Hello!

[AmyW]

Good evening everyone!
Just wanted to say hello! I’m Amy and recently diagnosed with Diabetes but having more bloods done to determine which type. HBA1C very high (104) and GP has started me on insulin as of this week. Still trying to navigate this and I’m feeling very overwhelmed and emotional about it all, only real symptom was weight loss but not the reason I’d gone to see the GP in the first place. I’ve already learnt from others threads and another forum what I need to be asking about bloods when I speak to him next week, trying to have some more confidence! Currently obsessing over scanning my arm every hour just to see where I’m at!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @AmyW

Your profile suggests you are in your early 30s.

I would not be at all surprised if it ended up that you were T1, early 30s... rapid onset… weight loss… high initial A1c… you have lots of lights twinkling on the probably-T1-ometer!

Sounds like you have Libre? Hope you are finding it helpful. Are you self-funding or has it been supplied to you?

 

[AmyW]

Thanks Mike!
The thought of diabetes is overwhelming me but now I can’t avoid it but the thought of type 1 makes me even more upset, I’m not sure why I think it’s because I’m struggling already to adjust to the insulin and worry how I will manage for the rest of my life! I’m using Libre and I think it’s an excellent invention, I feel very fortunate that it has been funded and that my GP gave me an hour and a half of his time. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time 🙂

 

[Bloden]

Hi @AmyW. It IS overwhelming at first, there’s a lot to take in, but it DOES get easier with time. I’m so glad to hear you have the Libre - it made a massive difference to my life. Start firing away with questions whenever you’re ready!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The thought of diabetes is overwhelming me but now I can’t avoid it but the thought of type 1 makes me even more upset, I’m not sure why I think it’s because I’m struggling already to adjust to the insulin and worry how I will manage for the rest of my life!

Awwwww @AmyW

I completely understand what you are feeling. Feeling overwhelmed and knocked sideways at diagnosis is completely natural. Many people liken it to a form of grieving, with a potential jumble of feelings of denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance, which can come neatly in order, or in a torrent all on the same day!

Try not to let the possibility of T1 play on your mind over the weekend. As an old boss of mine used to say, “no news is no news”, there’s no point fretting about it until you get some more information one way or another.

But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that there is a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ type to be diagnosed with. There are lots of different versions, and they are all incredibly annoying in their own way, and each have their own quirks and foibles. Diabetes is serious, but it’s also something that can usually be managed well with a few adaptations, a bit of attention, and a following wind.

I’ve been pretending to be my pancreas for 30-odd years and I’m lucky enough to have very little to show fit aside from thick skin on the side of my fingers and the ability to estimate the carbs in a plate of food from 20 yards 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Ditto except 50 years and I was 22 when diagnosed, married for 15 months and absolutely skint at the time - mortgaged well above shoulder height. Porcine insulin, glass and metal syringe I had to boil up to sterilise, they hadn't invented blood glucose meters so instead I like everyone else, boiled my wee up in a test tube every morning. You WILL manage and it DOES get easier - honest!

Apparently diabetes can have side effects. eg we don't heal as well as non D's. What nobody stresses though is 'Not everyone will get them!' So the couple of ops I've needed in the last 50 years involving cutting and stitching/stapling - I've healed so well they've has a bit of a tussle removing the stitches/staples cos I've healed so well, they've got a bit embedded, so take a deep breath and grit the teeth cos it HURTS!
Shedloads more technology in use these days - it's never 'easy peasy' but none of it is THAT hard.

 

[AmyW]

Hi @AmyW. It IS overwhelming at first, there’s a lot to take in, but it DOES get easier with time. I’m so glad to hear you have the Libre - it made a massive difference to my life. Start firing away with questions whenever you’re ready!

Thank you! I am hoping so, I feel very grateful for this technology, I’m obsessed with checking!

 

[AmyW]

Awwwww @AmyW

I completely understand what you are feeling. Feeling overwhelmed and knocked sideways at diagnosis is completely natural. Many people liken it to a form of grieving, with a potential jumble of feelings of denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance, which can come neatly in order, or in a torrent all on the same day!

Try not to let the possibility of T1 play on your mind over the weekend. As an old boss of mine used to say, “no news is no news”, there’s no point fretting about it until you get some more information one way or another.

But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that there is a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ type to be diagnosed with. There are lots of different versions, and they are all incredibly annoying in their own way, and each have their own quirks and foibles. Diabetes is serious, but it’s also something that can usually be managed well with a few adaptations, a bit of attention, and a following wind.

I’ve been pretending to be my pancreas for 30-odd years and I’m lucky enough to have very little to show fit aside from thick skin on the side of my fingers and the ability to estimate the carbs in a plate of food from 20 yards 🙂

Thank you for this! I think I’m going through all the emotions every hour, evenings tend to be worse. This is also the first time I’ve ever experienced poorly health really, not doing it by halves! But going to try and optimistic!

 

[AmyW]

Ditto except 50 years and I was 22 when diagnosed, married for 15 months and absolutely skint at the time - mortgaged well above shoulder height. Porcine insulin, glass and metal syringe I had to boil up to sterilise, they hadn't invented blood glucose meters so instead I like everyone else, boiled my wee up in a test tube every morning. You WILL manage and it DOES get easier - honest!

Apparently diabetes can have side effects. eg we don't heal as well as non D's. What nobody stresses though is 'Not everyone will get them!' So the couple of ops I've needed in the last 50 years involving cutting and stitching/stapling - I've healed so well they've has a bit of a tussle removing the stitches/staples cos I've healed so well, they've got a bit embedded, so take a deep breath and grit the teeth cos it HURTS!
Shedloads more technology in use these days - it's never 'easy peasy' but none of it is THAT hard.

Thank you Jenny! My mum was saying that the advances with technology have been amazing, so I’m currently grateful for that 🙂