Having a good cry tonight..

[Lizzy78]

There's nothing wrong with having a good cry now and again, as long as it is now and again, and you don't let it take over your life

No one knows exactly why, but people with diabetes are more prone to depression/worry/anxiety or a feeling of looking over your shoulder all the time, but you're not quite sure what for

Once you're aware of this, worrying about being worried becomes less worrying, and you can start to do something about it

Thanks zuludog.

I do tend to worry about things a bit more than the average person, but I won't let it take over my life. I have lots of support aswell, which is all I can ask for (well apart from a new pancreas).

 

[Lizzy78]

Hi Lizzy. It's a big shock at first but it'll definitely become routine and soon you'll be managing it without even thinking about it. 🙂 I've been told 🙄 I'm a bit of a whittler but I'm just an ordinary person with T1 and in 32 years can honestly say it's never stopped me from doing anything. From sky diving in New Zealand, Inter-Railing across Europe, music festivals, cycling every week, bringing up my two lovely daughters to normal 'boring' everyday things like going to work and shopping etc.

Keep posting and asking questions or having a rant or celebrating successes as most of us will have been there at one time or another. 🙂

Hi Matt. Thanks for your kind words. That's good to know that you have not let it stop you living your life. That was one of my main concerns, I like to walk, play some sports, and only recently started some introductory hillwalking. So I have no real idea where to start with those kinds of activities, because even some basic physical activity at the moment - housework, walking to the shops, is making my levels drop a little. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it all eventually when I find out how my body reacts to everything.

 

[Carlos]

Thanks zuludog.

I do tend to worry about things a bit more than the average person, but I won't let it take over my life. I have lots of support aswell, which is all I can ask for (well apart from a new pancreas).

That's the right attitude, you are not diabetic, you have diabetes, if you see what I mean.

 

[Lizzy78]

That's the right attitude, you are not diabetic, you have diabetes, if you see what I mean.

Thanks Carlos. I know exactly what you mean. If I can get the mindset right then hopefully it makes things easier.

 

[zuludog]

LIZZY78 - here are a couple of suggestions for starting hillwalking

You'll probably like this website - www.walkingforum.co.uk

Get the Ordnance Survey map of the area where you live, even if it's a town or city, or a fairly flat district. Then you will start to see how features are shown on a map, estimate distances, find interesting features, and make up your own routes. This will all be useful when you go to higher and more remote country. it will also enable you to judge your own fitness and capability An Explorer will show more detail, so get that for your own area, but a Landranger is OK once you've got used to hiking
This is a good supplier for maps - www.dash4it.co.uk
Most towns have odd historic features, like old houses, churches, and pubs; why not do a walk to see them; you've probably known about them for years but never got round to it; now's your chance!

Search YouTube for 'starting hiking' and 'starting hillwalking' As with many things on YT, the videos might not be exactly what you want and/or might be American, but it is all useful homework

Start out easy and take plenty of food including sweets, biscuits, & chocolate in case you get hypos. In fact this will probably help you to recognise the onset of a hypo. Info & advice on what to wear is easy to find, but a hot drink is a good idea for this time of the year

You could take a meter and test to see how your blood glucose drops with distance & exercise

I was diagnosed 20 years ago and still go hiking & backpacking.

 

[Lizzy78]

Zuludog

That's awesome, thank you so much. I live in Scotland, and the week before I ended up in hospital, i had just done my first wee hill, Ben A'An. (I now know why I struggled so much with it as my blood sugars were through the roof). So as I say I was just at the starting out stage, so my plan was to start doing some walks around say a country park, were there are plenty people and I can sit down and check my sugars. Hopefully once I get a handle on what to do, I can start looking at the hills again.

 

[zuludog]

That's the idea. Once you've got used to the country park you could try the easier , earlier stretches of the West Highland Way in the spring

 

[Lizzy78]

That's the idea. Once you've got used to the country park you could try the easier , earlier stretches of the West Highland Way in the spring

That's definitely the plan going forward. I have a whole load of new walking clothes that have only been worn once, and I aim to get the use of them!

 

[eggyg]

Hi Matt. Thanks for your kind words. That's good to know that you have not let it stop you living your life. That was one of my main concerns, I like to walk, play some sports, and only recently started some introductory hillwalking. So I have no real idea where to start with those kinds of activities, because even some basic physical activity at the moment - housework, walking to the shops, is making my levels drop a little. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it all eventually when I find out how my body reacts to everything.

I am a regular fell walker and am lucky enough to live in Cumbria so often pop to the Lake District and climb a Wainwright or three. My avatar pic was taken on my 58th birthday this year at my second Wainwright of the day, I did three altogether. I refuse to let my condition stop me doing what I want, it just takes some thought. I was wearing a Freestyle Libre that day, a constant glucose monitor which I self fund on occasion, and I had a pocket full of jelly babies! Spontaneity doesn’t play a big part in my life or any other diabetic, but you get used to it, it’s all about being organised and as a self confessed control freak it suits me down to the ground! You are possible still in the honeymoon period where your pancreas is still spluttering out some insulin which may explain the lows you are getting, also I would imagine you are on a set amount of insulin at the moment, that will be tweaked when you learn how to carb count, I am getting ahead of myself here but wanted you to know it won’t always be like that, I don’t want you to loose confidence in doing things you enjoy. Believe me, a few months down the line you will be almost an expert! 🙂

 

[Lizzy78]

I am a regular fell walker and am lucky enough to live in Cumbria so often pop to the Lake District and climb a Wainwright or three. My avatar pic was taken on my 58th birthday this year at my second Wainwright of the day, I did three altogether. I refuse to let my condition stop me doing what I want, it just takes some thought. I was wearing a Freestyle Libre that day, a constant glucose monitor which I self fund on occasion, and I had a pocket full of jelly babies! Spontaneity doesn’t play a big part in my life or any other diabetic, but you get used to it, it’s all about being organised and as a self confessed control freak it suits me down to the ground! You are possible still in the honeymoon period where your pancreas is still spluttering out some insulin which may explain the lows you are getting, also I would imagine you are on a set amount of insulin at the moment, that will be tweaked when you learn how to carb count, I am getting ahead of myself here but wanted you to know it won’t always be like that, I don’t want you to loose confidence in doing things you enjoy. Believe me, a few months down the line you will be almost an expert! 🙂

I was going to ask you last night what hill that was in your avatar pic! And you're definitely right, I just need to put myself out there and try things and see what works for me. My DSN told me I was probably in my honeymoon period, so a lot still to take into consideration. But I love being outdoors so much, so not going to let it dampen my spirits. How does the libre work then? Can you buy it for a certain time period or for certain activities. My DSN said I might qualify for one within the next year through the NHS.

 

[eggyg]

I was going to ask you last night what hill that was in your avatar pic! And you're definitely right, I just need to put myself out there and try things and see what works for me. My DSN told me I was probably in my honeymoon period, so a lot still to take into consideration. But I love being outdoors so much, so not going to let it dampen my spirits. How does the libre work then? Can you buy it for a certain time period or for certain activities. My DSN said I might qualify for one within the next year through the NHS.

The sensor costs about £50 as does the reader which is a one off, I do believe you can read the sensors with a phone but that’s beyond my paygrade! The sensors last for 2 weeks, as long as you don’t knock them off. There’s loads on the forum about them, just put Libre in the search link or google it. I don’t think I would qualify not that I have asked, I can afford it and would rather the kids who need it got it first. I don’t use one all the time as I am quite confident in my carb counting/insulin dose ability and my Hba1c is pretty good. I also love being outside and my hubby and I walk for miles, we don’t always do fells, my hubby has had 6 heart attacks and we are now retired so he loves to walk to help with his fitness. It doesn’t matter that it takes us probably 3 times longer than “ normal” folks to climb a fell or walk around a lake, it’s not a race, a bit like diabetes, I’m sure you will have been told it’s a marathon not a sprint! Good luck. 🙂

 

[Lizzy78]

The sensor costs about £50 as does the reader which is a one off, I do believe you can read the sensors with a phone but that’s beyond my paygrade! The sensors last for 2 weeks, as long as you don’t knock them off. There’s loads on the forum about them, just put Libre in the search link or google it. I don’t think I would qualify not that I have asked, I can afford it and would rather the kids who need it got it first. I don’t use one all the time as I am quite confident in my carb counting/insulin dose ability and my Hba1c is pretty good. I also love being outside and my hubby and I walk for miles, we don’t always do fells, my hubby has had 6 heart attacks and we are now retired so he loves to walk to help with his fitness. It doesn’t matter that it takes us probably 3 times longer than “ normal” folks to climb a fell or walk around a lake, it’s not a race, a bit like diabetes, I’m sure you will have been told it’s a marathon not a sprint! Good luck. 🙂

Cheers for the info regarding the libre, will have a look for some more info.

And I have similar thoughts, I walk to relax and enjoy myself, not to race. I'm sure I will get there.

 

[SB2015]

so my plan was to start doing some walks around say a country park, were there are plenty people and I can sit down and check my sugars. Hopefully once I get a handle on what to do, I can start looking at the hills again.

A nice sit mat in your bag/back pack gives you a dry place to sit and do your blood test.

If you feel hypo stop straight away and test. Better to catch it early than try to keep going.
If you are hypo make sure you wait a while, and get BGs back up.
I carry a book and/or sketch book and give myself time.

 

[zuludog]

That's definitely the plan going forward. I have a whole load of new walking clothes that have only been worn once, and I aim to get the use of them!

I hear they sometimes get snow in Scotland. You might just need your hiking boots & clothes to go to the shops

 

[Lizzy78]

A nice sit mat in your bag/back pack gives you a dry place to sit and do your blood test.

If you feel hypo stop straight away and test. Better to catch it early than try to keep going.
If you are hypo make sure you wait a while, and get BGs back up.
I carry a book and/or sketch book and give myself time.

Good advice, a sitting mat is something I haven't invested in!

 

[Lizzy78]

I hear they sometimes get snow in Scotland. You might just need your hiking boots & clothes to go to the shops

This is a true story! It's been blowing a gale all night!

 

[SB2015]

Good advice, a sitting mat is something I haven't invested in!

Mine moves from back pack to bag as necessary, and makes a hypo a lot more comfortable!!

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Mine moves from back pack to bag as necessary, and makes a hypo a lot more comfortable!!

I need to get one of these, great idea, thanks!

 

[Lizzy78]

Definitely going to invest in one too!