Amity Island
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
"Carry on regardless" chirped the Beautiful South in 1994 -- a line which helps me in those difficult times.
When I was diagnosed I was in my last year at University. It was fairly sudden the way it happened. Over the period of a few weeks I started drinking ridiculous amounts of water, very quickly, squeezing the water into my mouth to try and quench the thirst. I had a blood test and a few days later, I was told by phone (followed by some tears of shock) to go straight to A&E. I always remember being at the hospital, the nurse shouting across them room as she was giving me my first shot of insulin, "another betty over here". I got my first and last visit from the diabetes nurse the next day, and from that day on I was self managing my diabetes. I was on a twice a day insulin, where you had too eat at set times and set amounts every day. I spent the next twenty years never really discussing it with any employers which I worked for. I didn't feel they would appreciate me having a serious condition.
It's wasn't until I attended a D.A.F.N.E course a couple of years ago that my eyes were opened after seeing how other people live with their condition with no concern for what others think. I thought this is how I want to be. To not worry about anything, or what people may say about seeing you inject in public. To be open with people is the only way really, especially when you consider this isn't a temporary thing your dealing with. As far as hypos are concerned, as long as I always have some glucose tablets in every pocket, draw, cupboard shelf, desk then that's taken care of it's just a matter of taking a few tablets.
This forum takes this openness of having diabetes to the world and what I like about this forum is, the fact that people who use it ARE interested in their wellbeing, their health, otherwise they wouldn't be on it. So from that point of view, we are all like minded people, all self managing a difficult situation. It's tough. Many of us have full lives to lead, bills to pay, families to raise; all on top of self managing diabetes. It really is down to yourself to manage diabetes, it's nice to have specialist nurses and consultants, and more importantly insulin which is "free" on the NHS, but essentially you need to look after yourself. I can only assume that such challenges make you a stronger person and probably focuses you and helps put life into perspective, making you appreciate the things many wouldn't give a second thought to, probably resulting in a fuller life.
Like many have said on this forum, you don't really have a choice but to "get on with it" and carry on regardless.....it's the essence of who you are that keeps you going even when faced with real difficulties.
When I was diagnosed I was in my last year at University. It was fairly sudden the way it happened. Over the period of a few weeks I started drinking ridiculous amounts of water, very quickly, squeezing the water into my mouth to try and quench the thirst. I had a blood test and a few days later, I was told by phone (followed by some tears of shock) to go straight to A&E. I always remember being at the hospital, the nurse shouting across them room as she was giving me my first shot of insulin, "another betty over here". I got my first and last visit from the diabetes nurse the next day, and from that day on I was self managing my diabetes. I was on a twice a day insulin, where you had too eat at set times and set amounts every day. I spent the next twenty years never really discussing it with any employers which I worked for. I didn't feel they would appreciate me having a serious condition.
It's wasn't until I attended a D.A.F.N.E course a couple of years ago that my eyes were opened after seeing how other people live with their condition with no concern for what others think. I thought this is how I want to be. To not worry about anything, or what people may say about seeing you inject in public. To be open with people is the only way really, especially when you consider this isn't a temporary thing your dealing with. As far as hypos are concerned, as long as I always have some glucose tablets in every pocket, draw, cupboard shelf, desk then that's taken care of it's just a matter of taking a few tablets.
This forum takes this openness of having diabetes to the world and what I like about this forum is, the fact that people who use it ARE interested in their wellbeing, their health, otherwise they wouldn't be on it. So from that point of view, we are all like minded people, all self managing a difficult situation. It's tough. Many of us have full lives to lead, bills to pay, families to raise; all on top of self managing diabetes. It really is down to yourself to manage diabetes, it's nice to have specialist nurses and consultants, and more importantly insulin which is "free" on the NHS, but essentially you need to look after yourself. I can only assume that such challenges make you a stronger person and probably focuses you and helps put life into perspective, making you appreciate the things many wouldn't give a second thought to, probably resulting in a fuller life.
Like many have said on this forum, you don't really have a choice but to "get on with it" and carry on regardless.....it's the essence of who you are that keeps you going even when faced with real difficulties.
