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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
frustrated
- Thread starter Chez
- Start date
- Status
Hazel
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hiya, you may have seen my earlier post today.
I was eating the same and the readings were going up and up and I was becoming really depressed, if not worried about it.
My GP worked with me, diet, different meds, finally referred me to the hospital, and now insulin in the morning at pills at night
You might not be doing anything wrong, could be your pancreas, like mine needs a boost. Remember diabetes is a progressive illness.
Perhaps a long chat with your health care team would ease your mind, please don't just fret about it, ask questions of them.
Good luck
Hazel
I was eating the same and the readings were going up and up and I was becoming really depressed, if not worried about it.
My GP worked with me, diet, different meds, finally referred me to the hospital, and now insulin in the morning at pills at night
You might not be doing anything wrong, could be your pancreas, like mine needs a boost. Remember diabetes is a progressive illness.
Perhaps a long chat with your health care team would ease your mind, please don't just fret about it, ask questions of them.
Good luck
Hazel
Einstein
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi,
I think Hazel is right, so often for no reason things slip, nothing we've done wrong, just our body adjusting, changing, deciding it needs a change or something needs to be updated.
I'd suggest an appointment with your GP or DSN and I'd suggest you ask for a double appointment if its with your GP, 10 minutes just isn't long enough to go through and sort all of this out.
You'll get it sorted and on top of it again soon.
Good luck,
David
I think Hazel is right, so often for no reason things slip, nothing we've done wrong, just our body adjusting, changing, deciding it needs a change or something needs to be updated.
I'd suggest an appointment with your GP or DSN and I'd suggest you ask for a double appointment if its with your GP, 10 minutes just isn't long enough to go through and sort all of this out.
You'll get it sorted and on top of it again soon.
Good luck,
David
Hi Chez
Type I diabetes is difficult to control and there will be times when your control will slip. It does takes a lot of hard work looking after it and all of that effort does get extremely frustrating. I also think the longer that you've had it the more difficult that it becomes to keep that motivation. Accept that there will be times that it isn't all going to plan - I've never had "perfect" control despite my best efforts. Yet after 38 years of type 1 diabetes (and no major complications) I get told that a 7.8 HBAC1 is "good, not perfect but good" - which I've learnt to accept as to achieve this I'm still testing 10 times a day, doing multiple injections, a demanding career, migraines, gluacome etc - and part of that balance is accepting that diabetes is one of area of my life that I'm not "perfect" but that I do my best. You can't do any more than your best - and sometimes that "best" is about not focusing upon "perfect" control but upon your overall well being. But if you do find things too difficult/think that you may be beginning to suffer from depression please contact your GP and diabetic clinic ASAP to get all of the help and support that you can.
All the best. Amanda
Type I diabetes is difficult to control and there will be times when your control will slip. It does takes a lot of hard work looking after it and all of that effort does get extremely frustrating. I also think the longer that you've had it the more difficult that it becomes to keep that motivation. Accept that there will be times that it isn't all going to plan - I've never had "perfect" control despite my best efforts. Yet after 38 years of type 1 diabetes (and no major complications) I get told that a 7.8 HBAC1 is "good, not perfect but good" - which I've learnt to accept as to achieve this I'm still testing 10 times a day, doing multiple injections, a demanding career, migraines, gluacome etc - and part of that balance is accepting that diabetes is one of area of my life that I'm not "perfect" but that I do my best. You can't do any more than your best - and sometimes that "best" is about not focusing upon "perfect" control but upon your overall well being. But if you do find things too difficult/think that you may be beginning to suffer from depression please contact your GP and diabetic clinic ASAP to get all of the help and support that you can.
All the best. Amanda
this is what i find so frustrating. Im 27, i exercise 5x week, dont drink much, eat healthy, am healthy yet over the last year I have slipped.
i am under the care of a dietician and a nurse and we are looking at carbo counting again because we think that my carbo counting is a little outdated ( i have changed over 7 years) so i am trying to think objectively about what i am eating and how much to take while at the same time trying not to let my old existing ways of counting come into play. but even this is proving frustrating. I am just so tired of thinking about this so much. the more i try, the harder it gets..
i am under the care of a dietician and a nurse and we are looking at carbo counting again because we think that my carbo counting is a little outdated ( i have changed over 7 years) so i am trying to think objectively about what i am eating and how much to take while at the same time trying not to let my old existing ways of counting come into play. but even this is proving frustrating. I am just so tired of thinking about this so much. the more i try, the harder it gets..
Hi Chez
We all get burnt out from time to time. It is really frustrating when you can't find a reason for high blood sugars and whatever you do you can't get good control. Is there any pattern to the highs? Do they happen at a similar time of day or are you just high all the time?
What is the difference between your old and new ways of carb counting?
We all get burnt out from time to time. It is really frustrating when you can't find a reason for high blood sugars and whatever you do you can't get good control. Is there any pattern to the highs? Do they happen at a similar time of day or are you just high all the time?
What is the difference between your old and new ways of carb counting?
i do think i am really burnt out..
i have problems in the evenings and even if i do a high level exercise class, i almost have to increase my insulin dosage for dinner...
it may be my long acting is not convering me for the whole 24 hrs and thats why i have less control in the evenings.. we are trying the carbo counting bit first before fiddling with my insulin..
i generally look at a meal and i know in my head how much i need to take. In my head i also know that i have 5units for every carb portion. if i look at a meal closely and do the appropriate counting, it doesnt always work as 5 units to 1 carb so i need to relook at the way i count. it worked for me 4 years ago and i was more controlled but not right now...??
its a work in progress but i find it hard to keep motivated right now..
i have problems in the evenings and even if i do a high level exercise class, i almost have to increase my insulin dosage for dinner...
it may be my long acting is not convering me for the whole 24 hrs and thats why i have less control in the evenings.. we are trying the carbo counting bit first before fiddling with my insulin..
i generally look at a meal and i know in my head how much i need to take. In my head i also know that i have 5units for every carb portion. if i look at a meal closely and do the appropriate counting, it doesnt always work as 5 units to 1 carb so i need to relook at the way i count. it worked for me 4 years ago and i was more controlled but not right now...??
its a work in progress but i find it hard to keep motivated right now..
hellbell84
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
this thread is a breath of fresh air to me
im 25, been diagnosed 7 years, demanding career and eat healthier than pre diagnosis and still feel like its taking control of my life instead of the other way round
AJL, your post i can really relate to, when you hear your readings are good but could be better, it kind of kicks you back and you think "why do i bother?!!"
Chez, just wake up tomorrow start afresh, and keep testing, it may be that your long acting inslin may need tweaking, thats what happened to me
And remember whenever you feel low, come onto one of these forums and let it out!!! it really help to hear people are in the same boat as you
im 25, been diagnosed 7 years, demanding career and eat healthier than pre diagnosis and still feel like its taking control of my life instead of the other way round
AJL, your post i can really relate to, when you hear your readings are good but could be better, it kind of kicks you back and you think "why do i bother?!!"
Chez, just wake up tomorrow start afresh, and keep testing, it may be that your long acting inslin may need tweaking, thats what happened to me
And remember whenever you feel low, come onto one of these forums and let it out!!! it really help to hear people are in the same boat as you
Hi Chez
i find that diabetes is a bit like being tied up. often the harder i struggle to break away from it, the tighter i'm bound by it.
i would like to ask the questions below
1. are you testing regularly?
2. are you writing down your results?
3. are you you putting your diabetes first at the important times?
4. have you got a regular routine to most days?
back at the start of this year, i answered
1. are you testing regularly? - yes
2. are you writing down your results? - no
3. are you you putting your diabetes first at the important times? - no, i would put off injections and sometimes even forget them. sometimes i wouldn't test because i didn't want to see another high number!
4. have you got a regular routine to most days? - no, it seemed like no two days were alike
So I turned the no's into yes's.
2 and 3 were easy for me to get right but 4 took a bit of effort on my part. The writing of my results though, made getting into a regular routine a bit easier.
Just those small changes made a really big difference. My numbers got a lot better.
My December results were
41 tests
17 of these above 10.0
9 of these above 15.0
2 above 20.0
After making the changes listed above my results became a lot better and in about 5 weeks time my results had improved to the extent that only 10% of my results in a month were over 10.0
If you've done all that already
If you've already done this or if you find that despite doing these things, your numbers are still to high or generally too wayward, I would suggesting kicking out some of the carbs from your day.
You say you eat healthily but healthily can mean a lot of things.
I was on a high-carb and low fat diet before - 330g carbs and 50g fat a day - and whilst i was healthy i think that was as much by coincidence than anything else.
so now i've upped my fat and protein intake and lowered the carbs. i'm taking in roughly the same calories, maybe a little less. now I'm eating less than 30g carbs per meal, it's highly unlikely my sugar levels are going to get much higher than 8.0 very often.
when your blood sugars are being kept constantly below 7.0 or 8.0 you can't help but feel a pay off. I don't think anyone could argue that the body is meant to operate at sugar levels of much over 7.0, so if your levels are above this, it's an obvious reason for why you may not feel at your best.
i found that having my blood sugars rattling around all over the place (anywhere between 2.5 and sometimes over 12.5) was a really depressing experience. i became quite good at ignoring what was happening but that usually led to my results getting even worse.
if you decide to kick out some of the carbs, i would discuss this with your consultant. this is important because if you suddenly start to reduce carb values, you may not need as much long acting - this is what i've found. your consultant may be able to advise if or how you should change your long acting dose.
this is a bit long but i hope some of it is helpful to you Chez, and some of you guys who are in similar positions.
i find that diabetes is a bit like being tied up. often the harder i struggle to break away from it, the tighter i'm bound by it.
i would like to ask the questions below
1. are you testing regularly?
2. are you writing down your results?
3. are you you putting your diabetes first at the important times?
4. have you got a regular routine to most days?
back at the start of this year, i answered
1. are you testing regularly? - yes
2. are you writing down your results? - no
3. are you you putting your diabetes first at the important times? - no, i would put off injections and sometimes even forget them. sometimes i wouldn't test because i didn't want to see another high number!
4. have you got a regular routine to most days? - no, it seemed like no two days were alike
So I turned the no's into yes's.
2 and 3 were easy for me to get right but 4 took a bit of effort on my part. The writing of my results though, made getting into a regular routine a bit easier.
Just those small changes made a really big difference. My numbers got a lot better.
My December results were
41 tests
17 of these above 10.0
9 of these above 15.0
2 above 20.0
After making the changes listed above my results became a lot better and in about 5 weeks time my results had improved to the extent that only 10% of my results in a month were over 10.0
If you've done all that already
If you've already done this or if you find that despite doing these things, your numbers are still to high or generally too wayward, I would suggesting kicking out some of the carbs from your day.
You say you eat healthily but healthily can mean a lot of things.
I was on a high-carb and low fat diet before - 330g carbs and 50g fat a day - and whilst i was healthy i think that was as much by coincidence than anything else.
so now i've upped my fat and protein intake and lowered the carbs. i'm taking in roughly the same calories, maybe a little less. now I'm eating less than 30g carbs per meal, it's highly unlikely my sugar levels are going to get much higher than 8.0 very often.
when your blood sugars are being kept constantly below 7.0 or 8.0 you can't help but feel a pay off. I don't think anyone could argue that the body is meant to operate at sugar levels of much over 7.0, so if your levels are above this, it's an obvious reason for why you may not feel at your best.
i found that having my blood sugars rattling around all over the place (anywhere between 2.5 and sometimes over 12.5) was a really depressing experience. i became quite good at ignoring what was happening but that usually led to my results getting even worse.
if you decide to kick out some of the carbs, i would discuss this with your consultant. this is important because if you suddenly start to reduce carb values, you may not need as much long acting - this is what i've found. your consultant may be able to advise if or how you should change your long acting dose.
this is a bit long but i hope some of it is helpful to you Chez, and some of you guys who are in similar positions.
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Hi Chez
I am sure you know, but you can test your long acting insulin by having carb free meals for 1 day and seeing what happens to your sugars. Some people find it helps to split their long acting insulin.
Also, I have found that sometimes exercise can make me high instead of low. Someone explained it a while back on here. It pushes your sugars up initially if you have not got enough insulin circulating I think, then you might be low later on especially if you inject a correction dose which you shouldn't do.
I am sure you know, but you can test your long acting insulin by having carb free meals for 1 day and seeing what happens to your sugars. Some people find it helps to split their long acting insulin.
Also, I have found that sometimes exercise can make me high instead of low. Someone explained it a while back on here. It pushes your sugars up initially if you have not got enough insulin circulating I think, then you might be low later on especially if you inject a correction dose which you shouldn't do.
gerryberry
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
1997! That was very helpful and very well explained in a way that is easily understood, THANKS! I am having trouble controlling my bs also and it really does get you down and I hate testing etc for all the same reasons. Well said, great help to me anyway!
thanks Gerry
sometimes i post things and then think "i bet that will be of no use to anyone". it's nice to know that some of this is useful. thanks for the kind words and if it helps you out at all that means so much more.
i think a little more can be said for the low carb diet. i was thinking about it today and thought how it's like trying to hit a target with a rifle.
with insulin you're trying to hit a target level. the more carbs you eat the more insulin you need. for small ranges you're going to have a much better chance of hitting the target than if you're a long way back from it.
similarly with hitting your target sugar levels, you've got a far better chance of hitting the target levels if your carbs and insulin are small amounts.
sometimes i post things and then think "i bet that will be of no use to anyone". it's nice to know that some of this is useful. thanks for the kind words and if it helps you out at all that means so much more.
i think a little more can be said for the low carb diet. i was thinking about it today and thought how it's like trying to hit a target with a rifle.
with insulin you're trying to hit a target level. the more carbs you eat the more insulin you need. for small ranges you're going to have a much better chance of hitting the target than if you're a long way back from it.
similarly with hitting your target sugar levels, you've got a far better chance of hitting the target levels if your carbs and insulin are small amounts.
hellbell84
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
i agree with gerryberry, thanks for that info 1997
x
x
That happened to me!
Hi Chez - I am a T1 for 35 years and about 10 years ago (after 25 years) everything went nuts and I felt exactly the way you are. I hadn't changed anything but it all went weird and made me sooooo frustrated and cross and angry and I have never had a problem with being diabetic - I have always considered it a part of who I am. But what was once second nature became second guessing - eventually it resulted in my bolus being split which has been brilliant - but now it is all changing again due to pregnancy! Hopefully with a few changes/experiments it will be sorted - bare with it and it will become second nature again! I promise hon xx
Hi Chez - I am a T1 for 35 years and about 10 years ago (after 25 years) everything went nuts and I felt exactly the way you are. I hadn't changed anything but it all went weird and made me sooooo frustrated and cross and angry and I have never had a problem with being diabetic - I have always considered it a part of who I am. But what was once second nature became second guessing - eventually it resulted in my bolus being split which has been brilliant - but now it is all changing again due to pregnancy! Hopefully with a few changes/experiments it will be sorted - bare with it and it will become second nature again! I promise hon xx
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