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PlainJane

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Hi, I'm new here. I've been reading through the threads for the last 5 hours (jeez) but cannot find any links to what I am looking for (if I am wrong and they are here, please point me in the right direction).

My sister, 24, has Type 1 Diabetes. She was diagnosed over 10 years ago and handled it very well up until a few months ago. The last few months though, have been a minefield of highs & lows and ups & downs.

On a day to day basis she doesn't look after herself properly (eats c**p, has insulin as and when she feels like it), but she just about gets by (although who knows what long term damage she is doing). However, my main concern is her excessive drinking on the weekends. She drinks sugary drinks, in excess for anyone, diabetic or not. She gets absolutely obliterated, doesn't remember a thing the next day, shows little remorse, then spends the rest of the week in a foul mood with barely any energy.

I'm worried something terrible is going to happen to her soon (quite frankly I can't believe it hasn't already). Is this common amongst diabetics of this age or gender? Is there anyway I can help her? Someone I can talk to, or she can talk to? Basically any advice will be most appreciated...
 
Sorry to hear this @PlainJane. It sounds like a classic case of diabetes burnout to me. You may find talking to the Diabetes UK helpline useful - details here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/helpline

When you say 'excessive drinking' are you referring to sugary drinks? Or alcoholic?
 
Sorry to hear this @PlainJane. It sounds like a classic case of diabetes burnout to me. You may find talking to the Diabetes UK helpline useful - details here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/helpline

When you say 'excessive drinking' are you referring to sugary drinks? Or alcoholic?

Thank you - I will contact them today.

With regards to the excessive drinking its both - sugary alcoholic drinks like flavoured ciders are her favourite, followed by several vodkas and lemonade. I'm not sure if it's the alcohol or her levels, but after the excessive drinking she changes completely, she's really loud and out of control, she can be quite rude and incoherent. And then the next day she says she doesn't remember any of it (although I do sometimes suspect this is more of a cop out). Things are getting quite bad now though, losing personal items, being bought home by the police, upsetting friends and family. I just want to try and help before it gets worse!
 
Hi, I knew someone who was T2 but on insulin and behaved in exactly the same way in terms of bad diet/alcohol, then the personality change. I assumed that her sugar levels were so through the roof that her mood swings were like the worst pmt ever. I don’t know about burnout but denial is what I called it. She only improved when she fell in love and decided life was worth living.....
 
Yes, denial. :( Like my family. We're not nasty or anything like that, being older, but definitely turning a blind eye to the D. It's as if it isn't happening. Occasionally my long term diabetic sister does pull up short, like two bites of PoundShop trifle and then she'll say "oh that's far too sweet for me" but normally none of them give the D a second thought. Your sister is very young, she might yet see the error of her ways but it has to be herself I think, you can't do it for them. I've given over lecturing especially when with me it's all pot/kettle. :(
 
Yes, denial. :( Like my family. We're not nasty or anything like that, being older, but definitely turning a blind eye to the D. It's as if it isn't happening. Occasionally my long term diabetic sister does pull up short, like two bites of PoundShop trifle and then she'll say "oh that's far too sweet for me" but normally none of them give the D a second thought. Your sister is very young, she might yet see the error of her ways but it has to be herself I think, you can't do it for them. I've given over lecturing especially when with me it's all pot/kettle. :(

Yes I think having everyone asking her has she done her insulin, how are her levels etc can be quite annoying. I try to take a different approach but it is becoming quite alarming with the states she is getting herself into. She's on trial for a pump now so fingers crossed this will help to keep her levels steady and we will start to see an improvement.
 
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