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Rubbish Diabetic saying Hi.

P

Pee Wee

Member
Messages
15
Hello Everyone,

Well, I'm 34 and after 17 years with diabetes I have just checked out this (or any) diabetes forum for the first time.

I guess you could say that I've been pretty poor at being diabetic, without really realising it I don't like to admit that it gets in my way to any extent, and as such I haven't been to any kind of clinic or had any HBA1c tests done in about 5 years.

My 'regime' is I'm sure laughable to people that actually take an interest in their diabetes care; I use the same needle for about 6 months (until the plunger snaps usually) by which time you can't even read the numbers on the side- to draw insulin from penfil cartridges because I broke or lost the pens and have always found excuses not to attend clinics etc.

I use glargine and humalog, and pretty much guess how much humalog to have per meal, and often I'm up and down a lot.

I have a busy lifestyle, including times when I just cannot afford to risk a hypo, and I think it's mainly this unwillingness to accept hypo's as a part of diabetes that has led me to push the condition to the back of my mind.

Anyway, today I took the plunge and went to see my doctor with the intention of turning over a new leaf, I go to give my bloods tomorrow after a fast (I was ready this morning but it's been that long I didn't realise you couldn't even have a cuppa tea!)

I'm pretty scared at how high my HBA1c is going to be, and how difficult life is going to be becoming a 'good' diabetic. I know lots of people do it easily but then I'm quite chaotic in general and not very well disciplined!

I spoke to my cousin today who also has diabetes, and she mentioned that when her control goes a bit poor she feels unwell, (headaches and lethargy etc) I've never really considered that the amount of headaches and (fuzzy heads), lethargy and my IBS even could be related to poor control.

Anyway, long intro I know- if anyone else out there has ever turned their control around I would love to hear from you.

Wish me luck!
 
Blimey you are rubbish :wink:
But who am to talk, i did exactly the same for about 6 years..... apart from using me needles for HOW LONG !!! :shock: LOL i didnt realise that was possible, as soon as i can feel mine , out they go, usually less than a week.

I too hate being anywhere near a hypo, i like to be freeeeeeeee ( thats about the 8 range for me ) oh eck... i can hear the scouling from here.

Anyway we shouldnt be too hard on ourselves as even if you did attend all the clinics you wouldnt have got that much good help, thats partly why i didnt go . It was just the same thing over and over and over again ,eat ya carbs do ya tests and oohhhh your hba1c is high again.
It wasnt till i started suffering from some the complications and had to give up work because of depression that i came here and found all i needed to know to try and help myself.
 
hi chez hello everyone im a new member i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about a month ago also hb im finding it hard to understand this illness what i can and cannot eat i would very much like some advice if thats possible thank you carol x
 
welcome to the forum,
at least you have started to take control again,keep asking the questions and let us know how u get on at the drs,
good luck :D
 
Hi Welcome! I wish you the best of luck, because that's just what it sounds your Diabetic control is a matter of luck.
In my opinion it is not about being a Good Diabetic or a Bad Diabetic, is just about looking after your body in a disciplined and controlled manner.

So you say Yea! Yea! Yea! it's alright for you, but it's difficult for me with my busy lifestyle, with the problems that brings!
I am sorry but this will not go away, and if you don't control your Diabetes you will not have a busy lifestyle, only health problems.

Please talk to your support team at your Diabetic Centre, they will help you.

Meanwhile enjoy life, it's not all bad news.
 
You're absolutely right, health problems are on the horizon if I don't sort myself out, it's just that being told that hasn't really motivated me in the past kinda like somebody who smokes seeing an advert on the telly about the dangers of their habit and immidiately reaching for the cigarettes!

Anyway as I said, I'm determined to turn over a new leaf- I think my problem really is in the way I eat more than anything else, when I'm being determined to eat healthily and trying to shed a few pounds I always find my control falls into shape quite well-

If I feel I won't get too much of a scolding (because it doesn't help) I'll post my HBA1c figures and see how I can improve on them!.
Thanks all for the encouragemant and seems like a good resource here as well I intend to do some reading when I get the chance.
 
Make friends with your meter. It will keep telling you the facts. Eventually you may come to take note of what it's suggesting you do
 
Welcome Pee Wee ... without wanting to sound like an AA meeting host (and I'm not talking breakdown services here) I think you've taken the most important steps -

1. getting yourself online
2. gettingunderstanding you've done a poo job lately and need to sort yourself out
3. going for hba1c to find out where your numbers are at

It's only by knowing where you stand that you can see improvement :)
 
Thank You Jen,

My blood glucose machine got a hammering yesterday, and it's been quite interesting.
I think the regime I set myself wasn't too bad when I was eating three square meals a day (as I did yesterday) it's when I'm being rubbish and snacking on junk that I lose control completely!

I'm really a bit surprised about how low people on here are aiming for with their bloods, I was always very happy with a 7. anything and didn't really bat an eyelid at 12! - I've just been making excuses and telling myself I can't do any better.

Looking back, I can see when it all went wrong. Back in 1999 / 2000 I was suffering from moderate to severe depression and began to suffer with erectile dysfunction.

