New and Struggling...

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KerryElizabeth

KerryElizabeth

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Uhh... Hey everyone. I'm really really shy so this may be a bit rambly... Sorry 😛

So I got diagnosed with Type 1 on the 2nd of November, and at the moment am really struggling to come to terms with it and struggling with the change in my life. I'm only 17 and I know that people get it much younger than me, but I've always been really emotional and sensitive. I guess I don't like the fact that I feel like I'm losing control over my life.

I'm only on two injections a day right now but go up to four on Friday (which isn't fun with a phobia of needles 😉 )

It's nice to meet you all though 🙂
 
Hi KerryElizabeth, welcome to the forum 🙂 No need to be shy, people here are very friendly 🙂

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it must have been quite a shock and it will take a while for it all to sink in. The good news is that diabetes these days can be managed very well, and they are making new advances in treatments all the time, so things are much easier than they used to be. You'll find things are much more flexible when you go onto four injections, so it is a good move for you. We've got lots of people here around your age or who have been through this at your age, so please do ask anything that may be troubling or confusing you and someone is bound to be able to help!

I would 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 - your local library may have a copy. Also, look in the Useful links thread for links to some, erm, useful information! 🙂

How were you diagnosed?
 
I'd been feeling "not quite right" for a while, and was drinking so much during a day that my dad could barely afford to keep getting drinks in (although I only drink no added sugar fruit squash, luckily lol). We thought this was just stress related, but after a few months I lost three stone despite eating the same amount as usual and doing the same amount of exercise.

My dad made me an appointment with my GP who did a finger prick test and my blood sugar level came up as 25.5 so made an emergency appointment with the diabetes centre here in Ipswich, who did a proper in-arm blood testy thing, and tested for ketones. My glucose level was 17.8 and my ketones were at 4+...

Thank you for the recommendation on the books 🙂 Honestly it's all so overwhelming. I feel like I have to learn so much so quickly, so this will definitely help
 
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Welcome to the forums KerryElizabeth 🙂
 
Kerry hi and a warm welcome to the forum,sorry to you have to be here though, theres quite a few people on here who were diagnosed in there teens and have been through some of the struggles you are now,often adding them to facebook or MSN may help as you wont feel so alone
 
There's a lot to learn, it's true, but for now you can just concentrate on the essentials and pick things up as you go along. The main things to remember are to always take your insulin when you are supposed to, and always carry some sweets or a sugary drink with you in case your blood sugar levels fall low. Really, the main impact on my life was that I had to start thinking ahead a bit more so that I was prepared for things, which isn't such a bad thing. Do you know anyone else with diabetes?
 
Hiya Kerry , I am new here too , Lots of good information on here , Hope you get sorted quickly x
 
Thank you for the warm welcome everyone 🙂

Sadly the only other people I know who have diabetes don't take care of it or themselves. They eat as much as they want, when they want, and how they want, which is usually cakes or sweets, and barely ever inject or take their glucose levels. They end up in intensive care all the time because of it =/
 
Welcome from me......

its perfectly normal to be feeling like this so early from diagnosis, but it will eventually become part of normal life....

So dont bottle your feelings up, just speak to us on here, we all know what your going through......

How are you finding the injections with you alleged phobia.....?😉

4+ injections [MDI] is the best way to manage diabetes, with exception to the pump.....

Are you aware of carb counting.....?
 
KerryElizabeth said:
Thank you for the warm welcome everyone 🙂

Sadly the only other people I know who have diabetes don't take care of it or themselves. They eat as much as they want, when they want, and how they want, which is usually cakes or sweets, and barely ever inject or take their glucose levels. They end up in intensive care all the time because of it =/
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That's a shame, they are their own worst enemies :( You have to respect diabetes and look after yourself and if you do then it becomes a minor part of your life eventually. You've made a good move by joining here because it shows that you are keen to learn how to minimise its impact and manage it well - good for you! 🙂 As one of our members says in her signature, 'Well-controlled diabetes is the major cause of absolutely nothing!' :D
 
Thank you very much.

The injections to be honest are easier than I thought they would be. I'm using the smallest needle at the moment since I'm only tiny (being 5'2'' and only 7st5lbs), so they're pretty painless. It's the finger pricking that gets me *shudders* I hesitate occasionally but am getting better 🙂

I'm not aware of carb counting. I've got my first meeting with my dietitian next week, but have just been told to have a small amount of carbohydrate with every meal but do not have too much. The equivalent of three small potatoes?... Something like that... Apparently they'll go through the carb counting and the matching of insulin when I go up to four injections daily.

I was talking to my best friend about how much I was struggling and he suggested joining here, after doing some research for me, so I really appreciate his help 🙂 I'm just scared something's going to go wrong, because even though I'm on my insulin, my glucose levels are still 12-16...
 
I wish you luck when the time comes, you will pick it up no bother, especially with all us experts cheering you on..........:D
 
KerryElizabeth said:
Uhh... Hey everyone. I'm really really shy so this may be a bit rambly... Sorry 😛

So I got diagnosed with Type 1 on the 2nd of November, and at the moment am really struggling to come to terms with it and struggling with the change in my life. I'm only 17 and I know that people get it much younger than me, but I've always been really emotional and sensitive. I guess I don't like the fact that I feel like I'm losing control over my life.

