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What about us?
- Thread starter ShyGirl
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Hi Shygirl,
Please be assured that you are not alone in feeling this way!
Diabetes is a condition that, unless you make people aware, is invisible to the naked eye. In my early years of diabetes, I would foolishly not tell people I had diabetes, even people I worked with, went to university with, and socialized with, in some ways I was ashamed to have this condition. Folk who knew that I had diabetes, mainly family and close friends would ask how I was coping for the first 12 months of being diagnosed, after that people assume that you are coping and managing your condition well. Diabetes (like numerous other illnesses and conditions) has no physical appearance, and can therefore often get overlooked.
I was just saying to my wife only weeks ago that I cannot recollect the last time my mother, or any other family member asked how I am coping living with diabetes, I would have to go back some 20 years!
It goes without saying that uncontrolled diabetes is harmful and possibly life-threatening, but it can and is also very stressful to one's mental health, everyday it constantly pre-occupies the mind, sometimes it would be nice to just have a break from it all!
I except that others do, and can lead a better lifestyle and manage their condition better. I like to read people's stories of how they have overcome adversity in their life, and achieved success in all their endeavours, I feel it is uplifting rather than demoralizing. I look around, and see that there are people far worse off than myself, life's often cut short in the most tragic and unfortunate circumstances.
I do know where you are coming from Shygirl when you say that there is little help or advice available to those who struggle to control their condition. Help is there should you look for it, perhaps by joining a local diabetes group, or discussing your concerns/problems with your DSN. I can concur with you completely in what you are trying to say in your post.
Best wishes for 2010
Nigel
Please be assured that you are not alone in feeling this way!
Diabetes is a condition that, unless you make people aware, is invisible to the naked eye. In my early years of diabetes, I would foolishly not tell people I had diabetes, even people I worked with, went to university with, and socialized with, in some ways I was ashamed to have this condition. Folk who knew that I had diabetes, mainly family and close friends would ask how I was coping for the first 12 months of being diagnosed, after that people assume that you are coping and managing your condition well. Diabetes (like numerous other illnesses and conditions) has no physical appearance, and can therefore often get overlooked.
I was just saying to my wife only weeks ago that I cannot recollect the last time my mother, or any other family member asked how I am coping living with diabetes, I would have to go back some 20 years!
It goes without saying that uncontrolled diabetes is harmful and possibly life-threatening, but it can and is also very stressful to one's mental health, everyday it constantly pre-occupies the mind, sometimes it would be nice to just have a break from it all!I except that others do, and can lead a better lifestyle and manage their condition better. I like to read people's stories of how they have overcome adversity in their life, and achieved success in all their endeavours, I feel it is uplifting rather than demoralizing. I look around, and see that there are people far worse off than myself, life's often cut short in the most tragic and unfortunate circumstances.
I do know where you are coming from Shygirl when you say that there is little help or advice available to those who struggle to control their condition. Help is there should you look for it, perhaps by joining a local diabetes group, or discussing your concerns/problems with your DSN. I can concur with you completely in what you are trying to say in your post.
Best wishes for 2010
Nigel
C
catherinecherub
Guest
Hi Shygirl,
You are not alone with your thoughts about this chronic condition. We all get down at times about it and think, "Why me?".
I think that once you get your related problems sorted out you will feel a lot better about it and relax more.
We will not all be climbing mountains and doing above average adventures but I think if we focus on leading as normal a life as possible and accepting that some days will be worse than others then we are on the right track.
It is not going away any time soon and we can rant and shout but it will still be with us forever. We do not have a choice, it is not something that can be cured, not yet anyway and so we will all just have to muddle through.
Nigel's suggestion of joining a support group and talking to your care team is a good idea. People are not mind readers and your team may be unaware of how low you are feeling. Just letting off steam on the forum helps sometimes.
I hope that 2010 will be a better year for you and you will become more positive in your outlook.
All the best,
Catherine.
You are not alone with your thoughts about this chronic condition. We all get down at times about it and think, "Why me?".
I think that once you get your related problems sorted out you will feel a lot better about it and relax more.
We will not all be climbing mountains and doing above average adventures but I think if we focus on leading as normal a life as possible and accepting that some days will be worse than others then we are on the right track.
It is not going away any time soon and we can rant and shout but it will still be with us forever. We do not have a choice, it is not something that can be cured, not yet anyway and so we will all just have to muddle through.
