he went back to school, he did have a bit of a meltdown some weeks later when it all became 'too much'.

At our children's diabetes clinic, a parent support group (to which I belong) has campaigned with our health care providers and have actually got a specialist Diabetes Psychologist hired onto the team! This is very necessary, because it does have a big impact on the person with diabetes and their surrounding family members. It took us about 2 years to get this - and a lot of talking to people in high places, but we did it and we got the requirement onto the tariff, which meant a psychologist is budgeted for and has now been recruited. Not just any psychologist either, but a diabetes experienced one.

Of course you need to get to grips with caring for yourself properly, but it could be that to enable that, you need help adjusting to and accepting the change to your life.

You have had such a lot to cope with in these last few months, so don't feel that you should simply dust yourself down and carry on as normal - at work etc,. There should be no shame or embarrassment to admit that you aren't coping too well emotionally. Your GP would be a good place to start and may be able to refer you elsewhere.

Once you are in a good place in your head, you will find it much easier to deal with taking care of your physical wellbeing.

Anyway, those are my thoughts, for what they are worth.

 

[Fallenstar]

What great advice from Sandra and Davey

Arron, I think you being here asking these questions alone mean you are certainly NOT ignorant. You had things going in the right direction in the early days of diagnosis so you will certainly get back there.
I think when you are Diagnosed with Type 1 which cannot be controlled with diet and exercise ,or any lifestyle changes, you realise this is it for good now...there sometimes has to be a grieving process on some level ,for a way of life that you will never get back. There comes with the diagnosis a huge responsibility now to have to work out how to juggle good control with your daily life . I think we would be lying if we said it wasn't a drag sometimes ,and at times,downright difficult...maybe not for some individuals which is great, but some people find gaining control harder for a lot of reasons beyond their control.
You will get back on track, start by cutting out the rubbish and take healthy snacks , make time to take a bit of time to exercise a bit ,as Davy said this might help with your control also and negate the odd treat you want, without swamping yourself with insulin..make sure you get into a routine for testing ,certainly before injections at least in the start, and it will become a habit .

I hope thing get better for you, I'm sure they will with time and a little effort...good luck :thumbup: