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counselling

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Claire91

Claire91

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Was just looking for someone to talk to.. I had really bad anxiety but I went to a counceller and I am so much better I dont have panic attacks constantly and I can now sleep..and so on I went through absolute hell. I stopped seeing my counceller about a month ago. Anyway the last few days i have been feeling really low and really angry..and my diabetes nurse said when i feel down about diabetes a counceller probably couldnt really relate to me you need to speak to a diabetic counceller where there arent many of them about.. so i was wonderiing does anyone else been through a similar experience and will be a good listener and good to talk to
 
Hi Claire, sorry to hear you are feeling down :( Are you angry and upset about your diabetes, or are there other issues? Or can't you put your finger on it? How are your blood sugar levels? I find I can get quite emotional about things if my levels are going up and down a lot, and a lot of people suffer when their blood sugar is high for a while. You're welcome to let us know how you are feeling about things - we're obviously not counsellors, but we can relate to how you are feeling, I am sure. It can be difficult dealing with a condition that you can't really take a break from. Try to find a distraction if you start thinking too much about it and try to use the things you learned with the anxiety counsellor to help you through.

Hope you are feeling much stronger and brighter soon 🙂
 
Thankyou for the reply 🙂
Well I am a nursery nurse at a day care nursery and the people i work with are acting like they are at a school so that has been getting me down..my boyfriend is working away a bit so not seeing him as much as i would.. but its mainly my diabetes..I had a high blood sugar one evening and i get so angry when i have a high blood sugar like sometimes i feel i cant even control what i say.. and like i went to bed and just cried all night.. like i get angry and upset about in the stafroom at lunch how people just eat but i have to do my iinjection and consider what i will eat and how much insulin to give my self.. im still adjustiong my levels.. because with my anxiety i was scared of going hypo so i purpiosely kept it higher... but its not near as high as it used to be like 3 years ago so i am doing well... and anyway i go eat lunch in my car just to like be away from everyone cuz being at work people get me down there.. ive realised what people are like now. i used to think you could trust everyone and thats not the case is it ? And then i started thinking what if one day i have a baby and i gave them diabetes.. then i kept thinking why do i have diabetes what did i do so wrong to get it when i was 11... :(:(
xx
 
It's never easy when you work in an environment with people you don't have a good relationship with, but having to deal with diabetes as well can make it a real struggle at times :( Whatever their problem is it's probably very petty in comparison to dealing with diabetes every day, so don't waste your energy worrying about them and their attitudes. Throughout my working life I have been amazed at how many people, often in very responsible positions and on good money, act like spoilt or bullying children instead of grown ups!

Do you know anyone else with diabetes? Perhaps your nurse could put you in touch with someone in your area? There's nothing better in my opinion than sitting down and having a good chat with someone who 'gets it' 🙂 If you live anywhere near London or Manchester, why not come along to one of our Forum Meets next month - we'd love to see you there! Alternatively, perhaps there is a Circle D group in your area - details here:

http://www.circledrocks.co.uk/

Keep coming on here and letting us know how you are, good or bad, and there will always be someone here who will listen and who understands 🙂
 
Thanks 🙂🙂
what i get alot at work is "Ewww injections..I could never do them i would rather die"
and once i went around a girls from work and she actually tagged me in a status saying ewww injections in my house"

How do you deal with comments like that at work?
 
Claire91 said:
Thankyou for the reply 🙂
Well I am a nursery nurse at a day care nursery and the people i work with are acting like they are at a school so that has been getting me down..my boyfriend is working away a bit so not seeing him as much as i would.. but its mainly my diabetes..I had a high blood sugar one evening and i get so angry when i have a high blood sugar like sometimes i feel i cant even control what i say.. and like i went to bed and just cried all night.. like i get angry and upset about in the stafroom at lunch how people just eat but i have to do my iinjection and consider what i will eat and how much insulin to give my self.. im still adjustiong my levels.. because with my anxiety i was scared of going hypo so i purpiosely kept it higher... but its not near as high as it used to be like 3 years ago so i am doing well... and anyway i go eat lunch in my car just to like be away from everyone cuz being at work people get me down there.. ive realised what people are like now. i used to think you could trust everyone and thats not the case is it ? And then i started thinking what if one day i have a baby and i gave them diabetes.. then i kept thinking why do i have diabetes what did i do so wrong to get it when i was 11... :(:(
xx
Click to expand...


Hi Claire,
Do you use Lantus as your basal insulin? If so do some research as Lantus has been blamed by a lot of people for causing depression.
Not to sure if this will help or not,
Meter readings are just that a number, so if higher than you want to be then correct it. It's done and gone.
In a way it's a bit like playing a mind game of beat the meter.
It's a number nothing else so no blame for being higher or lower than you want to be.
Have you seen or do you have one of those meters that works out your dosage for you? One of those may help you as well.

What did you do to deserve diabetes? Nothing what so ever same as each and everyone else. But hey we have it we are all in it together and life goes on. Yep some days are a complete and utter *ummer but there's always tomorrow.
Have you ever thought about a pump? Running higher blood sugars to avoid hypos due to fear is a good reason to have a pump. This way you are in control of everything then. Basal can be set by the half hour or hour on most pumps. Pumping is a big commitment but quality of life is fantastic.

Sue
 
Claire91 said:
Thanks 🙂🙂
what i get alot at work is "Ewww injections..I could never do them i would rather die"
and once i went around a girls from work and she actually tagged me in a status saying ewww injections in my house"

How do you deal with comments like that at work?
Click to expand...

I don't have to personally, but how stupid and shallow does it make them sound? You also get the impression that they think it could never happen to them, to make such flippant remarks. People often don't think, they just blurt things out thinking they are being funny, but it is making them look foolish, not you, so treat such remarks with the contempt they deserve!
 
Claire91 said:
Thanks 🙂🙂
what i get alot at work is "Ewww injections..I could never do them i would rather die"
and once i went around a girls from work and she actually tagged me in a status saying ewww injections in my house"

How do you deal with comments like that at work?
Click to expand...

Claire, this person is beyond a joke. Very insensitive to say the least.
Just point out politely that it could happen to anyone even her one day and given the choice of injecting insulin or dying doesn't take much brain power as to what you would rather do.
 
thankyou 🙂): i feel so much better already talking to someone else who is diabetic because i felt so alone because my family and boyfriend can be there for me but they have no idea what it is like.. so having a pump.. do i have to pay for it? and is it easy to work?
xx
 
Claire91 said:
thankyou 🙂): i feel so much better already talking to someone else who is diabetic because i felt so alone because my family and boyfriend can be there for me but they have no idea what it is like.. so having a pump.. do i have to pay for it? and is it easy to work?
xx
Click to expand...

Pump is paid for by the NHS, it can be a long drawn out process to obtain one though so be warned.
If you can work those new fangled mobile phones I'm sure you can work a pump.
You do need to understand carb counting, corrections etc. you also need to be aware there is a lot of work involved to set up your pump. Which involves a lot of testing even throughout the night and skipping meals at times so you can test your basal.
Do ask your team about a pump, No isn't in the dictionary when you want a pump so stick to your guns 🙂
 
Sounds like it would be worth it though i just text my diabetes nurse about it! To see could she give me some more information about it!! Thankyou for all your advice you have made me feel so much better!! xxxx
 
Claire91 said:
sounds stupid is attaching the pump an operation?
Click to expand...

No question is stupid 🙂
What you do is insert a small cannula every 2 or 3 days. It's so mall about the size of the pen needle you use. It can be a teflon or steel cannula depending on which you prefer.
The pump is the size of a pager and can be clipped to your belt or put in a pocket. Some people clip it on their bras.
There are a couple of pumps that have a remote control which enables you to test your blood sugar with the remote and then ask the pump to deliver your bolus. Thus your pump is out of sight out of mind.
From the pump a very thin tube goes to the cannula which delivers the insulin for you.
People are always worried about being attached but even after 42 years on insulin injections I didn't notice the pump after half a day. In fact I kept looking for it as thought I had lost it 🙄
There's lot's of info about pumps here http://www.input.me.uk/ so have a good look through the site. 🙂
 
Oh Claire I know exactly how you are feeling about being angry and upset. I have been through a bit of year this year and last year my grandaughter of 2 1/2 was diagnosed with type 1, so seriously ill in a HDU, clinging for life, I still find it upsetting and blame myself at times, because I have type 1 as well. I know Its nobodys fault and please remember you are not to blame at all, you didn't do anything bad or unhealthy to get type 1, honestly 🙂
As for work, well, words fail me :( Take care, with my very best wishes.
 
