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Feeling low

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

grainger

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Sorry to moan but I'm just fed up today and need to rant a little.
I'm fed up with having to buy a cash box to put my insulin in at work so it can be locked away.
Fed up with having to get out of bed just to take insulin out of the fridge so it's ready for when I actually want breakfast
Fed up with injections and bruises and constantly wondering whether or not my pancreas has decided it's going to work today!!!

I know I'm lucky to have caught this early and to only have experienced one hypo and that my fiance is supportive but I just want it to go away now.

Sorry to moan but I'm hoping you all understand this and therefore i don't just sound like i'm being a miserable cow.

Ok. Moan over - how is everyone else today?
 
grainger2b said:
Sorry to moan but I'm just fed up today and need to rant a little.
I'm fed up with having to buy a cash box to put my insulin in at work so it can be locked away.
Keep it in your pocket same as everyone else would. That solves 1 moan :D
Fed up with having to get out of bed just to take insulin out of the fridge so it's ready for when I actually want breakfast
Solves no 2 moan as you do not have to keep the insulin in use in the fridge. 🙂Fed up with injections and bruises and constantly wondering whether or not my pancreas has decided it's going to work today!!!
Bruise ! sounds as if you have to long a needle. Go see your nurse for a review.
I know I'm lucky to have caught this early and to only have experienced one hypo and that my fiance is supportive but I just want it to go away now.
Unfortunately we can't make diabetes go away but at least it can be controlled and should not interfer with life in general.
Sorry to moan but I'm hoping you all understand this and therefore i don't just sound like i'm being a miserable cow.
Yep it's called why me day 😛


Ok. Moan over - how is everyone else today?
Click to expand...

Lol moan away if it makes you feel better. Things do get better honest they do.
 
No need to apologise, I think we all feel like this from time to time as it's something you can't escape from - you have these constant reminders as you say :(

You shouldn't need to keep your insulin in the fridge, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days (read the leaflet that comes with it for the actual dates for your insulin), so that's one less thing to worry about!

You are welcome to come on here whenever you are feeling down about things and have a good old rant or moan, so don't bottle it up 🙂
 
grainger2b said:
Sorry to moan but I'm just fed up today and need to rant a little.
I'm fed up with having to buy a cash box to put my insulin in at work so it can be locked away.
Fed up with having to get out of bed just to take insulin out of the fridge so it's ready for when I actually want breakfast
Fed up with injections and bruises and constantly wondering whether or not my pancreas has decided it's going to work today!!!

I know I'm lucky to have caught this early and to only have experienced one hypo and that my fiance is supportive but I just want it to go away now.

Sorry to moan but I'm hoping you all understand this and therefore i don't just sound like i'm being a miserable cow.

Ok. Moan over - how is everyone else today?
Click to expand...

Hi

Glad you feel able to have a moan on this site, sometimes being able to get written how you feel helps let it out of your system and they say - a problem shared and all that.

I am not sure what job you do or who has suggested that you get a cash box to keep your insulin in? Before I went on the pump I used to use insulin pens, some prefilled and some with cartridges. I used to keep my current pens in my handbag and carry them round with me - which was fine for the job I do. To try and prevent me from forgetting to take my pens to work I used to put them in the elasticated pouch which was on the side of my BG monitor (and then hope I didn't forget to take that with me!). The only insulin I would need to keep in the fridge was spares.

Pens and cartridges can survive at room temp for up to a month, so once you start using it you can keep it out of the fridge - so hopefully that will let you have a longer lay in!

It can be really hard coming to terms with having diabetes, I know that I have experienced some of the feelings you are describing and these can vary as to how I feel, and what else is also going on in my life. The important thing is to let out how you feel and have a moan - much better than bottling it all up.

Make sure you also let your diabetes nurse know how you are feeling so that they too can offrer you some support. In my experience it does get better, but at times it can be a rocky road.

Take Care x
 
We all understand lovie and I hope your moan made you feel better..... its good to let it all out x
 
I ditto what everyone else has said about insulin. When I was put on insulin (basal only) in February, I was told that I needed to get it home and into my fridge as soon as possible, but that I can keep the one I'm using out of the fridge but make sure I use it within 28 days (it lasts me about 9-10 days as it happens)...
 
