My sister died because she didn't take diabetes seriously

[Northerner]

When Yolanda Acuna Ocana was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, her family was almost relieved.
She was 14 and had been suffering from inexplicable weight loss, constant thirst and tiredness, and they were grateful for a diagnosis.
Now ? sadly ? they feel very differently about diabetes.
Last April, aged just 39, Yolanda died as a result of the disease, leaving behind a loving husband and devoted family.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...dnt-diabetes-seriously.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Such a sad story, and highlighting the need for a charity like DWED (diabetics with Eating Disorders) so that people have somewhere to go and find help and support. If you can spare anything at all, please help me raise money for this very valuable and vital charity:

http://www.justgiving.com/DoingItForDWED

 

[lauraw1983]

That is so, so sad.

But my god, I do HATE the Daily Fail.

 

[Northerner]

That is so, so sad.

But my god, I do HATE the Daily Fail.

To be fair to them, it is quite a well-written article. I have posted a comment though to correct a previous comment where some guy dredges up the old bad diet and lack of exercise line, which is totally inappropriate to this article.

 

[lauraw1983]

To be fair to them, it is quite a well-written article. I have posted a comment though to correct a previous comment where some guy dredges up the old bad diet and lack of exercise line, which is totally inappropriate to this article.

Yes I saw that comment. I ignore most Fail commenters, it's not good for the blood pressure....will need to go and see your reply though!

It's an ok article. I think maybe I just don't like to read their "stark" facts about how my life is likely to be shortened by 20 years.

 

[Nicky1970]

I have posted a comment though to correct a previous comment where some guy dredges up the old bad diet and lack of exercise line, which is totally inappropriate to this article.

Noticed that too.

Good article. Amazing really when you consider where it was printed.

 

[Northerner]

Seems they've chosen not to publish my comment Good to see that aymes has said what I basically said anyway 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

So very sad, my heart goes out to the family.

I was a bit surprised by the assertion that insulin injection was inextricably linked to weight gain (without any suggestion that doses/carb/calorie intake could be adjusted and weight maintained). Hope that does not give any vulnerable people the wrong idea.

 

[Northerner]

So very sad, my heart goes out to the family.

I was a bit surprised by the assertion that insulin injection was inextricably linked to weight gain (without any suggestion that doses/carb/calorie intake could be adjusted and weight maintained). Hope that does not give any vulnerable people the wrong idea.

The same thought crossed my mind too Mike. I suppose they were trying to emphasise why she omitted her insulin, but from our perspective, a little clumsily.

 

[Lauren]

It is the Daily Mail so I will take it with a pinch of salt, but is it true that on average Diabetes causes your life expectancy to drop by 20 years? That's really sad, I don't want to die when I am 60!

 

[Natalie123]

Hi Lauren, I don't want to either, I want to make it to 100 and still be going strong! If you control your diabetes it certainly shouldn't take 20 years off your life, scare tactics thats all they are. Don't worry xx

 

[Northerner]

It is the Daily Mail so I will take it with a pinch of salt, but is it true that on average Diabetes causes your life expectancy to drop by 20 years? That's really sad, I don't want to die when I am 60!

That may be true of the population as a whole, I don't know, but it most certainly doesn't mean that it will apply to each and every one of us Lauren, s o don;t let it frighten you. Bear in mind that, unfortunately, there are an awful lot of people who do not manage their diabetes well - whether it is because they haven't been educated properly, have received poor care, or in many cases do not care themselves and are under the misapprehension that 'it will never happen to them'.

I think the people who seek out forums like this are much less likely to succumb to problems, because it means you are very much aware of the potential problems and are actively seeking to minimise them. There are also lots of encouraging stories from people who have had diabetes for decades without problems. I personally expect to live at least long enough to collect my Nabarro Medal from Diabetes UK for living 50 years with diabetes - I'll be 99! 🙂

 

[imtrying]

So very sad, my heart goes out to the family.

I was a bit surprised by the assertion that insulin injection was inextricably linked to weight gain (without any suggestion that doses/carb/calorie intake could be adjusted and weight maintained). Hope that does not give any vulnerable people the wrong idea.

I read it as showing why people end up omitting insulin. Whilst using insulin in the correct way won't necessarily make you put on weight, prior to diagnosis of T1, many of us suffered big weight loss. The introduction of insulin then makes the weight go back on....in a round about way as you stop losing it etc.

I think that's more what they were getting at, rather than saying injecting day to day makes you fat...which obviously it doesn't.

I was more concerned with the comment implying most diabetics don't inject properly! I know this is a problem more common than we'd like, but I think it's wrong to imply most people are like this.

 

[Lauren]

Thanks Natalie and Northener 🙂

I see what you mean, if we do our best to get good control it will minimize any problems. I too want to live until I am least 100!

 

[MummyRose2009]

It scares me being newly diagnosed and reading things like this.

In November last year i weighed 22 stone, before i got diagnosed last week i had dropped to 18 stone and now im at 19 and a 1/2 because of the amount of liquids and insulin i have been having. BUT my diet has radically changed from large amounts of chocolate and fizzy pop and take aways to really healthy food, low fat or no sugar snacks and only very slightly diluted juice water and tea. I've also took up swimming once a week and dancing with my daughter.

i like to think that if i lose the weight and do as i am told with my insulin then i should be able to live a long and happy life, i'm only 23 and don't want to think that i might not live long enough to see my grandchildren, its a frightening thought.

 

[Northerner]

i like to think that if i lose the weight and do as i am told with my insulin then i should be able to live a long and happy life, i'm only 23 and don't want to think that i might not live long enough to see my grandchildren, its a frightening thought.

As the effects of your improved diet and extra exercise begin to show you will become much more sensitive to the insulin you take, so you will start to need less, which can also help with your weight loss as you will be using the insulin more efficiently. You will get there! Why not join in with the Weight Loss Group here for a bit of extra help and support there? 🙂

 

[MummyRose2009]

I think i will do thank you Northerner, i don't think there's anything more i could be doing to be honest except maybe more excercise cause i've already halved my meal portions and i don't snack inbetween only unless i am reeeally hungry and then its only carefully selected foods...think its just a waiting game at moment and just keep as strong as possible.

 

[trophywench]

Well guys n gals, anyone got any idea what my 'normal life expectancy' should be? - because if I am gonna die at X less 20 years, it must mean so far I would have been over 82 'normally'.

I'm planning on watching the Olympics and going to Australia in January 2013 and in short have absolutely no intention whatever of dying before then. Whilst in Oz I am planning on seeing my T2 older sister (she's 66+) and probably an older Ozzie T2 friend. My late T2 MIL was over 80 when we lost her, and it was the terminal bowel cancer that she'd been fighting for 10+ years that saw her off, although she actually nominally died of pneumonia. It is possible she'd have made 100+; her own mother was well over 90 and died of natural causes! - but as I say the diabetes never saw her off. And she had the cancer before the diabetes. Oh - and the DVT, she was on Warfarin throughout.

It's rubbish LOL