Nigel's suggestion of joining a support group and talking to your care team is a good idea. People are not mind readers and your team may be unaware of how low you are feeling. Just letting off steam on the forum helps sometimes.
I hope that 2010 will be a better year for you and you will become more positive in your outlook.
All the best,
Catherine.
cugila
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Shygirl.
I read your post and the responses. I can feel total empathy for what you and the others have said.
However Diabetes isn't a Death sentence, it's what you make it. If you are a positive person then you will get through all the setbacks and pitfalls that we Diabetics get every day. If you are a negative person, then that is how you will treat everything that befalls you. A 'glass half full' or 'a glass half empty' person.
I'm a positive person. I treat each day as a blessing, whatever it brings. I start each day with the person that I love, I end the day with that person. Nothing else matters to me other than being able to do that. Diabetes is just a hiccup in my life, a blip. It doesn't govern my every day thinking or way of life.
My Diabetes was a bad thing but I never let it get me down to the extent that it affected my life or my actions. Since being on this forum my life has changed. I just look on Diabetes as something that I have, it isn't going to go away and I know that there are people much worse off then I will ever be.
I love reading and hearing about other Diabetic' achievements. How they have overcome all the odds, beaten their fears, conquered mountains, swam rivers and the sea, sailed round the World, ran marathon's, the list is endless. THEY, have achieved something and we should praise them to the rafters. I think an article about them is a joy to behold, not something to put down, to complain about.
At the moment I am having an awful time with my Diabetes, my Bg control has gone from 98% on target to 39% on target, if you can call it that. I may have to go on Insulin. Not my choice, just circumstances. I haven't fallen back and moaned about it, not in my nature. I just try harder to get back that excellent control I once had. I set my goals a little lower and I give myself a pat on the back when I reach them. My little achievement, my mountain.
So forgive me if I don't agree with all your sentiments Shygirl. There are much worse things that can happen to you, much worse. Off to climb another mountain........maybe just read Balance once more for inspiration.
I read your post and the responses. I can feel total empathy for what you and the others have said.
However Diabetes isn't a Death sentence, it's what you make it. If you are a positive person then you will get through all the setbacks and pitfalls that we Diabetics get every day. If you are a negative person, then that is how you will treat everything that befalls you. A 'glass half full' or 'a glass half empty' person.
I'm a positive person. I treat each day as a blessing, whatever it brings. I start each day with the person that I love, I end the day with that person. Nothing else matters to me other than being able to do that. Diabetes is just a hiccup in my life, a blip. It doesn't govern my every day thinking or way of life.
My Diabetes was a bad thing but I never let it get me down to the extent that it affected my life or my actions. Since being on this forum my life has changed. I just look on Diabetes as something that I have, it isn't going to go away and I know that there are people much worse off then I will ever be.
I love reading and hearing about other Diabetic' achievements. How they have overcome all the odds, beaten their fears, conquered mountains, swam rivers and the sea, sailed round the World, ran marathon's, the list is endless. THEY, have achieved something and we should praise them to the rafters. I think an article about them is a joy to behold, not something to put down, to complain about.
At the moment I am having an awful time with my Diabetes, my Bg control has gone from 98% on target to 39% on target, if you can call it that. I may have to go on Insulin. Not my choice, just circumstances. I haven't fallen back and moaned about it, not in my nature. I just try harder to get back that excellent control I once had. I set my goals a little lower and I give myself a pat on the back when I reach them. My little achievement, my mountain.
So forgive me if I don't agree with all your sentiments Shygirl. There are much worse things that can happen to you, much worse.
Off to climb another mountain........maybe just read Balance once more for inspiration.janabelle
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Shygirl
completely agree with you about the Balance publication- everyone looking so jolly, and the stories you refer to, gives a false impression that diabetes does not interfere with our lives as much as it really does. Bit daft, when it is exclusively available to members who, presumably, have more sense than to take the banal nonsense without a pinch of salt. in articles about type-1s it NEVER refers to the type if unsulin the patient is on; and from experience, I know how crucial that can be to diabetes management and general health. In this months issue, there is a question asked-"Does insulin have side-effects?"- and the only one mentioned is hypos!!
