The Joys of Diabetes

[Neens]

Hi All,
I haven't posted for a while, but have been reading threads and using Learning Zone. I have my retinopathy appointment today (eek) - I am useless at keeping eyes open for any type of drop/dye. And yesterday when testing BG I got the needle stuck in my finger. An incredibly painful experience!

The title of this thread is obviously sarcastic, but I have seen lots of new people join the forum so have decided on this cold, Monday morning - before I lose the ability to see properly for 4-6 hrs I would post a little list of joy.
Let's face it - newly diagnosed and not feeling very happy about the situation - it is not something we would wish on anyone.
Back to the joy!

*You get to try new foods
*You get really good at mental maths counting all those carbs
*More maths - the powers of estimation get good as well when you are without your scales.
*You may lose weight (if you need to)
*You get free prescriptions
*You feel good when you have a good BG reading (as long as you have a needle that plays nice)

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Lovely post @Neens!

Yes there are often positives to find in every situation, no matter how difficult. Hope the eye screening goes well. Don’t forget your sunglasses! 😎

 

[Brando77]

4-6hrs? I wish, I play Stevie Wonder n Ray Charles tracks in a dark room for at least 12 after that nightmare

 

[Neens]

Lovely post @Neens!

Yes there are often positives to find in every situation, no matter how difficult. Hope the eye screening goes well. Don’t forget your sunglasses! 😎

Got them ready and all food prepped in boxes.

 

[Neens]

4-6hrs? I wish, I play Stevie Wonder n Ray Charles tracks in a dark room for at least 12 after that nightmare

@Brando77 now I'm worried!

 

[Toucan]

Hello Neens
Good to hear from you and to see that you are finding the positive side of diabetes!
My husband still looks quite bewildered, when I get excited about a good morning blood test result.

The other big positive I have found is actually enjoying exercise, which is something I mainly tried to avoid for most of my life.
I now love walking, and table tennis and Zumba have led to me to new interests and new friends.

Hope the eye test goes OK, it's not too bad, and like all the other check-ups we get it is another thing to add to the positives list, of things we are getting checked, with a chance of early treatment if there is a problem.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I lose the ability to see properly for 4-6 hrs I would post a little list of joy.

Mine are only blurred for about 1 1/2 hrs after the drops are administered.

 

[Ljc]

What a lovely positive post.

I hope your eye check goes well. I have a phobia about anything being done to my eyes, even the glaucoma test is a nightmare for the person attempting to do it as well as me lol .

 

[Ljc]

Here a few more positives to add to the ones already mentioned.
You get to feel better than you probably have in a long time.
More energy, less tired
You stop weeing and drinking for England or whatever country you call home.

My mental maths , which was never very good has improved no end, particularly division .

You become very quick on reading food nutritional details .
You might loose your sweet tooth.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Here a few more positives to add to the ones already mentioned.
You get to feel better than you probably have in a long time.
More energy, less tired
You stop weeing and drinking for England or whatever country you call home.

My mental maths , which was never very good has improved no end, particularly division .

You become very quick on reading food nutritional details .
You might loose your sweet tooth.

Plus you get to meet and share experiences with a bunch of lovely supportive people online 🙂

 

[Eddy Edson]

How about: The huge relief when you get the diagnosis & it's just diabetes - not ebola, the plague, AIDS, flesh eating bacteria etc etc 🙂

 

[Andy HB]

On retinopathy check day, one can be guaranteed beautiful sunshine all day. 🙂

 

[Jodee]

Hi Neens, great to read your post

Trying to add to joys of:

oh yeh Diabetes is a doddle compared to cancer and chest infections
Also its great to know that there are ways proven to help bring the blood glucose down 🙂 Exercise, lower carbs, metformin
Stress free a bonus if you can achieve it
Staying well is a huge bonus too in managing Diabetes and diet would have a big part to play in that.

One thing I would like to see the back of is bugs and virus especially the rotters in the winter months.

I can't remember how long my eyes took to recover last retinopathy check, probably about 6 hours - I recall wearing sunglasses to watch tv in the evening (dark outside).

 

[Ralph-YK]

actually enjoying exercise,

😱Never not possible

 

[Eddy Edson]

Mine are only blurred for about 1 1/2 hrs after the drops are administered.

Me too, or even less.

 

[trophywench]

I always used to get a splitting headache too, with the drops but don't any more. No idea why. Having had both cataracts done in recent years you'd think I'd have got used to the drops - but no. The really good thing about the cataract op is the fact that the first drops that go in are the numbing ones so when the dilating ones are added - they don't sting!

I have to remember to take hankies cos they make my nose run too!

 

[Neens]

Thanks everyone,
I am so glad this post was embraced as it was intended this morning – didn't even know it was Blue Monday – even more delighted people have added their own silver linings.

I was going to add exercise to my list (especially after a year of not being able to walk without a stick and being very limited on what I could do), it does make you feel better and in turn gives you more energy.

Our daily challenges managing/ being diabetic are not going to disappear but the way we look at it can (on the good days at least). I have been feeling anger and frustration, confusion and bewilderment but I have to normalise this and accept it, like millions before me.

So I will come back and read your lists often and am grateful that we all have each other and that complications might not be part of future life, there is hope.

As far as the eye apt/ it was painful and scary - my reflexes are to fight against anything incoming, I didn't enjoy the slow blurriness to near blindness of the drops working or the stinging but a double mammogram was far worse and like the other far worse procedure - there was nothing of concern on the 'looking clean' retina photos. Obviously have to wait weeks for results.

I have enjoyed a morning not wearing my glasses - it made no difference as I couldn't focus anyway, I recorded some comedy last night that isn't visual so knew I could relax and listen in a dark room. I was cosy.
It was a day off work and I had coffee with the neighbour who generously came and collected me from the surgery.

I am close to restored vision now I think, the eyes feel a bit sore still and I couldn't read a book yet, my screen is on +200% (massive font) but the glasses are back on and making a difference.

Silver lining days.

 

[Neens]

Mine are only blurred for about 1 1/2 hrs after the drops are administered.

You're lucky... I mean none of us are - but you are. Winky face (not sure but I can't add emicoms or tag people at the mo. // site maintenance?!).

To be fair soft focus vision lasted hours (close to 6) but real blur only about 2.

 

[Neens]

Hello Neens
Good to hear from you and to see that you are finding the positive side of diabetes!
My husband still looks quite bewildered, when I get excited about a good morning blood test result.

The other big positive I have found is actually enjoying exercise, which is something I mainly tried to avoid for most of my life.
I now love walking, and table tennis and Zumba have led to me to new interests and new friends.

Hope the eye test goes OK, it's not too bad, and like all the other check-ups we get it is another thing to add to the positives list, of things we are getting checked, with a chance of early treatment if there is a problem.

Thanks for the extra positivity. 🙂 Yes! Done for another 12 months!

 

[Neens]

What a lovely positive post.

I hope your eye check goes well. I have a phobia about anything being done to my eyes, even the glaucoma test is a nightmare for the person attempting to do it as well as me lol .

Thanks, Lin,
Same here - for both... cannot even let make up artists do liner (not a diva// used to perform).

Love your additions to the list - there is no way my sweet teeth (have a whole set) will ever leave me - but am learning a sweetie scented candle will fool my brain for a while and have found good swaps for things that are definitely on the not again list (I know we can eat whatever we wish but there are things I really had to omit in quantity as well as sugar/fat/carb levels) - I have become an expert at nutritional labels and find it is a good eye work out too!