There is no need to appologise for having a maon. We all get days where we feel down and keeping things in only makes them worse. Everyone here has diabetes of one kind or another and find comming here to share our experiences and feelings helps.

We can not all offer advice, but we all offer support and friendship and we do understand how it feels when we see others eating yummy things that we can't share.

In some ways we are better off because our diets tend to be healthier and because we have diabetes we tend to be more aware of how our bodies work so can deal with problems earlier.

I hope you feel better for having had a moan and the day will improve for you.
 
Moan away - it can help to get things out and people can sometimes other helpful advice. Its very early days yet and you are still coming to terms with the shock of diagnosis and the loss of freedom that you feel. Not that really you have lost that much but it can seem that way.

As others have said any insulin that you are using can be kept out of the fridge. Insulin does not like extremes of temperature but provided you are not working in a freezer or sauna all day you should be able to keep it with you.

Do talk to your GP or DSN if you continue to feel down - its quite common to feel this way when diagnosed and some clinics will refer you to counselling so that you can come to terms with the diagnosis.
 
Hope your day feels brighter this morning (((((((hugs)))))))
 
Hope you're feeling better today 🙂 X
 
Hey all,
Just wanted to say thank you for all your words of encouragement. I'm accepting that I'm having a c**p week with it and to be honest I'm just going to curl up and wallow for a bit before the weekend where I plan to stop whining, smile again and just get on with it!
Wanted to say thanks for the info with insulin and fridge - that will make it so much easier 🙂
Anyway I just wanted to say thank you. This site is a blessing for me and I appreciate the advice and support so much. Whoever came up with this site needs a medal!
 
grainger2b said:
Hey all,
Just wanted to say thank you for all your words of encouragement. I'm accepting that I'm having a c**p week with it and to be honest I'm just going to curl up and wallow for a bit before the weekend where I plan to stop whining, smile again and just get on with it!
Wanted to say thanks for the info with insulin and fridge - that will make it so much easier 🙂
Anyway I just wanted to say thank you. This site is a blessing for me and I appreciate the advice and support so much. Whoever came up with this site needs a medal!
Click to expand...

I hope that things look much brighter for you by the weekend 🙂

The site was set up by a lady who had had Type 1 for 35 years and never met another Type 1. As a result she knew how isolating it can be to not have other people to talk to and who would understand how she felt. At that time the main forums were American where they have lots in common, but lots of things are different - they don't have the NHS for a start and 35% of them have insulin pumps (about 4% of Type 1s have pumps here!), so she felt there was a need for a UK-based one...and she was right! :D
 
It's a brill site isn't it? 🙂 I know it's probably hard to believe now, but honestly, one day you will realise that the basics at least are becoming less like hard work...and once you've been diagnosed a while & things have settled down you should also get the chance to go on a DAFNE course (ask your DSN about it), which helps make managing life & diabetes less of a black art & gives you some useful rules to apply. It covers carb counting & dose adjusting, sick day rules, guidance for exercise, etc.

Are you on insulin pens? Before I was on the pump I just kept my long acting pen beside the bed & the quick acting (bolus) pen in my 'handbag'. Mini cans of coke are handy for hypos too - the sugar hits fast & I'm always grateful for the caffeine pep post hypo hehe! One final thing - sometimes when my sugar levels are off I notice it affects my mood - not just the frustration & tiredness from highs/lows but I suspect the fluctuations affect my mental outlook too...so the good news is hopefully as things calm down you'll feel much better - fingers crossed for you!

Wishing you all the best,

Twitchy xx
 
Its definitely a site that is teaching me loads and hearing the experiences of others who have coped with diabetes for year is really encouraging! My DSN has already mentioned DAFNE which she hopes I can do in a year if not sooner (she said my pancreas may decide to work on occasion for the next year so it's better to stabilise first... although she is keen to get me on basal/bolus and start doing small amounts of carb counting soon) she has realised I want to feel in control and I'm serious about getting on top of this sooner rather than later so I feel pretty lucky to have someone who is being proactive about it. We've already covered sick day rules and I've just been given advice on going back to the gym so i'm halfway there! 🙂
I'm on insulin pens, slowly getting used to injecting.. although still have to count myself down to make me do it! My issue at the moment is my fingers are sore as i'm testing minimum of 4 times a day plus before driving.