I took (what was for me) the bold step of going to a specialist clinic and when little blue pills did nothing I was told quite bluntly that it was almost certainly due to my diabetes (based on the consultant asking me what my control was like) and that was "always the first complication in men".
No further solutions were offered at this point it was almost as if I didn't deserve any treatment or help.

I was fairly distrought, but shortly after met my wife, depression got better as did the erectile dysfunction.

I still feel angry that I was dismissed by a specialist in this way, as at the time and my age I felt that the diagnosis meant I would never be sexually active again and never find a partner.

(I now know that is absolute rubbish by the way I was just young and frightened)

That didn't help my depression, and had I been at the real worst point in my depression and been told that I shudder to think what I may have done. (Worst day of my life new years eve 2000!)

Anyway, point is I think I walked away from any kind of diabetes care at that point and kind of cut off my nose to spite my face so to speak.

I am determined to make a change, just a bit daunted and worried what damage I've already done.

I think there are plenty of poorly controlled diabetics out there like me and I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't respond well to patronising lecturing that I have had from diabetes clinics in the past.

(From a nurse who was morbidly obese and reeked of smoke, I might add)

Anyway, now I sound like I'm in an AA meeting!

Thanks again.
 
hya peewee,
at least your sorting yourself out now hun,
everyone ere will help u as much as we can :D
 
As far as I can work out there is a very strong link between diabetes that is poorly controlled and depression - there is a thread on here someplace (possibly in general chat??) talking about depression which you might find interesting ...

there's also a thread discussing viagra and erectile dysfunction (in the main diabetes discussions forum) ... any input you have to offer would I am sure be gratefully received.

it's so good to know that you are on the road to better control and better health and I understand what you're saying about BG numbers hba1c results that people want seeming low by comparison, but I think it's because we (that's the magical "we" lol) want to have our bodies respond in as NON diabetic a fashion as possible - and one way to try and do that is to aim for non-diabetic bloods where possible. HOWEVER (and I cannot stress this enough) ANY drop you achieve in blood sugar or hba1c is an improvement to your personal situation ...

good luck and do check out the "ask the experts" forum if you want to see some interesting answers to questions - feel free to post away in there yourself :)

BEST OF LUCK

J/xxx
 
there's also a thread discussing viagra and erectile dysfunction (in the main diabetes discussions forum) ... any input you have to offer would I am sure be gratefully received.
Click to expand...

Pfffft.

(Sorry. *fears the ban hammer*)
 
Naughty ... you know that's not what I meant.

Trust me, if I'm aiming for a double entendre it will be much cleverer than that!
 
Well, I got my results, HBA1c 8.9 (lower than I anticipated)

But much more worryingly Albumin present in urine.

I have done another test and get the results in a week, I've also been to buy some test strips and they do indeed confirm the presence of albumin around about 0.3g / Litre by the looks of it.

So I guess my cavalier attitude to diabetes managment has caught up with me.
I'm not sure just how bad it is but I'm pretty scared so I'd really appreciate it if you can manage not to
take the 'serves you right' approach because I already know it does.
 
Pee Wee said:
So I guess my cavalier attitude to diabetes managment has caught up with me.
I'm not sure just how bad it is but I'm pretty scared so I'd really appreciate it if you can manage not to take the 'serves you right' approach because I already know it does.
Click to expand...
Hi Pee Wee,
I wouldn't dream of it - not much point in preaching to the converted. But I would just like to thank you for sharing your problems and worries because maybe reading of your experience might just stop someone else from following the same route and spur them into getting their diabetes under control. You are a fighter and you are showing there is life after diabetes.
 
Absolutely right.

The problem as I see it is that there is a fine line between demonstrating that a poor regime will lead to complications and scaring the c**p out of young and or newly diagnosed diabetics who MAY react in the way I did.

I felt that I couldn't control it, so buried my head in the sand. Secretly I've been scared ever since I was diagnosed, but determined to be as 'normal' as possible.

Anyway, I can't wait to get referred to the diabetic specialists at the Royal Liverpool, as I hope to get a pump, not a panacea for my problems I know but I believe a good solution to slowing down the damage.

Does anyone know if it's possible to halt the progression of kidney problems if I suddenly get a halo and get my blood sugars near normal?
 
I don't think anyone would be so callous as to take the antzy attitude with you - we've all done some "less than smart" things in our time *recalls getting very hammered and climbing up the outside of the multi storey car park* ... no clever!!!!

The main thing is that you have taken some stock of your life and health and have lots of opportunuties to now make your future a healthier safer one ... it is NEVER too late to try and improve your control :)

all the best, Jem xox
 
Hi Pee Wee

Like everyone says, you've taken the necessary steps to get things in control. I am the same age as you, dx about 11 weeks ago. I can imagine that there must be many 17 year olds (and other adults) who did the same as you on diagnosis. I think I I would do much the same as you did -its such a horrible time in terms of relationships/social life/transition from school to work/further education so all understandable and no one here would lecture you on that I dont think.

However with the kidney probs I think you really have no choice now. I cant say for definite whether things are reversible but know that the way to tackle it is to control blood sugar and blood pressure (if its a prob) and medicaion such as ACE Inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme) or a similar class called ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers). These drugs have been found to protect kidney function even more than other drugs that provide the same level of blood pressure control. Most likely your Consultant will look into this.

Good luck

L
 
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