Read many issues over the years but only recieved it regularly since Nov 08 when I became a member. I was unfortunate to recieve this month's issue despite my lapse in membership. Loved the recipe on page 61- "christmas pudding ice-cream" Ingredients include 50g caster sugar, 2tsp custard powder (sugar in that) and 200g of crumbled christmas pudding( definately sugar in that)!! Stupid, stupid, stupid :evil: Not to mention the full-fat milk and brandy- I'm sure many of us could come up with a much more diabetic-friendly alternative recipe without much thought.
Goes to show that the people who complile Balance really are a bunch of fruit cakes
Fireworks and balance-burning for a Happy New Year! - and Shygirl hope your new year is better than the previous one - you'll get more help from this forum than a life-time of reading Balance
Jus
completely agree with you about the Balance publication- everyone looking so jolly, and the stories you refer to, gives a false impression that diabetes does not interfere with our lives as much as it really does. Bit daft, when it is exclusively available to members who, presumably, have more sense than to take the banal nonsense without a pinch of salt. in articles about type-1s it NEVER refers to the type if unsulin the patient is on; and from experience, I know how crucial that can be to diabetes management and general health. In this months issue, there is a question asked-"Does insulin have side-effects?"- and the only one mentioned is hypos!!
Read many issues over the years but only recieved it regularly since Nov 08 when I became a member. I was unfortunate to recieve this month's issue despite my lapse in membership. Loved the recipe on page 61- "christmas pudding ice-cream" Ingredients include 50g caster sugar, 2tsp custard powder (sugar in that) and 200g of crumbled christmas pudding( definately sugar in that)!! Stupid, stupid, stupid :evil: Not to mention the full-fat milk and brandy- I'm sure many of us could come up with a much more diabetic-friendly alternative recipe without much thought.
Goes to show that the people who complile Balance really are a bunch of fruit cakes
Fireworks and balance-burning for a Happy New Year! - and Shygirl hope your new year is better than the previous one - you'll get more help from this forum than a life-time of reading Balance
Jus
IanD
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I came away from diagnosis feeling that diabetes WAS a death sentence - Dr told me ALL the complications & helpfully computed the PROBABILITY of a heart attack at 25% :twisted:
Articles in Balance on statins don't give side effects, but it was a letter in Balance that reported muscle problems. I immediately stopped simvastatin, & the intense muscle pains stopped in a few days. Only then did the Dr confirm the side effect.
One of the problems is that the progressive effects of diabetes can be confused with the progressive effect of ageing. Therefore we accept them, rather than consider whether it is an effect of diabetes or a side effect of medication. We go to the Dr & get another pill, when a proper diagnosis, or diet change, is what is really required.
I certainly find the incidental emotional support of people in groups I belong to is of tremendous value: family, church, choirs, tennis club, etc. All contribute to a normal healthy life.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL :!:
Articles in Balance on statins don't give side effects, but it was a letter in Balance that reported muscle problems. I immediately stopped simvastatin, & the intense muscle pains stopped in a few days. Only then did the Dr confirm the side effect.
One of the problems is that the progressive effects of diabetes can be confused with the progressive effect of ageing. Therefore we accept them, rather than consider whether it is an effect of diabetes or a side effect of medication. We go to the Dr & get another pill, when a proper diagnosis, or diet change, is what is really required.
I certainly find the incidental emotional support of people in groups I belong to is of tremendous value: family, church, choirs, tennis club, etc. All contribute to a normal healthy life.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL :!:
IanD said:
I'm not sure why you were told you had a 1/4 chance of having a heart attack and didn't mention the side effects of a drug. Not sure what satins are but they seem to get a bad press and it's hard work when medicine doesn't agree with you.
When I was first diagnosed a woman came to my hospital bed and said my life had changed , was I thinking about pregnancy and not much else.
I think some sort of psychological help should be available to those who need it
TheTartanPimpernel
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Best news I had was being diagnosed T2. Given the years of symptoms (recognised retrospectively - hindsight being a a great thing) which I put down to working long hours it was a relief to know that it was something I could come to terms with just a little willpower and get a grip of quickly - if I chose to do so.
All I would add is don't become obsessive about close control as some would have you believe is necessary, life is for living. For the best part of 3 years my HbA1c results have been below 6. I eat well, albeit in smaller portions than pre diagnosis. I have (as advised) lost weight (10 kilos) - but nothing like the volumes some on this forum speak of - so some of it had to be lifestyle, whether I liked that view or not.
