This may be a dead duck ...

Hi Andy, I think this is similar to my topic. There are obviously different points of view, but I'm firmly in the positive camp.

What course was that?
I agree, it is a really poor question.

By a long way the negatives far outweigh the positives when your living with a condition like type 1 diabetes, but there are a few positives and one must be having regular check-ups so that any other problems might be identified before things get too bad. Also, if it were not for diabetes I'm not sure how good my diet would be, probably would be eating the wrong foods more often then I should

What's good about diabetes?............errr alternative is death! Lol ;-)

you get seen quicker in hospitals
you get more breaks in work if you hypo lol
you get new knowledge that you didnt no before
you can keep the weight off you by running bloods high
you have sites like this to talk to and have support from
your not as bad as more ill people eg cancer downs ect (got to be a possative there

I, like so many others live with diabetes, but as for the positives, well I personally cant see it. It's not having diabetes as such, it's the other things that go with it (sometimes emotionally and physically) and seeing a newly diagnosed type 1 loved one fighting to stay alive.
It's great to belong to such a supportive forum. which is a huge help, so still fighting and going strong.

Best wishes RRB

I don't see it as a negative at all.

I actually dread to think what Weight or life I would have had if I wasnt T1.

I think that although my brothers are also lean, mean machines that I would either have ended up really tooo thin or obese... Could havego eeither way, but definitely wouldnt have been as lovely sized and fit as I am now after 30+ years diabetes.

I literally don't see anything negative at all about being a T1.

donnellysdogs said:

I literally don't see anything negative at all about being a T1.

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Really

Surely having to inject yourself multiple times a day and having to do finger prick tests are a negative DD, whether you are comfortable doing them or not, life would be so much easier if we didn't have to bother.

donnellysdogs said:

I don't see it as a negative at all.

I actually dread to think what Weight or life I would have had if I wasnt T1.

I think that although my brothers are also lean, mean machines that I would either have ended up really tooo thin or obese... Could havego eeither way, but definitely wouldnt have been as lovely sized and fit as I am now after 30+ years diabetes.

I literally don't see anything negative at all about being a T1.

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Hi dd, I'm the reverse of you, The past couple of years have been not good with medical conditions and other 'ailments' on top of type 1, I weigh 9 stone now so about 1/2 stone stone more now at 56 years. If I could change it, I would do it in a heart beat. The daytime work and chores are mostly okay, ( even though constant nausea is a pain ) but once evening sets in I'm normally either feeling ill or can't keep
my eyes open, not all the time, but a big % and my carb intake differs too , fish, coleslaw salad and then a yogurt last night, Diabetes positives negatives

RRB

No honestly, cos its such a way of life I never think about it now or let D get to me.

I have been down about it previously and OMG I have previously been down. Since speaking to a **** hood counsellor though he made me realise that I don't deserve seco d best because of my D, that I let D be a reason for thinking less of myself than I should.

Since talking to this Counsellor I have had a complete turn around in my thoughts. Thats why I now see myself as actually being a lot fitter than 99% of the folk around me. I never did before. I just think of everything good that I do in my life compared to others. Wheras before I was too busy thinking I'm different.

Friends have never treated me differently at all with going out, food etc. they never ask about diabetes etc so I never feel different around them.

It was my mum that made me feel different, cos she always had to ask about my diabetes. Now she doesn't after I explained how it made me feel down.

I honestly don't give a hoot about testing, or changing sets etc. if I wasn't having to do this I would be wasting my time doing something else... I see other people around me that aren't diabetic and do nothing for themselves or for others... And for that reason alone nowadays I am glad of who I am and what I have.

I have met fantastic people that I would never have met. I have interests in things that I wouldn't have done.

Apart from nearly losing my licence which totally knocked me for 6 then I have nothing to moan about at all.

I'm told I'm fit and beautiful etc by friends and family. I've got a gorgeous caring hubby.. I think the only thing that worries me now is getting another dog, which I would love. The only hold back I have is what the impact would be on a dog and my hubby if I have to stay in hospital for any reason, and that stops me considering it. Then I actually think, well its not hospital, but its because having had my girlies around for 30 years I actually have more freedom... So hospital is just a D excuse for not having another dog....

I honestly though wouldn't change a thing, as I am definitely wiser and a better person for having D in my life.

I've had it 8 years and cant find anything positive from it. I'm not a negative person who refuses too look for the good/positive things in life/situations or ones circumstances, but having IDDM is a right pain in the ass I've never benefited by having this poxy curse of a disease. How on earth can one try make the assumption there is something good about illness, apart from ones own personal development and learning, if they so choose to see it as an experience to learn from it. Anything else in my opinion is people just clutching straws in an attempted to pacify their minds and keep them happy. They say, ohhh I eat healthy now, I exercise more now, I'm losing weight now...wow really?? and it only took you to get a life threatening condition to get yourself to do what we all should be doing regardless of our health. F, Diabetes!

Bazzza, it's attitudes like that that don't help you. As ironic as it may seem, for a lot of people, the impact of a life threatening disease is that they look after themselves a lot better because they no longer take life for granted.

None of us would take life for granted if we truly knew what was around the corner. You never know where the next traffic accident is coming from! Surely it is better to accept this, accept that it's just another thing in life to be dealt with and move on? Life is too short to spend it worrying about/being beaten by diabetes. It's simply a condition that once tamed is easily looked after. It shouldn't get in your way.

I wouldn't say it's pacifying your mind. Simply accepting that you are are who you are and getting on with life.

Bazzza said:

I've had it 8 years and cant find anything positive from it. I'm not a negative person who refuses too look for the good/positive things in life/situations or ones circumstances, but having IDDM is a right pain in the ass I've never benefited by having this poxy curse of a disease. How on earth can one try make the assumption there is something good about illness, apart from ones own personal development and learning, if they so choose to see it as an experience to learn from it. Anything else in my opinion is people just clutching straws in an attempted to pacify their minds and keep them happy. They say, ohhh I eat healthy now, I exercise more now, I'm losing weight now...wow really?? and it only took you to get a life threatening condition to get yourself to do what we all
should be doing regardless of our health. F, Diabetes!

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Bazza I do understand where you are coming from and some can find it such a debilitating condition to live with. But it's trying to find the right mindset to just get on with life and not let the big D take over. It's your body, your mind so don't let it rule or ruin any aspects of your life, When my little granddaughter was diagnosed I was so upset and angry to see her so desperately ill and fighting to live, I hated this disease so much, but seeing her alive, healthy and strong fills me with love and hope, not just for her, but for all the other younger ones with type 1. Kick the big D's butt from time to time, you're the boss and let it know it All the best RRB

Totally agree yhat you shouldn't have a life threatening disease to look after yourself.. But if you're young take a look at all the non diabetic unhealthy people around - of all ages.

So what, we have a critical illness. We are still humans capable of having some **** good fun n laughs. Diabetes prob takes 6 mins of my day.. So why should that have a greater impact than the other 23 hours and 54 mins of fun?