Thank you for all your support, I am feeling more positive today (probably because i've had 7.something all day 🙂)

I'm reading a lot of people have pumps, is this something that you would recommend in time? I gather it's not available to many people?

Thanks again 🙂

Hannah
 
I'd recommend a pump to anyone frankly (because they can deliver insulin in a way that mimics the (non-D) body far better than any basal/bolus regime) but they like you to come to understand a fair bit about your diabetes and how to adjust doses etc before you go down that track really.

It's very very early days for you. OTOH very young babies get em - which is great because only pumps can deliver the minte doses of insulin that such a tint person needs - and their parents have to 'come up to speed' in a very short space of time - so if they had a limitless supply of pumps, then no doubt they could fast-track anyone they wanted. Although childrens service and adults are funded separately, much as I wanted mine if they'd said 'Sorry - a baby needed the one that had your name on it' I'd have accepted it.

OTOH if they'd said, Oh we've given it to this girl who was diagnosed 3 weeks ago I'd have gone apeshit ! - I mean I don't think you should have to 'suffer' for 39 years and lump it, like I had to, but you'll probably understand my reaction!

Anything you learn now, would stand you in very good stead if you ever decided to go down the pump route. It's just as much work and everything as injections, except the injections - if that makes any sense! - and it has more useful features you can utilise that you haven't got with jabs.

Now why are your fingers sore? Have a read of this from Alan's blog

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/search?q=painless+pricks
 
Hi, just wanted to quickly say I wasnt in anyway suggesting I should receive a pump at this stage. I was just interested in knowing more about it.
Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.
 
Trophywench has pointed out that pumps have to be programmed and your body understood before they work appropriately. I would like to mention that as a T1 you have access to two amazing BG meters but only through your DSN. Ask about the Insulinx from Abbot and the Aviva Expert from Accu Check they are meters that do all the calculations for you and are life changing! Of course, like pumps they don't do the work FOR you, you have to work out your doses and ratios but from then on... magic!
 
Yes the DAFNE course is great , I was due to go on mine in my 1st year after getting T1 , but my nurse cancelled it becouse she thought it was to early , At the time I was mad at her but now I agree she was right , I went on it in my 3rd year and I learnt so much , but things that i could relate to as I had T1 for 3 years , and I got more from the course , in the first 2 years your head is so up side down , mad and upset with so many things , why you , why now , how etc , dealing with your new friend that is with you 24hrs and all your new T1 kit ,
you will get on top of it and you will get your life back .
 
Hi Hannah!

It sounds like you are one of the lucky ones with a good DSN, which is brill! 🙂 We all need good allies in our diabetic life!

Re the pump, you are asking the right questions & are very sensible to be trying to identify the best possible ways to stay healthy, don't ever feel bad for asking! (After all I suspect it's often a case of if you don't ask they won't offer!) The criteria are quite tight (I guess the bottom line is they are more expensive than insulin via pens etc) but the thing is if you need a pump, then you should get one! I'm a bit hazy on the exact criteria (suspect they may be on the Diabetes UK website) but I know if you had something called the Dawn Phenomenon, for example, you would be a good candidate. This where your sugar levels always rise quite dramatically from the wee small hours & there is simply no background insulin around which could match that profile, whereas a pump can be programmed to deal with it.

I guess it's still such early days it would be hard to tell what's going on yet, as you could still be experiencing that 'honeymoon' phase...but education is the key, knowing what's out there to help & knowing as much as you can about the condition. Not sure if anyone's recommended it already but "Think like a Pancreas" is a very good book, it will give you info on the day to day issues of life with insulin. Worth reading & having around for future reference! 🙂

Anyway, glad you're feeling better - it's great when the diabetes fairy behaves herself & we feel good isn't it?

Take care,

Twitchy x
 
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