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Too much information

SueJB

SueJB

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,333
Location
Heaven
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
cold weather
I've found this website incredibly informative and the support from everyone amazing. The problem now is that there's just too much information coming from lots of different angles and I'm feeling overwhelmed. Thinking about jacking it in for a while. Has anyone else felt like this or is it just par for the course?
 
Hi SueJB. I know the feeling there is so much to take on board. Take one day at a time. Focus on one issue at a time and get to grips with that before moving onto the nest.

Not sure if you heard this one "how do you eat an elephant ? " and the response is in little bits

Hope this helps
 
I too have found the forum incredibly supportive and informative since diagnosis and often wonder where I would be if I never found it. However I do like the diversity of threads and opinions and enjoy reading them even if they are not always relevant to how I live. Dont go or not for too long. I am always interested in your posts.
 
SueJB said:
I've found this website incredibly informative and the support from everyone amazing. The problem now is that there's just too much information coming from lots of different angles and I'm feeling overwhelmed. Thinking about jacking it in for a while. Has anyone else felt like this or is it just par for the course?
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Hi Sue - It certainly happened to me, when I was relatively newly diagnosed. I think it happens to most people at some point, although that last part is my speculation.

I didn't step away from the forum when it happened to me, I had just decided what my plan was, and stuck to it, to see how that was or wasn't working out. Obviously how individuals cope is just that - individual.

I always describe the forum as having a revolving door that'll still be turning next week, month or whenever.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
I think it's imperative for you to only eat to your meter. Anything else is a bonus.

Always will be.

Diet has the biggest influence over diabetes. Medicine helps, if need be. Exercise just keeps the heart and circulation at its best.

I'm sorry your feeling overwhelmed.
Many take time to reevaluate things. With or without the forum. We are all different.
I hope you feel more clear headed about this soon.
It's a personal thing.

We have to do things when it's right for us.
If you're getting bombarded, it's wise to make it clear that it's not comfortable for you.
Many of us are guilty of being over enthusiastic on here. Many are desperate to help, as they were cheated of such help.

As you are finding thou, not all applies to you.
 
I think that with any diagnosis of a major illness that information can be overwhelming. To me its good to be finding that its overwhelming as it shows that instead of believing eveything that you are looking at yourself as an an individual. That is so vitally important.

Some of us do need a break away from people/internet etc to find their way to deal with advice and information.

Its all totally understandable and we understand but will also miss you if a break is necessary, but will always welcome you back when ready.
 
No one takes on the Mothership alone. Take information as and when you need it and build on your knowledge little by little. I felt overwhelmed at first, I thought that Diabetes was a condition one could understand in a couple of months and panicked when I found that, actually, I will still be learning about it in a decade from now.

Take it steady.
 
Hi Sue, I have been a member of this forum for a bit longer than you, but the way I handle it is by not posting very often. I do read the forum almost every day to try to understand what its all about, but step back to absorb the info at a pace I can deal with. Take some time out, rest your mind and come back reinvigorated when you're ready. I'm sure you will be better for it!
 
Hi @SueJB Do what you feel is right - even if you step away you can step back in when you feel ready.

Hope your ok and coping with your diabetes ?
 
HI sue JB I have not posted for a while but yes it is overwhelming at time with a variety of opinions and views many of which are contradicting others But isn't that the point we are all different and diabetes is a disease where one size does not fit all we read...we learn ,,,,we choose and we most importantly POST our experiences so they may help others we don't say this is the ONLY WAY WE SAY THIS SEEMS TO WORK FOR ME and hope others find it helpful.

Do Not leave, as I for one will miss your common sense approach hope this helps you do not have to post every visit I sometimes just read the post without a reply and the most recent one to see if I can Help
 
You can always unwatch threads if you feel too many alerts are coming your way.
 
SueJB said:
I've found this website incredibly informative and the support from everyone amazing. The problem now is that there's just too much information coming from lots of different angles and I'm feeling overwhelmed. Thinking about jacking it in for a while. Has anyone else felt like this or is it just par for the course?
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Sue, I think I know exactly what you mean. It's not that you don't appreciate the advice and everybody's approaches, it is that there are many, many conflicting issues across all the different styles of 'managing diabetes'. I guess it just reflects the differences in individuals but it can be hard for those at the start of this so called 'journey' to take in. If you're like me you can become obsessed with logging on and scouring the new posts but the adverse effect of this is that you become overwhelmed with advice, so you start off following what sounds good, then there's a blip so you change it, then a third opinion arises so you wonder whether to change back! It's never ending. I think I will take a step back also, decide on what regime I want to try out most, try it for 3 months and then go from there. This forum is fab but it can result in 'diabetes' being on your mind 24/7 and not necessarily in a good way. Good luck. x
 
SueJB said:
The problem now is that there's just too much information coming from lots of different angles and I'm feeling overwhelmed.
Click to expand...

If you are feeling overwhelmed by it - it's not information - it's still data.

Data is grist to the mill - and like all grain products - diabetics should take only small portions at a time.

Like the Old Bull in the joke - WALK down the field.
 
