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New to this! Type1.

S

sarahh1987

Member
Messages
6
Location
Cardiff
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
HI!

I'm new to all this (forums- not diabetes!)

I was diagnosed with T1 when I was 3 years old so have been diabetic for over 24 years now.

I've had problems over the years (since around 16yo) with testing blood sugars and injecting.... meaning I very rarely do either I'm ashamed to admit!

I'm starting to get back in control of my diabetes, and am trying my very best to start injecting every meal time and to test my sugars at least twice a day.

I think I may have been in denial for the last ten or so years, where i have refused to accept my diabetes and have denied any problems to my parents and doctors/nurses.

I finally came clean a couple of months ago (terrifying!!) and have had nothing but support from my diabetes team at the hospital

My A1C in January was 13.1, and I am now down to 10.2. I know I have a long way to go, but I am happy with my current progress and am feeling more confident in my abilities to take control of my own condition.

Does anyone else have any similar stories or experiences they could share? I feel like it's been a very lonely journey this far and would love to be able to talk to people who understand how hard diabetes can be to live with.

Thanks in advance,

Sarah
 
Hi and welcome. It's really good to see you are tackling your blood sugar and getting it under control. If you have any specific questions about your control do ask in the Type 1 forum
 
Hi and welcome to the forum you are in the right place to get yourself on the right track. Unfortunately diabetes is a very personal journey which comes with its highs and lows but with a bit of time and effort it is manageable.
 
That is a great reduction in Hba1c @sarahh1987 and I'm so pleased your taking some positive steps to get your diabetes under control, it makes all the difference when you have a good and supportive diabetes team behind you, do keep us updated on your progress.
 
Hi, yes this is similar to my story. I have had diabetes since I was 9 and as a teen from 13 up until recently (I am 20) I have struggled to take care of myself. I know how to, I am not misinformed but I just haven't. What is worst above all is the guilt that comes with it. I have always felt so guilty for doing this to myself and worrying my family. My doctor knows about what I have been doing as I too came clean but my family don't know still. The main reasons for not taking care of myself are the fact that to get everything 100% right, it takes up most of your life, and that I discovered that insulin withdrawal caused weight loss.
I am here to talk if you need encouragement- I am not a success story and my hbA1c was 12 this month. It's a long road but one worth taking xx
 
Hiya Sarah, welcome to the forum.

I've a similar story to yourself, diagnosed aged 3 (now 29) I ignored my diabetes for most of my teens, right now my control is the best it's ever been I don't know what gave me a wake up call but about 5 years ago but I just realised I was being very silly.

You're not alone there are many of us that have been through this.

Its fantastic you have took a step in the right direction and spoken to your doctor so well done you! That takes guts!

And well done on your latest a1c, you will soon get there

Always around if you need any help, as is everyone

Abbie x
 
Hi Sarah

I know you aren't alone in this journey and you will get huge help here.

I'm asking from a sort of NHS angle as I am involved with my CCG to try and find ways to help all diabetics. So my question is... Is there any way that you could have stayed on the straight and narrow if you had a diabetic "buddy" when you were in denial.. Ie a fellow diabetic that you could contact either by phone, text or person... Would it have been useful to have had somebody like this in your life in addition to NHS staff that really don't live diabetes?
 


Thanks for this! It's good to know that I am not the only one who has struggled, as I have sometimes felt like nobody else really "gets it". I totally understand the guilt, although sometimes I've even managed to block that out! I found it a lot easier to "forget" about it all as nobody knew I wasn't taking care of myself... and still now, very few of my family actually know. The worst thing about the constant guilt, is that my mother runs a diabetes support group for young people, so I have distancedf myself from all of that too.
I think I too got fed up of how diabetes takes control of your whole life, and I just wanted to feel "normal" like all my friends.
Thanks again for the message, it's great to know there's support here for people like us, especially because I don't really feel comfortable or connfident to talk to many people in person about the condition. xx
 


Hi Abbie, thanks for replying!

Thankyou for sharing your story, and for reassuring me that I'm not the only person who struggles.

I'm not sure what has suddenly "clicked" in my brain for me to start wanting to take care of myself, I think it may be because I am thinking of having more children and want to make sure that I am in the best health possible (the only time in the last 10 years that I have properly taken care of myself is when I was pregnant with my daughter, 5 years ago)

It was really scary talking to my doctor and DSN, but I wrote a letter to them (gave it to them in person) so that I could explain everything and get it out in the open without "chickening out". I was expecting a horrible lecture and telling off from them, but they have been nothing but supportive.

Thanks again for the message and support, it means a lot x
 

Thanks so much, I will keep updating

It's great to have the support here, I only wish I'd found these forums sooner!
 

Hi, thanks for the reply!

To be honest, I don't think a "buddy" would have helped me personally. I am a very shy person and find it very difficult to talk to new people in person. As I have mentioned on a previous post, my mum runs a diabetic support group, which she has done for over 20 years so I know plenty of other young people with diabetes, but while I was in denial, I distanced myself from the group as I just didn't want to be reminded of my condition all the time.

I think a "buddy" could be a great idea for some people, but from my point of view I don't think it would have benefitted me at all.

This may seem like a silly question... but what is a CCG?

Thanks again for the support
 
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