Can't do this diabetes thing

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CoventryTrev

CoventryTrev

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 3c
I had most of my pancreas removed on June 17th. At first the doc put me on a diabetes tablet but this wasn't working. They have now put me on insulin and at first the numbers were improving and I felt a lot better in myself.
Now I'm starting to wonder what is the point in all this. The numbers are all.over the place again, I feel like I want to stop injecting myself. My mood has changed and feel low. It's effecting my relationship coz my partner doesn't believe me when I say the diabetes has a big impact on my mood.
I just want to say to hell with everything and everyone especially the diabetes coz that has caused all this. I was in a much better place before I had my pancreas removed.
 
As a plain old T2 on very basic medication and low carb diet, I've said before on this forum how much I admire those on insulin and how they manage their condition. And as such I can't offer any advice, but just wanted to send you best wishes and to say keep on at it, it will get better. {{{hugs}}} x
 
CoventryTrev said:
I'm using Lantus and Novorapid. My gp meant to have referred me to my local hospital but still haven't heard anything and I keep chasing my gp. Only education I've had is how to inject myself.
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Then your situation isn't your fault. You're being let down by the failure to offer help which should be being offered.

Being able to inject yourself is required, obviously, but it's also obviously just the beginning of what you'll need to maintain reasonable blood glucose levels.

Has your GP at least offered you Libre (or one of the other CGMs)?

While it's certainly possible to do well with finger prick tests, the gaps between tests adds an element of mystery that can make management much more complex (especially without any expert support). Now we have CGMs, it makes lots of sense to use them!
 
Bruce Stephens said:
Then your situation isn't your fault. You're being let down by the failure to offer help which should be being offered.

Being able to inject yourself is required, obviously, but it's also obviously just the beginning of what you'll need to maintain reasonable blood glucose levels.

Has your GP at least offered you Libre (or one of the other CGMs)?

While it's certainly possible to do well with finger prick tests, the gaps between tests adds an element of mystery that can make management much more complex (especially without any expert support). Now we have CGMs, it makes lots of sense to use them!
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Unfortunately people don't see it like that and it's about to cost me my relationship.
My gp has given me the libre 2 but to be honest I stopped scanning it as I don't see the point in it anymore. The operation and diabetes has done to much damage to my life.
 
You are being hard on yourself as you are still recovering from major Surgery as well as grappling with Diabetes. Were you not offered follow up from the Hospital on discharge?
 
grovesy said:
You are being hard on yourself as you are still recovering from major Surgery as well as grappling with Diabetes. Were you not offered follow up from the Hospital on discharge?
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I had my final follow up with my surgeon a couple of weeks ago. I'm now just under my gp.
 
My gp keeps telling me I've been referred. No point in keep putting insulin into me and keep having hypers and mood swings. It's not fair on anyone so I've stopped the insulin and scanning the libre tonight. Diabetes has ruined so much.
 
CoventryTrev said:
My gp keeps telling me I've been referred. No point in keep putting insulin into me and keep having hypers and mood swings. It's not fair on anyone so I've stopped the insulin and scanning the libre tonight. Diabetes has ruined so much.
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Please don’t stop having your insulin. The consequences of not having your insulin are the worst they can be. You don’t want to put yourself, your partner or anyone through that. The early days of diabetes can be hard but it does get a lot easier and it shouldn’t stop you from doing anything or being the person you want to be. I’ve had nearly 52 years of Type 1 diabetes that confirms this with all the brilliant memories I’ve had during my life and the things I still plan to do. . Yes there are times when it gets tough, can feel too much, but you can get through it. But please if you are thinking of ending your life, which stopping insulin could do to you PLEASE get in touch with an organisation such as the Samaritans anytime or the Diabetes Helpline during working hours to discuss how you are feeling. We are here for you.
 
Oh Trev, you’re going through such a difficult time with minimal support.

Get on the phone to the GP first thing tomorrow and make yourself a pain in their arse until you get the support you need. 3c is not always well understood by GPs so it’s unlikely they will be able to do everything you need but they can put a rocket up the specialists. It’s much better for you to have some control than no control as that way will land you in A&E rapidly and with the current state of waiting times there that’s not a position you want to be in.

Are you able to test for ketones?


It’s totally rational to want to stop treating your diabetes when the results are so frustrating but I promise you that this will not be forever. With good management insulin dependent diabetes can be controlled and give you a good life. It’s hard work though and there aren’t days off so some patience with your body is required.

It’s not unusual with chronic illness to feel angry and in despair. I’m so glad you came on here and expressed how you feel. We’re rooting for you. Please don’t give up.
 
Do not stop taking the insulin. If you need it it’s not optional and the damage you will do might not be reparable.

