I can sympathise with you, as I have had similar problems
Besides diabetes I have rheumatoid arthritis, and this year I developed Adult Onset Asthma.
I have experienced anxiety & depression as well, but although I'm managing now I am always aware that it could crop up again. No-one really knows why, but many diabetics suffer from depression
The asthma is now controlled, but is yet another incurable condition. The RA wasn't too bad, but as I get older (now 67) its becoming more difficult to do any decent hiking
So what I'm trying to say is that you should take a little comfort from the fact that many of us on this forum also have a few problems besides the diabetes
It does get monotonous and wearying trying to keep on top of diabetes control all the time, and it's easy to let things slide. My blood sugars tend to be on the high side of acceptable, or a bit over sometimes. You would think that the possibility of some of the side effects would be sufficient motivation, but as we know, life doesn't seem to work like that. My own weakness is that I'm very lazy about doing my blood sugars, yet it's not difficult or even painful
The crazy thing is that I consider myself to be reasonably intelligent and knowledgeable, but not so good at coping; so I have a trick that I do on myself, perhaps you can try it too
I am quite able to tell others about diet, nutrition, control& management etc. I know what needs to be done, but doing it is another matter. So I tell myself what I must do - to sort of detach myself and treat myself as another person
Or to put it another way, I make a conscious effort to follow my own advice, as if someone else has asked me what to do and I tell them, but that 'someone else' is me
So I just follow the instructions, just as I would a Haynes manual for changing the brake pads on my car
Can you follow that? I'm sure psychologists might have a name for the technique
As far as explanations & understanding goes -
Join Diabetes UK They have a good introduction book for Type 2 and a good, friendly helpline
Get some diabetes books from your library, they will help you to get used to the ideas and the jargon, even if some of the books are a bit out of date; it's all useful
Men can get thrush, too, right in the groin, under the foreskin, and in the armpits. Treat it with Daktarin cream but also get blood sugars under control
As far as getting out & about, and becoming more enthusiastic, I have done two things
Joined a Working Men's Club. I don't follow football and I try to stick to soft drinks now, but I've been going for several months now, and have got chatting to people, and also helped with the summer family day
Started to help at my local Men's Shed. See a separate Thread, or go to
www.menssheds.org.uk
