denial?

[Dorset Dumpling]

Think I saw posts regarding this but did a search to no avail. Diagnosed a couple of months ago - been really good and not touched chocolate or biscuits since but found myself telling a work colleague I'm not convinced the docs are right! Due to have another blood test next month but basically feeling unsupported. Also very tearful and hubby & me not speaking - blamed him at first but analysing the situation I think I may be experiencing mood swings and being unreasonable! How do I know my food choices are right? No mention of testing - only thing I know for sure is that I am drinking far too much coffee! So pleased I found this site!

 

[shambles]

Big hugs DD 🙂

Not sure about the denial thing, but having only been diagnosed since end of Jan/start of feb myself I can tell you that the range of emotions have been through has been all encompassing! including some major mood swings - I got very irritable for a while there - my hubby basically took it on the chin though bless him (and I was irritable about silly things like if he could just put his washing in the basket etc). I found it very difficult and still am to a point to differentiate which feeling were diabetes and which were my "normal" ones especially considering the circumstances of my diagnosis but it does get better I think and easier to deal with.

better sugars are less mood swings and things seems to be the case

best advice I can give you is to let yourself feel what you feel and try not to beat up on yourself about feeling whatever way you do. If you need to cry go ahead and do so and don't feel bad for it.

I hope you feel better soon x

I think you should test - it helps me to feel more in control of what I am doing and how well I am doing, and also if I feel a bit off I can check what they are doing and work out if it is them, especially from being so high, even normal figures sometimes feel really odd to be at (getting less so now as am sitting at a much lower level)

Drs tend to be pretty right before they tell you - They wouldn't call it diabetes until I had 3 tests to confirm (different ones). I think denial is just a stage - think of it as grieving for the person you were. Things are different now x

 

[Dorset Dumpling]

Thanks shambles x. Think I may have a battle on my hands to convince go about testing - IF I can get an appt - but that's another story!

 

[yorksman]

It's not really denial and more an everyday case of an imagination. "Eh?? Are you sure?" is quite normal. In particular, with diabetes where you can't necessarily see the problem, you can end up wondering what all the fuss is about. If nothing else, you will benefit in some way from cutting out the biscuits and chocolates. It's the first thing I did, along with sweets and buns. I got an immediate benefit in so far as I started to lose weight so, I started to supplement that effort with some exercise, and I then started to feel better.

When I started monitoring my BG levels, I was surprised to discover that some foods, like white bread, were just as bad the sugary things, even though it was not sweet. Eventually, I learned what things I could eat and could not eat.

6 months on my BG levels are well within normal range, I have lost a lot of weight, am much more active and have discovered a new hobby, cooking. I've found that cooking from raw ingredients and not relying on packets and pots is a very good way of keeping control. It's cheaper too!

So, don't worry, you have already made a good start. It's now more a question 'what else can I do?'

 

[shambles]

DD - if your practise wont do it I'd still advocate getting one yourself if you can afford to do so - I'm allowed 2 pots of strips a year from drs according to them - but am buying my own as it's not enough realistically 🙂

As for unsupported that's what we are all here for - to support each other!!

I know your pain about getting an appt - tried for 3 weeks to get one before I went to Aus, now am back to letter saying they made me an appt for while I was away ... and then I rang and they were like what letter? *rolls eyes* (I do finally have an appt for 2 weeks time!)

 

[happydog]

Hello DD I was diagnosed in September last year, so don't have lots of experience, but I will share what I have learnt. I keep a food diary and at first I tested 6 times per day and tried to eat less carbohydrates and sugar. Each of us is different so this is the only way to find out what spikes you. I now test less and have my blood sugar within an acceptable range. I continue to eat a low carb diet and try to think about the things that I like that I can have rather than what I can't. (Still miss fruit as I used to eat a lot of it.) I lost over two stone and am now just on the edge of the normal weight for my height. The plus is that I can get some new clothes without feeling guilty. I was refused test strips etc, so I bought my own and it was a good investment because I am scared of the complications of diabetes. I now get 50 strips per month, not enough, but better than nothing. I just kept asking in a polite way and explaining why I needed them.
Don't feel bad about being irritable and maybe sad about what has happened, it is normal and it does get better as you come to accept that it is how it is now. When I feel irritable I go for a walk and that helps. Good luck and you will find the people on this forum absolutely wonderful and patient. I felt so alone and ignorant and they helped me to get through that bit. I do understand not feeling supported, I got nothing from my GP except "Take the medication", I said "no let me try diet and exercise". So far I am winning. Sending you a virtual hug () and hope things improve.

 

[yorksman]

I got nothing from my GP except "Take the medication", I said "no let me try diet and exercise".

Well done. My GP is a pill pusher and I got a bit of a sneer when I said I wanted to see if I could control it through diet and exercise. I suppose they've all heard the good intentions fail with others so they just put you in a box. But it goes to show that with a bit of thought and effort, it is possible.