I think you need to phone diabetes uk now, and I think actually get yourself into A&E as mentally you need to be there. If you don’t know what your doing with your medication then it’s an emergency.

You haven’t been given the support you need and that is appalling. But you can’t just keep hanging on for the gp

Please take care.
 
Type 3c diabetes is actually harder to control because of the Creon you have to take to digest your food, so the time can vary when the post meal spike arrives, particularly with a relatively high fat meal. I assume you take Creon, to replace the missing digestive enzymes that the pancreas produces. It's the same with insulin. It's replacing the insulin that the pancreas produces. The difference is that you won't die quickly if you stop taking Creon, but you will if you stop your insulin.If your BG goes into the "High" reading on your sensor, get yoursellf to A&E, because you haven't got been given knowledge of how to treat this.

As has been said above, you must be under the care of a consultant. A GP is useless in this condition, as are surgery nurses, because it's not common, though 3c is now overtaking Type 1 diabetes in frequency.
 
CoventryTrev said:
I had most of my pancreas removed on June 17th. At first the doc put me on a diabetes tablet but this wasn't working. They have now put me on insulin and at first the numbers were improving and I felt a lot better in myself.
Now I'm starting to wonder what is the point in all this. The numbers are all.over the place again, I feel like I want to stop injecting myself. My mood has changed and feel low. It's effecting my relationship coz my partner doesn't believe me when I say the diabetes has a big impact on my mood.
I just want to say to hell with everything and everyone especially the diabetes coz that has caused all this. I was in a much better place before I had my pancreas removed.
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Hi Coventry Trev.
I know where you are coming from. Had my pancreas removed last September and have experienced similar feelings as you. First few weeks blood glucose levels were fairly steady if a little high at night, which suited me because I was terrified of having a Hypo. But as a Hyper is not considered good my insulin was changed, I have slow release in the morning and Novorapid with every meal and snacks. Like you my readings have been all over the place up in the mid twenties down to 3 or less. And it happens so quickly, today for example, at 11.15 my reading was 15.2 and by 12.30 it was 4.7. I know the reason for this rapid drop now, but its taken me nearly 12months to begin to understand and be able to cope with the fluctuations. The reason? in that hour and a quarter I walked to the local shops and carried some heavyish shopping home. Then I played with the dog. Simple everyday things. I should have had a couple of biscuits before embarking on the trip to the shop but I didn't because it was a sudden decision.
What I am trying to say is that it takes a long time to get used to being insulin dependent and it really is a roller coaster ride. One day you feel positive the next you want to scream the house down, feel wobbly, frightened to leave the house, wish you hadn't had it done, would prefer to have taken theconsequences what ever that would have been! But I am getting there, slowly, and you will to.
Sorry I can't offer you any ground breaking medical help coping with it all. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone in the battle!
With my best wishes
Dodie
 
Ah @CoventryTrev :( :( :(

Sounds like you’ve found yourself in a pretty dark place.

You are not alone. Others here will have had times when they have felt unable to carry on. Where everything seems like an Impossible Task. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy to get through times like this, but you can make it.

You are worth it.

You are important.

You deserve to be happy.

You are valued and needed.

Depression like this can be so powerful and overwhelming, and can be part of grieving for your diabetes diagnosis.

Please do take your insulin - even if only your background / basal. And please please please reach out for urgent crisis care either through NHS111, the Diabetes UK Helpline (0345 123 2399 Mon-Fri 9-6) or by calling the Samaritans who are there for you 24/7.

Keep talking to us on the forum too. We are worried about you matey.
 
Oh @CoventryTrev I can relate so much to this feeling you are having right now. So many of us have been there. All I can say to you is a lot of us start with similar postings to yours then fast forward 6-12 months and we are our own expert, advising others and have come to terms with the big D, we still have hard days and yes if we could wave a magic wand and make it disappear we defo would, but our brains have adjusted and accepted our knew lives as I’ve found the brain to be a trickier organ than the pancreas !
 
Hi everyone.
Thanks for your kind messages of advice and support.
I received a letter from my hospital today asking me to make an appointment with the diabetes team. I tried to make an appointment online and got told none are currently available and they will contact me but could be upto 60 days wait.
I spoke to a lovely lady on the DUK support line this afternoon and she was a great help.
I'm going to start eating and taking my insulin again this evening and will be speaking to my diabetes nurse at my gp surgery tomorrow.
A massive thank you everyone, you and this forum is amazing!!
 
Well done @CoventryTrev ! You’re doing the right thing. I know how frustrating and upsetting diabetes can be, especially when it plays up. I’m so glad you found the Diabetes U.K. careline helpful. They’re fabulous people.
 
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