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Not looking after myself

TH3_J0K3R

TH3_J0K3R

Active Member
Messages
43
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I've had type 1 diabetes for 14 years I'm now 25 and I haven't looked after myself at all I eat what I want I never check my blood I miss injections and now I've got pains in my feet and legs and diabetes retinopathy and my penis no longer works properly. I need to get on top of this because I'm scared but lack the motivation and I'm so lazy. My family are scared I'm going to die young which breaks my heart especially when it's my grandmother saying it to me. What can I do to get properly motivated and I know all the stuff I've said here should motivate me but it's doesn't and this scares me.
 
I am sorry to hear you have had motivational issues. You have taken the first step in over coming them by telling us your story above.

How do you want this to go forward. It is your life and we can only support.

What interests do you have in your life? Having external interests that others rely on you for is also a great motivator. How about looking for a team sport to play.

Do you have a partner? Is this something you have contemplated? Having someone to do it for is often a great motivator.
 
Staying alive should be motivation enough, your complications will improve with better control so take control of your diabetes and don't bury your head in the sand, with new breakthroughs in a cure try and keep as healthy as you can, good luck and remember, your destiny is in your hands, take care.
 
Hi Joker.

How Ill do you think you would need to be before you would feel motivated?

Without being motivated do you think you could make small adjustments to help a wee bit?
 
Take things a step at a time, start taking your injections and testing. There will be times when you will feel like giving up. But keep going. Take small steps. You will feel overwhelmed if u try change everything at once and probably give up. Take things slow and make it part of your routine. Good luck X X x
 
First step is to contact your nurse or consultant and talk to them about how you have been managing. The motivation needs to come from you, no one else can do this for you. They can offer you guidance and support, without change further complications will be inevitable, just take each day as it comes and look forward to the day where you will be feeling a lot better, shout if we can help ;)
 
Thank you everyone for your input it really have me something to think about. Me and my girlfriend have been up and down with our relationship but I've decided I want to get healthy for me her and the baby even tho its not mine I'm gonna man up and do the right thing. I've been testing my blood for an entire week so far which is more than I've done it for over a year I'm also watching what u eat but obviously It won't be in check until I've had some hospital appointments and seen my doctor and the dietitian. Also when I do get it under control I want to put on weight and start going to the gym to get some muscle and tone up, am I ok to take protein shake and weight gain supplements? Or do they make special ones for us?
 
Good to hear your are changing your ways, it's harder to get control with your bg running high so getting this under control means you will find it easier to manage mentally and physically, just take each day as it comes, some will be good and some not so good but it's a lot easier with better control. I have always said with managing type 1, 10% is physical and 90% is mental, having the right mental attitude is key to control ;)
 
I think my other problem is I love food and I mean all food lol so cutting down portion size is going to be a struggle too because you smallest thing sky rockets my blood I had chips the other day and my blood shot through the roof.
 
Are you confident at changing your doses of insulin?
Perhaps it may be good to ask to see a dietitian or go on a DAFNE-perhaps just as a refresher?
I only pick up on the fact that you said it would give your doctors something to work on...this makes me think that you may not be comfortable with dosing and giving correction doses?

Its great to hear that you are getting back in control.

I haven't used protein drinks so can't answer that question.
 
No im not confident in changing my own doses when I was young I never really listened to my doctors you know teenagers always rebellious always think we know best. So when I see them I am going to ask them to re - educate me in everything cos I'm clueless and I've had it 14 years.
I have hospital appointments coming up in the next few weeks.
 
Knowledge is power @TH3_J0K3R If you get that re-education and learn as much as you can, you'll gradually beat the diabetes back down into,place.

Don't expect things to change overnight, but every little thing you do to improve your control will be a step closer towards your good health in the future :)

And you'll still be able to eat chips if you want. I eat chips. I can't eat platefuls of them but I can have a moderate portion and have my blood sugar in range afterwards because I've learnt from experience how to adjust my insulin to cover them. So think of the changes you hope to make as positive things that will ultimately give you more freedom :)

Keep posting and let us know how things are going.
 
Let your health care team know what you have written above and they will be eager to help you.

Take small steps and you'll get there... Keep positive and posting with progress..
 
I am thinking that I should start adjusting my insulin tho cos I just wanna see good BG readings.
This is the insulin I'm on 20 units in morning and 20.
It an every 12 hours one

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Ok... So you are on a mixed insulin which means you must eat a set qty of carbs each meal and snack inbetween.
You have no leeway using this insulin to have variation.. Ie if some T1's ate a curry with say chips or rice they would increase their dosage if they ate a salad they would decrease it.
You can't do that on the insulin that you are on. You must eat a set amount of food (carbs) at the same time each day.
If you were to go on a basal bolus regime you could eat with more freedom. So like me.. I used to have just one salad each day. That was my food for the whole day. Now due to problems I have to eat 6 small meals a day. So I inject for each meal.

The mixed insulin regime us quite old fashioned nowadays but if you were getting good results from it then it would be ok.

However, to find out whats best for you keep a full food diary and testing pre eating and 2 hours after eating.
This will give your doctors and DSN's a better clue.

If you want flexibility you must learn carb counting and be accurate and you need to write down your carbs with your meals wtc to show the health care team. If you can't carb count then there are online courses to start you off.

If you are currently wanting to change your doses I would personally only start off doing 1 unit increases or decreases per injection. You must write down every detail...

Good for you for starting to take control..
 
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