I'm new too and I'm struggling

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Beckag87

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello,

My name is Rebecca (Becks) and I'm 24. I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic when I was 19, in the middle of my gap year.

I didn't have any support at university and my family still don't really understand anything about diabetes or how it is controlled. University life was hard with diabetes and I really struggled.

I graduated last year from Warwick, with the offer of a very good job in London. I started in September last year (2010). 2011 has been plagued by illness. I've had 2 bouts of Pneumonia and 5 kidney infections. In total, I've spent about 8 weeks in hospital.

I've now just been diagnosed with small fibre neuropathy (nerve damage) and am at my wits end. I'm trying to cope with it all but it's been a hard year.

To top it all off, my boyfriend and I went our separate ways yesterday, not only tough in itself but also because he seemed to be the only person who took an interest in my diabetes.

Apologies, not a very happy hello but desperately trying to find something to take this feeling away. I can't stop crying and I don't know how to move forward.

Becks
 
Welcome Becks.

It's tough getting diagnosed as a young adult, and even more confusing when juggling life at university and life at home, with potentially 2 lots of GPs and hospital clinics involved.

However, now you're established in London, what's your GP and hospital situation like? Have you ever had any carbohydrate counting education? DAFNE is the best known for people with type 1 diabetes, but some hospital clinics run their own versions with other names. Definitely worth asking about that at your clinic - and your employer may be willing to give you time off, as there is good evidence that a week at DAFNE means less time off for illness in the future. If there's no prospect of a carb counting course in the near future, then there are online courses available.

Sorry to hear about split from boyfriend - never a nice thing to happen.
 
Hello Becks, welcome to the forum. (((((have a hug)))))))))
Many congratulations on your graduation and super dooper job. 🙂
Sorry to hear you are struggling with your diabetes though.
As Copepod say's regarding getting help for yourself.

Take one day at a time and things will come right sooner rather than later.
You have a forum family now though as we have adopted you :D We all know what it's like when going through a bad patch so all the help and support you need will be given.
 
Hi Becks, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear that you have been struggling, and also the problems you have had communicating your concerns with your family. There are hundreds of lovely, friendly and very knowledgeable people here who understand just how you are feeling, so you can talk about your diabetes here as much as you like!

What insulin regime are you on? Have you had regular contact with a clinic and frequent checks? Do you know what your last HbA1c test was? I would suggest having a look in our Useful links thread in the Type 1 section and also at the general links in there that may give you some good suggestions for diet and other avenues of support. There is a very good organisation for 18-30 year olds called Circle D that have lots of social events, so definitely worth looking up, plus an organisation called North London Young Diabetics (find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/115827781765066/ ). Also, I would highly recommend getting a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults by Ragnar Hanas. It will explain everything you need to know about living with Type 1. Well, maybe not everything, but for those things it doesn't, you have us! 🙂

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have - nothing is considered 'silly', so if it is bothering you or confusing you, please ask 🙂
 
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Welcome to the forums Becks 🙂
 
Welcome necks and sending a big hug...everything will feel so much tougher at the mo because of your break up .... Another big hug 🙂
 
Hello Becks, what a tough time it is for you. You have the normal youngsters problems and Diabetes on top. There is always a friendly ear on the forum, so if you want a chat, or to discuss your Diabetes, someone will respond for sure.🙂
 
Hi Becks hope you are ok. Sounds like you have had a bad time, Good luck with things 😎
 
Hi Becks. Welcome 🙂

Certainly sounds like a tough time you've been having. Just the stress alone can mess with your BGs.

I hope we can help you to find your way to more stable control. Is the neuropathy and the other illnesses due to erratic levels or did they come out of the blue ?

Rob
 
Welcome to the forum Becks, you are amongst friends here many of whom are very experienced at dealing with the different brickbats that diabetes can throw at you.

Andy 🙂
 
Hi Becks,

Sorry you are having such a rough time. I'm 23 and live in London too - there are lots of people around this age with type 1 in London. Come along to a North London Young Diabetics meet if you can 🙂 the next one is on Weds 14th Dec at a bar in central London.

Let me know if you want to chat or anything, happy to give you my email/facebook details 🙂

Siobhan x
 
hi and welcome from me too x take up shivs contact offer shes great x🙂
 
Hi Becks,

Just to reflect what the others have said too...welcome to the forum, and sorry you are going through such a tough time.

There are plenty of people on here to talk to or just to rant and ask questions - someone will always have something useful or to cheer you up.

Just please make sure you do talk to someone....things can seem a million times worse when they're all bottled up inside your head.

Circle D and North London Diabetics groups on facebook are very, very good ways to get some face-to-face support and get a whole support network of lots of people you're own age.

Good luck.,
 
Welcome to the forum Becks, I hope you are feeling much happier soon 🙂
We will always be here for you whenever you need us xx
 
Hi

Hey Becks

Sorry to hear what you've been going through in the last year not been the best hey?

Welcome to this site and i hope you manage to get loads of support and advise here! I've found it helpful and some nice people to chat to which helps as everyone is in that diabeties boat so to speak..

I've only just found out i'm type one so cant offer much help or advise at the moment compared to others here..

But your not alone remember that..

Ant🙂
 
Hi Robster,

The neuropathy etc came out of the blue, although since I have been ill this summer my control has been a bit all over the place.

It's great to have so much support on here. I feel that because I am the only person in my family with diabetes that no one understands!

Thank you for your kind words
 
That's what we're here for !:D

I would urge you to take up Shiv's suggestion of going along to the meet tomorrow if you can. I'm sure someone could find out the venue, etc for you if you were keen.

Or you can go onto Shiv's profile (click on her avatar) and email her for details.

Meeting face to face with a lot of experienced T1s could make a huge difference to your control. There's a lot of 'secret' tips that doctors & nurses don't always know about 😉:D

Rob
 
Beckag87 said:
Hi Robster,

The neuropathy etc came out of the blue, although since I have been ill this summer my control has been a bit all over the place.

It's great to have so much support on here. I feel that because I am the only person in my family with diabetes that no one understands!

Thank you for your kind words
Click to expand...

Hi Beckag87

I am also 24 and new to the forum and have a long list of problems that I have documented on here already!😉 LOL. I live quite close to London and am from London myself.

I am so sorry you have had such a tough year but seriously you have done so well getting through Uni and getting a good job! You should be so proud of yourself for that, I really mean it! I'm really sorry about your break up, you sound like you really, really need a break at the moment!

I also know what its like feeling like your letting employers down I've had some really understanding ones and not so understanding ones when it has come to my diabetes.

I think I was lucky being diagnosed at 10 as my mum took on a lot of what I was being told but the rest of my family like yours had no idea about diabetes and saw it as you do an injection and your fine and trying to convince them otherwise is still an on going battle! If I hypo on boxing day when we're all in the same room my mum normally jumps to attention before I have had a chance to do anything my self LOL but one of my aunt rolls her eyes at me as if to say "get on with it no one wants to here about this" she also causes a huge stink if round there on xmas day and I mention that eating at 3pm is not an option for me. So I understand what a pain in the a**s families can be😛!

You've come to the right the place as I have found out there are a lot really wonderful people on here all ready to listen and help if you if you ask.

Let me know if you want to chat happy to give you my email add if you want it!

Kay XX
 
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