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Am I worrying too much

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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brightbaby

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi

I am worrying about the level my sugar is standing at. It doesnt seem to be coming down.

I know its early days what with the diagnosis but its freaking me out. Also got a telephone conversation with occupational health tomorrow regarding the absence from work. Any ideas on how I should play it

Ally
 
Hi Ally!
What are you levels at the moment? Do you have regular contact with your DN? Sorry i cant help you with your work question - but i am sure someone will be along soon to answer you.Bev
 
They go between 3 and 13, Im eating what is on the diet plan discussed with the dietian and the DN. I was sitting at 9.1 before my dinner

Ally
 
How long have you been diagnosed? My son was diagnosed 11 weeks ago (age 10) and he is still in the 'honeymoon' period - so his levels are very up and down. We are still learning and sometimes when we think we have it cracked - his levels go crazy! Are you carb counting? What insulin are you on? Bev
 
Hi there Ally

My BG levels go up and down a lot, and I've decided not to stress too much about it, as stress can raise my levels.

As for the call with your occupational health person, I would go for the honesty approach - you don't say how much time you've had off. You normally get 5 working days before you need a sick note, if you have been off longer, I suggest a chat with your doctor and a sick note if needed.

I find once I get into the habit of drinking at least 1.5 ltr of water my BG levels seem to come down a few days later. I have also been told that drinking a whey protein drink (the kind body builders use) at bedtime can help keep your BG on a more even keel.
 
I have only been diagnosed in the last few weeks after being admitted to hospital with an infection and getting my bloods taken and them being sky high. I have been off since beginning of February and was signed off till yesterday as on holiday from work this week.

Hoping to get back to work next monday, got doctors tomorrow and then DN on Thursday
 
brightbaby said:
I have only been diagnosed in the last few weeks after being admitted to hospital with an infection and getting my bloods taken and them being sky high. I have been off since beginning of February and was signed off till yesterday as on holiday from work this week.

Hoping to get back to work next monday, got doctors tomorrow and then DN on Thursday
Click to expand...
Hi Brightbaby,
Im newly diagnosed too. Been off work since 19th Dec, going back tomoro!!! I tried to go back 3 weeks ago but it was too soon. I was too weak. I was nervous about seeing occ health too but they were so nice. I went back to work before seeing them and they told me they would have advised against it and signed me off for another 3 weeks and contacted my GP for a sick note! Everyones different with how long they need.They took into account my weight loss, sugar levels, time to travel to work, how ill i was prior to diagnosis, nature of job and what I was managing to do at home.

My levels are up and down but my nurse and dietician are very happy with how im doing considering its only been 2 months.

Stay positive hun. I know its hard but we're all here to help. x
 
Thanks for those words of suppor Janine

I just worry about things far too much and suppose at the end of the day my health comes first before anything

Will just wait and see what the doc says tomorrow. I suppose if I need to be off still they will make the decision

Allyx
 
Hi

Been diagnosed 7 weeks and for the first couple of weeks my sugars were all over the place but once I switched to Basal/Bolus and alot of exercise I have found it much easier (not necessarily easy) to keep them down. So in my opinion I would switch to that regime if your not already on it.

As for the work situation DO NOT go back until you feel ready, not just physically ready but emotionally. I went back after a week and a half and to be honest I was no where near ready. I spent the whole time panicking and being on edge.

Whilst my boss seemed ok to my face I found out that he was of the opinion I should I have been back after 48 hours (despite having +++ Keytones and a fasting sugar level of 27 at diagnosis) and I was taking liberties by having a week and a half off after being advised by a another member of the department who happens to be type 2.

After hearing this I was obviously quite angry as my boss had made no effort to understand the disease and was taking advice of someone who has no medical background and appalling control of type 2, I arranged a meeting with our Occ Health consultant and invited him along. She was fantastic and actually said there was no way I should have come back so soon, she pretty much rubbished everything my boss had been advised by my colleague. I would say be completly honest with your occ health and trust their ability and understanding! Don't just explain your physical problems but your emotional concerns as well.

Hope this helps!
 
Hi

Been diagnosed 7 weeks and for the first couple of weeks my sugars were all over the place but once I switched to Basal/Bolus and alot of exercise I have found it much easier (not necessarily easy) to keep them down. So in my opinion I would switch to that regime if your not already on it.

As for the work situation DO NOT go back until you feel ready, not just physically ready but emotionally. I went back after a week and a half and to be honest I was no where near ready. I spent the whole time panicking and being on edge.

Whilst my boss seemed ok to my face I found out that he was of the opinion I should I have been back after 48 hours (despite having +++ Keytones and a fasting sugar level of 27 at diagnosis) and I was taking liberties by having a week and a half off after being advised by a another member of the department who happens to be type 2.

After hearing this I was obviously quite angry as my boss had made no effort to understand the disease and was taking advice from someone who has no medical background and appalling control of type 2, I arranged a meeting with our Occ Health consultant and invited him along. She was fantastic and actually said there was no way I should have come back so soon, she pretty much rubbished everything my boss had been advised by my colleague. I would say be completly honest with your occ health and trust their ability and understanding! Don't just explain your physical problems but your emotional concerns as well.

