• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Newly Diagnosed

JosieMcGreal

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
East Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Suffer with OCD and anxiety since age 7
Hello. I'm Josie and I'm 25 and have recently (3 weeks ago) been diagnosed as Type 1. I am also recently married and have 2 young children. I also suffer terribly with OCD and anxiety since the age of 7 so this diagnosis was a bit of a shock! I had been to the doctors numerous times with symptoms (not thinking it was this) and was told it's all in my head and it's just my mental health playing up and I should go back on anti depressants. I declined at first but found myself back at the doctors because I felt something was wrong and decided to go on them. I had terrible side affects which turned out to be this but was still being told it's all in my head, stick with it as the affects of constant anxiety are nothing compared to the medication side affects. So eventually I said no this isn't normal as my weight was getting lower by the day, was still looking after my young children and driving daily and they just called me a "professional worrier" and also "there's no wonder you've got a headache if you're drinking so much my friend" (after I told them I can't stop drinking and no amount of water is curing my thirst) and they'd do a blood test purely to shut me up! Got rushed to the doctors after a repeated test and even then was patronised and the doctor stroked my arm and said "there's a fine line with you if it's real or OCD" I was absolutely shocked as you can imagine as I genuinely was made to feel like I was having a breakdown!

I feel like I needed to get that rant off my chest and talk to some people who are going through the same as me. Since being on my insulin I feel so much better physically and am coming to terms with this and I currently aren't as emotional as I was and I feel a lot better not being on anti depressants! I am much happier and have started to put weight back on which I am really proud of as when I was in hospital I was 8 stone 1. I've been reading other peoples posts on here and thought I might as well join in! I regular do pole fitness and I am quite active and would be grateful of any advice or tips on how to manage levels when exercising!
 
Hi @JosieMcGreal and welcome to the forums. I confess I'd've been tempted to slap a doctor who stroked my arm and who made that kind of comment! (I restrained myself, with the patronising GP who I now utterly refuse to see ever again, to very cold, precise logic and to a "Told you so" to the nurses who disbelieved me the first time I turned up with my list of symptoms.)

Hope it's all beginning to make a little sense. Here certainly was and is the best place for support for me!
 
Thanks and yeah I’m enjoying talking to people who are going through the same. I luckily have a friend who has had it since we we’re teenagers so I can talk to her too. A place like this is nice as I aren’t the outsider with diabetes!
 
Hello, welcome!
Congrats on your marriage but such a shame about your diagnosis, I was dismissed by doctors 4-5 times and they kept issuing antibiotics. But I'm glad you're feeling better! There are a lot of nice and friendly diabetics who are always happy to help. As for exercise and diabetes, you'd need to contact your diabetes team about it. Because you're in the early stage and I'm assuming you haven't seen a dietitian about dose adjustments and carb counting, we wouldn't be able to advise much. Other than keep some fast acting carbs near by in case you hypo during exercise.
 
Thanks and I’ve not seen a dietitian or anything yet or anything to do with carb counting. Regarding exercise she just said take it easy and watch my levels whilst doing so I had a snack before hand just incase and didn’t seem too bad. It is still very early days, but so far it’s been ok!
 
T2 here, so not quite in the same boat, but anxiety and depression are part and parcel with my introverted borderline. And you know what? High bloodsugars wreak havoc on a person's mental state. You're going to feel so much better, mentally and physically. I'm glad you got your correct diagnosis eventually, in spite of certain people 's incompetence. Good on you for sticking with it! It's hard to get taken seriously, sometimes, and you didn't give up. Be proud of yourself!
 
Thanks , yeah I think because I do have mental health issues they thought it was just that! But I'm glad it got found out early! It's nice to be able to talk to others going through the same!
 


I couldn't agree more! If some doctor ever says "now now, dear" to me and patronises me like that I would be absolutely fuming and would let him know in no uncertain terms, followed rapidly by me and my entire family leaving the surgery (with a strong letter saying exactly why .... copied to the practice manager and every other partner in the practice).

ETA - I resent being patronised, condescended to or attempts to make me feel small simply because my area of specialisation in life isn't the same as the offending person's......
 
Yeah I've got the head of the practise' name so that I can complain. When I told my Mum both her and her fiance was like right that's not on we need to complain! Now I have adjusted and calmed down I definitely will complain as I thought I was having a breakdown and was made to feel like I was hassling them! Crazy! Especially them stroking my shoulder saying there's a fine line with me if it's real or not!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…