Hi @SueJB - although a T2 I know the feelings you are having. I do hope you are ok as your posts are well worth a read, but perhaps a step back would help, so you can find your own path through all the information, suggestions, help and advice. I sometimes think we are at a disadvantage these days, with the world of the internet at our fingertips giving us so many conflicting ideas and so much information, some of which is decidedly dodgy and certainly not suitable for all! Too much information can be as damaging as too little. And it's difficult when you read of how people are progressing smoothly and with great results (always fabulous to read of members' successes though) and your own progression is jerky and very slow. Take time out, take care of yourself and enjoy whatever you find helps - I think you are a keen gardener? A quote from Andrew Marvell resonates with me: Annihilating all that's made/To a green thought in a green shade. Best wishes to you.
 
KK123 said:
Sue, I think I know exactly what you mean. It's not that you don't appreciate the advice and everybody's approaches, it is that there are many, many conflicting issues across all the different styles of 'managing diabetes'. I guess it just reflects the differences in individuals but it can be hard for those at the start of this so called 'journey' to take in. If you're like me you can become obsessed with logging on and scouring the new posts but the adverse effect of this is that you become overwhelmed with advice, so you start off following what sounds good, then there's a blip so you change it, then a third opinion arises so you wonder whether to change back! It's never ending. I think I will take a step back also, decide on what regime I want to try out most, try it for 3 months and then go from there. This forum is fab but it can result in 'diabetes' being on your mind 24/7 and not necessarily in a good way. Good luck. x
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I can understand how some people can be obsessed with information. (This applies to me) I used to be obsessive about food. When I first had my heart attack 14 years ago. I became obsessive with food and what I could eat and what I should not. I read every nutritional value on food. It was all do with "Oh to high in fat, too many calories" etc. Back then I thought that I was eating the right foods, obviously, I wasn't. Now I just continue doing the same only its sugar I don't even bother looking at the fat content, but constantly look for to much sugar or Carbs. So I guess I have had 14 years of being obsessive about food. I am not so obsessive now since being told that I am Pre-diabetic because everything is cooked fresh so I know what is in my food. When I was eating diet Yoghurts and perhaps a low fat ready meal, bread, low-fat cheese and so on with everything low fat..Grains I was doing damage and so many things were hidden in those foods. Now the foods I eat I know what is in them so I feel like I am more relaxed than I was before. I eat simple foods and don't complicate it. I have seen on different forums where people are scolding each other for eating an Apple or some carrots, the cry is "OMG THAT IS NOT KETO..THAT IS NOT ALLOWED, WHY ARE YOU ON A KETO FORUM WHEN YOU HAVE HAD A PORTION OF CARROTS" Seriously this how some people are. I just think "What a way to live" I don't really want to know the why's and there fore's like how or why sweetcorn may raise my BG levels, all I want to know is what to eat to lower my BG and what not to eat, which on this forum is what has taught me. I don't want all the scientific details as this is when we can become overwhelmed. If my numbers go up,then I will address or ask for advice on here,but so far so good.
 
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derry60 said:
I can understand what you mean about obsessive. When I first had my heart attack 14 years ago. I became obsessive with food and what I could eat and what I should not. I read every nutritional value on food. It was all do with "Oh to high in fat, too many calories" etc. Back then I thought that I was eating the right foods, obviously, I wasn't. Now I just continue doing the same only its sugar I don't even bother looking at the fat content, but constantly look for to much sugar or Carbs. So I guess I have had 14 years of being obsessive about food. I am not so obsessive now since being told that I am Pre-diabetic because everything is cooked fresh so I know what is in my food. When I was eating diet Yoghurts and perhaps a low fat ready meal, bread, low-fat cheese and so on with everything low fat..Grains I was doing damage and so many things were hidden in those foods. Now the foods I eat I know what is in them so I feel like I am more relaxed than I was before. I eat simple foods and don't complicate it. I have seen on different forums where people are scolding each other for eating an Apple or some carrots, the cry is "OMG THAT IS NOT KETO..THAT IS NOT ALLOWED, WHY ARE YOU ON A KETO FORUM WHEN YOU HAVE HAD A PORTION OF CARROTS" Seriously this how some people are. I just think "What a way to live" I don't really want to know the why's and there fore's like how or why sweetcorn may raise my BG levels, all I want to know is what to eat to lower my BG and what not to eat, which on this forum is what has taught me. I don't want all the scientific details as this is when we can become overwhelmed. If my numbers go up,then I will address or ask for advice on here,but so far so good.
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Hi @derry60 I think you have misinterpreted what I said. I am not obsessed I am overwhelmed by information on this website.
 
SueJB said:
I've found this website incredibly informative and the support from everyone amazing. The problem now is that there's just too much information coming from lots of different angles and I'm feeling overwhelmed. Thinking about jacking it in for a while. Has anyone else felt like this or is it just par for the course?
Click to expand...

At risk of adding too much info to this already amazing thread:

Definitely take a break for a while! If you are feeling overwhelmed, burnt out or confused then some time away from the internet can really help you focus on yourself. Come back when you're ready, you're always welcome!

I feel like this forum, and other diabetes websites, often have very large amounts of info and it can be off putting to people who are unfamiliar with it and don't know where to start. But being a forum is useful because you can get personalised advice and comments rather than just a massive info dump, and you can ask questions and have discussions if you don't understand something or need someone to explain themselves more clearly.
 
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