Always look on the bright side of life
All I would add is don't become obsessive about close control as some would have you believe is necessary, life is for living. For the best part of 3 years my HbA1c results have been below 6. I eat well, albeit in smaller portions than pre diagnosis. I have (as advised) lost weight (10 kilos) - but nothing like the volumes some on this forum speak of - so some of it had to be lifestyle, whether I liked that view or not.
Always look on the bright side of life
Synonym
Well-Known Member
Going back to the OP question “What about us?” referring to those who are having an awful time with diabetes I am afraid that there is an obvious answer. The bottom line is the bottom line of the balance sheet and if that figure is not healthy the plug is usually pulled. Sad stories don’t sell many copies – end of story.
The best place to get support is on this forum where people know about diabetes personally and understand the needs of those going through tough times.
It is also wise to build up a network of friends through whatever medium is available, not just to be helped but also to help.
The best place to get support is on this forum where people know about diabetes personally and understand the needs of those going through tough times.
It is also wise to build up a network of friends through whatever medium is available, not just to be helped but also to help.
suffolkboi61
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ShyGirl
like everyone else I agree with you, I have no problem admitting that diabetes has affected my life tremendously and I have and am having trouble adjusting to this problem.
Thankfully as has been said there are people here that can and will help you with anything that you need to know, they have helped me and still are and I am slowly beginning to cope not only with my T2 but the other problems I have such as heart disease, lumbago in my lower spine.
Today is a good day for me, who knows what mood I wil be in tomorrow but whatever the mood, I know I can come on here and say to these good folks whats bothering me and know that I will GET a response from them.
So keep your chin up and try not to let anything or anyone grind you down as they saying goes :wink:
like everyone else I agree with you, I have no problem admitting that diabetes has affected my life tremendously and I have and am having trouble adjusting to this problem.
Thankfully as has been said there are people here that can and will help you with anything that you need to know, they have helped me and still are and I am slowly beginning to cope not only with my T2 but the other problems I have such as heart disease, lumbago in my lower spine.
Today is a good day for me, who knows what mood I wil be in tomorrow but whatever the mood, I know I can come on here and say to these good folks whats bothering me and know that I will GET a response from them.
So keep your chin up and try not to let anything or anyone grind you down as they saying goes :wink:
phoenix
Expert
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
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- Pump
Balance has a very diverse audience. It has wide age group to cater for, from parents of toddlers to nonaganariens, those who want to get pregnant and those whose family has long ago grown up. It has to cater for those who have had diabetes for years, those diagnosed last week, type 2s on diet regimes, type 1s on multiple insulin regimes and everything else in between. It has to cater for those who are overweight and those struggling with control or eating disorders and hence very underweight, those with serious complications and those with none...........
Given this audience it would be a surprise if as a whole magazine it appealed to anyone. Personally I don't find it has much of interest to me now, except perhaps for those articles about climbing mountains. The adverts in particular really put me off.
However, whilst still in hospital after diagnosis, I read in a magazine (not Balance) about someone running marathons with type 1 . In the last few years I'd become less active than before. This article really motivated me to get started again (even though I was a grandmother).I decided there and then, that diabetes was not going to stop me making the most of my life. My first 'training session', was running up and down the steps in the hospital!
At the time I didn't understand how valuable this exercise was going to be in keeping my BG levels at a low level and hopefully help to avoid complications in the future . I'm very glad I read that positive article, rather than one about a future full of complications . That's why I think there should be a 'mountain climbing' article in every issue of Balance... there might just be a newly diagnosed person like me reading it.
Given this audience it would be a surprise if as a whole magazine it appealed to anyone. Personally I don't find it has much of interest to me now, except perhaps for those articles about climbing mountains. The adverts in particular really put me off.
However, whilst still in hospital after diagnosis, I read in a magazine (not Balance) about someone running marathons with type 1 . In the last few years I'd become less active than before. This article really motivated me to get started again (even though I was a grandmother).I decided there and then, that diabetes was not going to stop me making the most of my life. My first 'training session', was running up and down the steps in the hospital!
At the time I didn't understand how valuable this exercise was going to be in keeping my BG levels at a low level and hopefully help to avoid complications in the future . I'm very glad I read that positive article, rather than one about a future full of complications . That's why I think there should be a 'mountain climbing' article in every issue of Balance... there might just be a newly diagnosed person like me reading it.