Hi Claire

Sorry to hear you are burdened with having to work with the 'hard of thinking'. Bless them, it's not really their fault - they can't help being dim-witted, insensitive, arrogant so and so's. They should be glad to have you there to give them an idea of how to behave like a *real* person 😉

Seriously - some people's comments are beyond a joke and they are just not worth worrying about.


Hope you feel a little brighter soon, and that your levels settle a little. Do you have any ideas as to why you are getting those highs and lows? Anything you want to work on? It helps me to break things down and try to identify and tackle one challenge at a time. Are you able to spot any patterns?
 
The other thing nobody has mentioned is Claire, whether we like it or not or whatever, under the 'Equal Opportunities' legislation, we are classed as 'disabled'. (I never feel disabled except when it suits me and this is exactlt the type of situation where it would suit me!)

This means in effect that people aren't ALLOWED by the law to discriminate against us.

Comments such as your colleague made, could be classed as 'harassment' - and they aren't allowed to do that to disabled people!

Don't do anything official as yet, but hopefully the knowledge gives you a bit of confidence to stick up for yourself and retort to them - Well you just better get used to it then, same as I've had to! cos I sure ain't gonna stop doing it.

Actually I had a v good experience very early in my diabetic career to encourage me to stick up for myself.

I was admitted to hospital on diagnosis and when I was learning to do my jabs, at first they used to take me into a side room off the ward. Then one day a different nurse came right to my bed with all the paraphernalia (syringes then) so I did the deed and as I finished the lady in the next bed - who was great, we had a similar sense of humour and were always finding summat to giggle about - said she thought I was ever so brave and all that junk and then added, 'I'd die if I had to do that!' and without thinking I instantly retorted 'Well - I'd die if I didn't, Brenda!' and glared at her. (Then I burst into tears because I realised for the first time, really, it was true.)

And I've used that response a lot more than once. (without the tears though now!) It certainly shuts em up and hopefully makes em THINK.
 
Hi Claire,

All good advice above, 🙂 just wanted to add re babies...there is a slightly increased risk of having a child with type 1 if a parent has it already (slightky greater if it's the dad & greater again if both have it) but it's a slight increase in a small risk, if you see what I mean. My two are now 5 & 2 & all ok to date. Pregnancy can be 'interesting' (aka hard work lol) & you're better to be open minded & pragmatic about the whole birth etc thing (v unlikely to get an holistic earth mother natural type experience lol 🙄) BUT the important thing is it can be done, it just requires good control & ideally forward planning before trying to conceive (huge doses of folic acid via gp for example for 3 mths before trying etc). So hopefully thats good news!

Try not to take the stupid fb comment to heart - it's disappointing, but it certainly says far more about her as a person than anything else...and maybe, who knows, it might have been a sympathetic eew...I still shudder when my sis jabs herself lol. If there's a problem there, it's hers to sort out, don't let it get you down.(((((hug)))))!

Hole today is a lovely day for you. Xx
 
Definitely worth following up some of the practical diabetes management suggestions from others already stated. Once you find a more suitable regime for yourself (ie not necessarily the same as what someone else thinks is ideal for you), things are easier to manage / accept.

Back to the counselling issue - there are some phonelines which will help anyone who calls. Although many are associated with mental health issues, they will talk with anyone who calls, whatever the issues eg work related stress etc.

If you're in a trade union, then many have support lines for members, so worth checking if you are a member.

Otherwise, more generally (and with 24 hour services) Samaritans (confidential and non religious, by the way) are for everyone - see http://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us
Phone 08457 90 90 90 (in UK) or email jo@samaritans.org
 
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