I'm only on two injections a day right now but go up to four on Friday (which isn't fun with a phobia of needles 😉 )

It's nice to meet you all though 🙂
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Aaawww bless yor heart Kerry, I do feel for you, it's such a traumatic time for you right now, but honestly, it will get better in time. I have had Type 1 for 22 years and we now have a 3 yr old in the family, diagnosed Type 1 on June 1st:( Try not to worry too much, and get all the help and advice you can. How are your parents coping with the news? Best wishes Sheenax
 
Thank you again 🙂

I'm really sorry for the three year old :( That's so young... But at least they'll have great advice from you 🙂

My mum seems to be trying to help as much as possible (but she's not around much), and getting in all sorts of healthy foods for me. My dad feels mostly guilty. He's in the "why couldn't it have been me instead" stage and just keeps crying because he didn't want it to happen to me... I feel awful because I don't know how to help him. I think my younger brother is taking it the hardest. He's 12 and he just keeps crying because he's scared I'm going to die or something, but he's been very good and keeps taking sweets away from me if I get tempted haha.
 
KerryElizabeth said:
Thank you very much.

The injections to be honest are easier than I thought they would be. I'm using the smallest needle at the moment since I'm only tiny (being 5'2'' and only 7st5lbs), so they're pretty painless. It's the finger pricking that gets me *shudders* I hesitate occasionally but am getting better 🙂

I'm not aware of carb counting. I've got my first meeting with my dietitian next week, but have just been told to have a small amount of carbohydrate with every meal but do not have too much. The equivalent of three small potatoes?... Something like that... Apparently they'll go through the carb counting and the matching of insulin when I go up to four injections daily.

I was talking to my best friend about how much I was struggling and he suggested joining here, after doing some research for me, so I really appreciate his help 🙂 I'm just scared something's going to go wrong, because even though I'm on my insulin, my glucose levels are still 12-16...
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Kerry, it's very early days yet and the nurses will still be working on getting the right doses of insulin for you, so don't worry that your levels are still a little on the high side. It's actually better that your numbers come down more gradually as this puts less stress on you, plus it's better at this stage to be higher rather than having problems with low blood sugar levels. Once you move over to four injections and get your instruction about carb counting you'll have much greater control and start to understand things much more. Remember you can ask anything here - no question is considered 'silly', so there'll always be someone to explain things and set your mind at ease 🙂
 
It seems your the only one coping............😉

Once you get the basics in your head your family will see you have it under control and there is nothing to worry about, but more importantly, you can have the food and sweets they have..............🙂
 
That's relieved me a little bit haha. Thank you. I do actually have a question... I work voluntarily part time at a farm, and as soon as I told them I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, they said that they'd have to discuss whether or not to keep me on working with them. Are they actually allowed to fire me because of it?...

I can't wait to be stable and eating normally again. Dad's said once I'm stable and stuff, he'll treat me to a small bar of chocolate to celebrate haha
 
KerryElizabeth said:
That's relieved me a little bit haha. Thank you. I do actually have a question... I work voluntarily part time at a farm, and as soon as I told them I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, they said that they'd have to discuss whether or not to keep me on working with them. Are they actually allowed to fire me because of it?...

I can't wait to be stable and eating normally again. Dad's said once I'm stable and stuff, he'll treat me to a small bar of chocolate to celebrate haha
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Your employer should be doing things to accommodate you. Otherwise they would be breaching the disability discrimination act, even though its not actually a disability........

the main thing to consider is that you will know more about the condition than them, so they cant tell you how your condition would negatively effect them..............

Anyway, its voluntary work..........your a dong them a favour.......

the only risks are that of low blood sugar due to manual labour, but you will told about hypo treatments soon, and you can carry some sugar about with you....
 
KerryElizabeth said:
That's relieved me a little bit haha. Thank you. I do actually have a question... I work voluntarily part time at a farm, and as soon as I told them I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, they said that they'd have to discuss whether or not to keep me on working with them. Are they actually allowed to fire me because of it?...

I can't wait to be stable and eating normally again. Dad's said once I'm stable and stuff, he'll treat me to a small bar of chocolate to celebrate haha
Click to expand...

They may have some misconceptions about what it means to have Type 1 diabetes - really it shouldn't affect your ability to do anything, although you will have to make sure that your blood sugar levels are not low if you operate any machinery. I'm sure the exercise will do you good - exercise is very beneficial for people with diabetes. I was a marathon runner before I was diagnosed and I still run, and I think it really helps keep me healthy and my diabetes is well under control.

People with diabetes are protected by the law (the Disability and Equality Act), so an employer has to make 'reasonable adjustments' to allow you to continue working - things like allowing you to take time to test your blood or treat low blood sugar levels etc. I'm not sure how things apply in voluntary work, but as I say, it's probably that they don't really understand what diabetes is.
 
So you think if I talk to them about it and explain everything clearly, it should be okay to continue working there? I'd hate for them to fire me because of it... I need to work there for my college course.
 
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