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Hi and any help and advice would be greatfully received

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Blueben1986

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone,
I'm new to all of this forum stuf, so please excuse any mistakes on my part.
I've been diabetic for 25 years and only recently realised I need to talk about it with people who will probably understand what I'm going through.
In the last two years I have developed nerve damage that causes constant pain in my left leg, I am no longer able to work as a carpenter or do any manual work. I have been slowly getting more and more aggressive and snapping at my fiancé, who has now had enough and is close to ending our 5 year relationship. I have always had mood swings but normally can control my temper, unfortunately the family who surround me don't grasp how difficult day to day living can be and it frustrates me and I end up snapping at everyone, especially my fiancé.
I know I'm in the wrong and it is my fault but due to all the health problems I have developed recently, I can't do the things I normally would to relax or to work off my frustrations.
my old way of life has changed, I am unable to run round and do a million things like I used to, I don't know how to adapt as I've always been so active and now seem so slow and confused.
I have been told for years I'm not superman, it finally seems I have found my kryptonite! :confused:
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I would be eternally greatful for any help and advice that may be suggested.
 
Hi Blueben, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear about the problems you have experienced - not being able to do the things you took for granted before must be both upsetting and frustrating, and we often take out our frustrations on those around us who love and care for us, hoping they will understand. It sounds like you need to have a calm but serious conversation about how you feel about your situation, and assure your fiancée that it is not directed at her. Have you discussed with your doctor how you are feeling? They may be able to arrange some counselling. Or perhaps your DSN if you have access to one? They tend to be more familiar with the effects of diabetes complications and are usually very good 'sounding boards' so you can let your feelings out. It's very hard for a non-diabetic person to understand how it feels to live with it, with seemingly little or no escape.

What is your blood sugar control like? Many people find that mood swings are made worse if you have high or swinging levels, so if this is the case with you smoothing off those edges might help to improve your mood.
 
Hi Northerner and thanks for replying, my blood sugars are quite good my hba1c is 7.5. This may sound stupid but what is a DSN? I am seeking help from my GP in regards to counselling, but I thought being involved with a community like this would also benefit me, because most of the people on here may have experienced similar problems.
Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply to my post
 
Hi Blueben, and welcome to the forum. ive found it a good place to get information and ask questions, and nobody minds how stupid they are.( though no question is stupid if you genuinely don't know the answer and want to find out)
A DSN is a Diabetic Specialist Nurse, who in my case, is also the nurse at the surgery who does the asthma clinic, the flu jabs, the travel vaccinations, in fact just about everything. So it's debatable whether she's a specialist at all! In the best cases, they are nurses attached to a hospital clinic, and have a wealth of experience and are a mine of information. They are also few and far between!
Do you test your blood glucose regularly, and at different times of the day? Quite often, you can have a decent-ish looking A1c, but if you're achieving it by having loads of sugar spikes followed by lows, this is actually really bad for you.
 
Blueben1986 said:
Hi Northerner and thanks for replying, my blood sugars are quite good my hba1c is 7.5. This may sound stupid but what is a DSN? I am seeking help from my GP in regards to counselling, but I thought being involved with a community like this would also benefit me, because most of the people on here may have experienced similar problems.
Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply to my post
Click to expand...

DSN = Diabetes Specialist Nurse, usually attached to a specialist diabetes clinic and working with a consultant. Do you normally just see your GP for you diabetes stuff then? Not that that's unusual, many people do.

You're absolutely right, of course, it's a lot better to be able to 'speak' to people who can relate to what you are experiencing - people who 'get it', so you are more than welcome to let off steam about how you are feeling here 🙂 (Within reason, of course, there may be children watching! 😉)

25 years is a good old time, you must have seen quite a few changes over the years. When did you start having the problems with the neuropathy?
 
Oh! Yeah I see a DSN for my pump therapy and I see a diabetic specialist doctor and my GP for it all. I do check my blood at regular times and also wake up now and again to make sure I'm not having any spikes or lows.
I've seen a fair few changes, from using the old vials and hyperdermic needles and the most evil device conceived to prick your finger to get blood out! I still have nightmares lol.
To be honest just today I have noticed a big difference in how I feel, thank you so much for the warm and positive welcome!
 
Blueben1986 said:
I've seen a fair few changes, from using the old vials and hyperdermic needles and the most evil device conceived to prick your finger to get blood out! I still have nightmares lol.
To be honest just today I have noticed a big difference in how I feel, thank you so much for the warm and positive welcome!
Click to expand...

I've seen those devices, but thankfully never had to use one! 😱

Good to hear that you are feeling a bit better about things 🙂
 
Welcome Blueben. It took some doing spelling your name ! You nearly got Blue bell 🙂. I am also a trades man on a pump. I don't think many people know how hard it is to be a T1 & at a manual job (sparky). One minute you are sawing wood then measuring, then a delivery of gear which has to put in the right place. I used to shopfit all over the country inc the "smoke". Good luck sorting things & there are some lovely members here 🙂
 
Hi Blueben
Sorry to hear about the neuropathy, is there nothing they can do to help manage the pain? I know there's no easy answers medication wise but there are specialist pain clinics who can advise on the best approach to managing it. I've only been T1 for 19 months but had a lot of nerve pain last year and I had to push quite hard for the medical folk to provide help in managing that pain. So maybe a bit of pushing might be needed. Last year was a life changer for me not just because of developing type 1 but going from active and independent to the exact opposite was a massive shock. One of the things I found most difficult was feeling a sense of isolation even from those people I was closest to, suddenly this huge thing had hit me that nobody else really understood. It was just so isolating. I tend towards silent sulking rather than taking it out on others but we all cope differently and in the end it's a process, it takes time. I hope you find what you're looking for here, I've found it to be a lifesaver on so many levels 🙂
 
I have seen pain management consultants, neurosurgeons, neurologists and othapedic doctors and none have been able to come to a firm conclusion apart from nerve damage/trauma of some description. I have a numerous different medications over the past two years to not much benefit, at the moment I'm on (excuse the spellings) gabapentin, duloxetine and tramadol which take the edge off the pain. I've learnt to deal with a lot of pain, from bad hypos, illness made worse by the diabetes, ketones (always fun!) and fractured skulls from blacking out, the list could go on. I do think I have found a lot of what I need here on the forum, I'm just sorry I didn't join sooner, because I believe a lot of the problems I've had issues with could have been lessened by talking to others with an insight of what I have had to deal with.
Hobie you can call me blue bell if you want, I've had worse nicknames working on sites! Lol
 
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