Comments under Diabetes UK Facebook posts rattling me.

[NotWorriedAtAll]

I recently started reading the Diabetes UK Facebook posts.
So far so good.
For a while that was all fine but for some reason some comments have got under my skin like an earworm does with a piece of music. But instead of just being irritating it is making me very anxious. I know the comments shouldn't apply to me as I've taken good control of my blood sugars almost from the moment I got my diagnosis but all the same they have managed to do what nothing has done since I was diagnosed over two years ago - they have made me worried and anxious and a little bit frightened.

One person was insisting that kidney disease and kidney failure were a certain result of diabetes that was unavoidable and another person was equally convinced and unequivocal that type 2 diabetes was caused by a damaged pancreas and if you had diabetes then you automatically had a damaged and shrunken pancreas.

I know not to take Facebook comments about health matters seriously and I have no idea why at this point I would be so unsettled like this. But I am and it woke me up early this morning feeling antsy. So I thought I'd throw it out there and see if some common sense from some sensible people would help dispel it.

 

[Deleted member 32156]

Take a big deep breath and question your worried mind in as rational a way as you can on how true these statements are. Shake off the irritation, it will pass and don't let these posts affect your mood for the rest of your day. What have you got planned for today? What do you find helps you when you become anxious?

 

[Docb]

You have got to remember that Facebook is not a social service. It is an advertising agency. It collects data on people posting and then uses that data to sell its services to advertise anything and everything, from sweets to politics. It has few, if any scruples, and like most successful advertising agencies is very good at selling itself and pretending it is not an advertising agency. It loves outlandish posts because that attracts argument, argument attracts controversy, controversy attracts references to Facebook and that attracts more people to use it and that gives them more data to use to sell advertising.

As Benny G says, just stop reading Facebook stuff or if there is stuff on there you do want to see, then turn your rubbish filter control up to 11 so you can tune out the other 99%. You will not be missing anything, except lots of subtle advertising sent your way by the Google/Facebook algorithms.

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

What do you find helps you when you become anxious?

I usually do some exercise and meditation using my VR headset. I do this every day.
Last night I did my usual Hello Sleep meditation exercise from Audible and got off to sleep within ten minutes as usual so I was not pleased to find those daft posts still niggling me as soon as I woke up.

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

You have got to remember that Facebook is not a social service. It is an advertising agency. It collects data on people posting and then uses that data to sell its services to advertise anything and everything, from sweets to politics. It has few, if any scruples, and like most successful advertising agencies is very good at selling itself and pretending it is not an advertising agency. It loves outlandish posts because that attracts argument, argument attracts controversy, controversy attracts references to Facebook and that attracts more people to use it and that gives them more data to use to sell advertising.

As Benny G says, just stop reading Facebook stuff or if there is stuff on there you do want to see, then turn your rubbish filter control up to 11 so you can tune out the other 99%. You will not be missing anything, except lots of subtle advertising sent your way by the Google/Facebook algorithms.

My Facebook is nailed down pretty tight. I have nearly no Facebook interaction other than that from my direct friend group which is confined to people I know properly and special interest groups I actively take part in. I have a blocked list of over 2,000 now! Lols my blocked list is massively bigger than my friend list.

I think I will have to stop following the Diabetes UK Facebook posts. I have sometimes recommended this forum to people commenting on them who were newly diagnosed and anxious and didn't know about the forum but I need to protect my own equilibrium from now on.

 

[Deleted member 32156]

Sounds like you have developed some good resources for yourself. No need to judge yourself so harshly for looking at those daft posts and letting them get to you. Enjoy the rest of your day.

 

[Docb]

Good on you @NotWorriedAtAll, that's the way to deal with Facebook.

 

[Maca44]

If your a worrier like me regarding health then social media is always going to flag up posts that worry you.

I had to stop Facebook and any Google medical searches many years ago and it's worked very well for me

 

[RirisR]

A good dollop of common sense is needed, as we age all our organs
get weaker, my Dad died of kidney failure amongst other ills and he
didnt have diabetis he was 82 years old. when you take in your urine pot to be tested that
is tested for your kidney health so you will see results on the form they give you when you
have the annual review and if you have any concerns about it you can act straight away
dont' worry your head over these facebook comments your living your life as best as you can
and on this forum loads of common sense.. chin up my friend its a lovely day out there xx

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

A good dollop of common sense is needed, as we age all our organs
get weaker, my Dad died of kidney failure amongst other ills and he
didnt have diabetis he was 82 years old. when you take in your urine pot to be tested that
is tested for your kidney health so you will see results on the form they give you when you
have the annual review and if you have any concerns about it you can act straight away
dont' worry your head over these facebook comments your living your life as best as you can
and on this forum loads of common sense.. chin up my friend its a lovely day out there xx

Aw thanks.

I think I may be having some sort of 'mid life crisis' thing going on. I've got to the age when I see someone has died aged 82 I think it is quite young!! Given the current world situation that is not a very rational stance for me and so I think I'm having a bit of a crashing of the mental cog wheels happening. Time to do something engrossing and take my mind off all this introspection I think. You are right - it is a lovely day today. I will go and stand on the deck and listen to the birds and have some fresh air and sunlight.

 

[Maca44]

My nefew died a few weeks ago aged 39 (covid) he was a lovely clean living lad with a 12yr old son and loving wife so at the funeral I thought how lucky I am. So each day is a blessing I have no time to read things that are going to worry me, today I feel well and tomorrow is just that, tomorrow.

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

My nefew died a few weeks ago aged 39 (covid) he was a lovely clean living lad with a 12yr old son and loving wife so at the funeral I thought how lucky I am. So each day is a blessing I have no time to read things that are going to worry me, today I feel well and tomorrow is just that, tomorrow.

Sorry for your loss.
You are completely right of course.
Thank you for your wisdom x

 

[Maca44]

Yes just makes you think doesn't it.

Your not alone on this one I have been a worrier most of my life mostly around health, it's such waisted energy and it drives me mad when people say just stop worrying 😡 , easier said than done but not Googling has made a massive impact with me I just get what I need to know and nothing else.

 

[Ljc]

It can be hard when we’re bombarded with negative th including our health .
As T2 , we’re often told , it’s your fault. Unfortunately this is spilling over to those with other types of diabetes.
We all know in here that complications can and do happen but they are not a given.

Tbh I stopped going on faceache years ago because I saw too many idiots causing unnecessary upset.

Is that Diabetes uk page on FB anything to to with our Charity ?

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

It can be hard when we’re bombarded with negative th including our health .
As T2 , we’re often told , it’s your fault. Unfortunately this is spilling over to those with other types of diabetes.
We all know in here that complications can and do happen but they are not a given.

Tbh I stopped going on faceache years ago because I saw too many idiots causing unnecessary upset.

Is that Diabetes uk page on FB anything to to with our Charity ?

Yes - it is this charity's page on Facebook. It is how I found this forum originally.

 

[Ljc]

Yes - it is this charity's page on Facebook. It is how I found this forum originally.

I wonder if their is a list of moderators on their to contact or perhaps call our helpline about your concerns.
Things like that may be stopping people from joining in on our site or scaring people unnecessarily.

I am not saying we don’t have the odd post or two that causes upset or gives wrong info but at least it’s usually dealt with fairly quickly .

 

[DaveB]

First, remember that FB is run by an American company in it to make money from personal data. Use it with great care about medical matters. As you can see it has done great harm with the nonsense about Covid Vacs. Don't follow DUK on FB as there is no need to as this forum and the other one are well-run and managed.