Hope this helps!
 
brightbaby said:
Hi

I am worrying about the level my sugar is standing at. It doesnt seem to be coming down.

I know its early days what with the diagnosis but its freaking me out. Also got a telephone conversation with occupational health tomorrow regarding the absence from work. Any ideas on how I should play it

Ally
Click to expand...

So much of diabetic care is trial and error and learning how you react to things so it is likely that it will take a little while to get to the numbers you want, this coupled with a potential honeymoon period while newly diagnosed means things do take time. Although I am very undisciplined at doing it writing down your numbers, insulin taken etc can help you to quickly see some patterns and helps your medical team help you more so do work as closely with them as you can while you're still learning everything.

What insulins are you on? If you're on a basal bolus system speak to your DSN about corrective doses if they haven't discussed them already - using them could help you react to higher than desired numbers while you're learning how to be more proactive to achieve them.

Can't really help on the work thing I'm afraid, I was at uni and also work when I was diagnosed and I went straight back the next day. Looking back I have no idea how it did it, think I just went into autopilot, but I do wish I had taken some time to get to grips with it all as I think it would have saved me a lot of hassle in the long term.
 
returning to week

Brightbaby - regards returning to work - you know what your job involves, so you're in a good position to judge how you will cope. You should take into account all factors eg hours worked, shift pattern, travel to work (driving / getting a lift / walking / cycling / public transport - driving licence is a particular issue to consider), physical activity patterns, meal & break times, team meetings etc. I realise that it's very unlikely all those factors will apply to one person, but just to give you an idea of the sort of things to consider. Sure, don't go in too much, too early, but perhaps worth considering going in every other day for a week, or some other pattern in agreement with occupational health and your boss. I didn't have any time off work when I started insulin - but it was an incredibly boring & predictable travel agency job, with a commute by foot / train / foot.
 
Ally

Good luck with your conversation with occupational health.

I'd suggest that you have details of your treatment, how you are responding (glucose levels) to had plus any information on when you have appointments with your medical team to hand. You may be asked for your permission to contact your general practitioner and/or consultant. You might want to consider asking them a few questions too - starting back on a part-time basis, support they might offer if you need any help in explaining your diabetes to your line manager

At this stage, your occupational health team will need information from you so they can advise your employers. The heatlh care professional staff are subject to the same codes of practice as any other health care professional

Vanessa
 
brightbaby said:
Hi

I am worrying about the level my sugar is standing at. It doesnt seem to be coming down.

I know its early days what with the diagnosis but its freaking me out. Also got a telephone conversation with occupational health tomorrow regarding the absence from work. Any ideas on how I should play it

Ally
Click to expand...

It took a while when I was forst diagnosed for my sugar levels to come down. Talk to your DN or specialist for reassurance.

I am assuming you've had a chat with the occupational health people. I recently had to see an occupational health doctor which in itself was stressful as I had to go to a new place I'd never been to before. The advice given to me was be as honest as you can, answer all of their questions and tell them anything you think might be relevent. You may have to see a doctor in person for a full assesment.I found there was a lot I wanted to say so made a list which I left with the doctor, keeping a copy for myself.

As a rule all the information you give to occupational health is treated in confidence, they may or may not ask permission to talk to your GP and specialist. It pays to give them permission as it means they can get a fuler picture of what's happening with you personally. The occupational health people then make a report to your emplyer with any reccomendations they think will help you.

You can't be sacked for being sick or being diabetic, but it also pays to at least talk to the occupational health people, it at least looks as thoe you are trying to help yourself.

As for worrying too much, to say don't worry is easy, to not worry when so much is happening is not so easy. I hope you feel better soon.
 
Yeh HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLY!:D:D🙂🙂: Bev and Alex x
 
brightbaby said:
I have only been diagnosed in the last few weeks after being admitted to hospital with an infection and getting my bloods taken and them being sky high. I have been off since beginning of February and was signed off till yesterday as on holiday from work this week.

Hoping to get back to work next monday, got doctors tomorrow and then DN on Thursday
Click to expand...

Hi, sounds like you are coping really well. You have only been diagnosed a few weeks after all! everyone is different with how much time they need off to feel better and adjust etc. I had 7 weeks off work initially, felt like ages but my gp wanted me to take longer, but i was reqdy to back then. \make sure you are ready before you go back. Chat with your gp who should be able to advise you more. but just think are you ready to continue your job as you did it before? Are you up to it? Can you manage day to day, eating testing etc etc and do your job with no worries? You will know if you are ready. Good luck 🙂
 
Thanks for all your help and support over this issue

had discussion with OH today and they said that I shouldnt rush back to work so was at docs today and signed off for another week and then will be reviewed then

As for the blood sugars not worrying about it as much today and they have been quite good. But will stll talk to DN when I see her tomorrow

Also thanks for the birthday wishes had a great day

Thanks really appreciate you guys

Allyxx
 
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