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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.
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Newbie
- Thread starter soph2001
- Start date
- Status
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @soph2001 🙂 How long have you had Type 1? Yes, it can make you feel a bit different, but I’ve found that as people around you get to know, it’s not really an issue. I think it’s far more of a ‘thing’ to us than anyone else!
Are you on injections or a pump? Are you having issues with control?
Are you on injections or a pump? Are you having issues with control?
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Do you mean you feel you can’t sort your diabetes with other people, eg friends, around you? That is, you can’t inject or whatever? Or do you mean you’re struggling emotionally and nobody, even close family, gets it?
Sorry to be asking so many questions but it’s easier to help and offer suggestions if we know exactly what the problem is. There are loads of people here who understand and can offer advice and support 🙂
Sorry to be asking so many questions but it’s easier to help and offer suggestions if we know exactly what the problem is. There are loads of people here who understand and can offer advice and support 🙂
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @soph2001 and welcome to the forum. I'm at the other end of the age range to you and not T1 but having children and grandchildren, this is what I would say to them if they were in your position.
I would encourage them to understand that nearly everybody out there really are not bothered about your T1 and most would be understanding and helpful if they knew. For the rest then they have the problem not you. I would encourage them to be open about their diabetes with their social circle and the fact that it needs you to be on top of things that they do not have to be. Let them know what they can do to help which might just be doing nothing and ignoring you if you have to take some action.
You can also talk things over here on the forum. You will find you are not alone. Many on here will know exactly what you are feeling and will be able to swap notes.
I would encourage them to understand that nearly everybody out there really are not bothered about your T1 and most would be understanding and helpful if they knew. For the rest then they have the problem not you. I would encourage them to be open about their diabetes with their social circle and the fact that it needs you to be on top of things that they do not have to be. Let them know what they can do to help which might just be doing nothing and ignoring you if you have to take some action.
You can also talk things over here on the forum. You will find you are not alone. Many on here will know exactly what you are feeling and will be able to swap notes.
It's abit of both to be honest, it's like I got to hide my condition as I feel people are ashamed of it, I am struggling emotionally with it as I feel just impacts eveything. Don't be sorry its okay thanknyou
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome from me too.
If people are ashamed of you having diabetes, then that is their problem not yours and suggests that they are insensitive and ignorant. You have enough on your plate managing the diabetes without worrying about what other people think. I think you may be misinterpreting their feelings though. You should not be having to hide it, particularly amongst family and friends and they should be giving you sympathy and emotional support. Beyond that circle, people will likely not even notice most of the time, particularly out socially because they will be too busy enjoying themselves.
I felt a bit awkward about injecting in public and I used to go to the toilets to inject when I was out for a meal. Interestingly, it was the young women (one a teenager and one early 20s) on my DAFNE course who gave me the confidence to start injecting in front of people. Not suggesting you stand up and make a big issue of it and draw attention to yourself, but if you treat it like the normal everyday thing it now is for you and do it with confidence rather than being subversive about it, people don't generally notice.
As regards dealing with it emotionally, it takes time to adjust. Coming here on the forum regularly (and attending the DAFNE course) really helped for me, as mixing with other people who face the same challenges helps you to feel more normal. It also helps to compare notes with others and learn practical tips, learn about tech that is available to help with different situations and sometimes just have a rant about the unfairness of it all or how frustrating it is. Hope you find it as beneficial being here as I have over the past 5 years.
If people are ashamed of you having diabetes, then that is their problem not yours and suggests that they are insensitive and ignorant. You have enough on your plate managing the diabetes without worrying about what other people think. I think you may be misinterpreting their feelings though. You should not be having to hide it, particularly amongst family and friends and they should be giving you sympathy and emotional support. Beyond that circle, people will likely not even notice most of the time, particularly out socially because they will be too busy enjoying themselves.
I felt a bit awkward about injecting in public and I used to go to the toilets to inject when I was out for a meal. Interestingly, it was the young women (one a teenager and one early 20s) on my DAFNE course who gave me the confidence to start injecting in front of people. Not suggesting you stand up and make a big issue of it and draw attention to yourself, but if you treat it like the normal everyday thing it now is for you and do it with confidence rather than being subversive about it, people don't generally notice.
As regards dealing with it emotionally, it takes time to adjust. Coming here on the forum regularly (and attending the DAFNE course) really helped for me, as mixing with other people who face the same challenges helps you to feel more normal. It also helps to compare notes with others and learn practical tips, learn about tech that is available to help with different situations and sometimes just have a rant about the unfairness of it all or how frustrating it is. Hope you find it as beneficial being here as I have over the past 5 years.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I don’t think anybody would be ashamed of your condition @soph2001 When I feel awkward explaining it to someone, I try to think of it as an educational opportunity so that more people understand Type 1. This benefits everyone. I also think that if I explain to someone, I might save the next person having to explain. That next person might be a child or teen, for example. Better that I explain than them.
I usually keep my explanation brief and say something about Type 1 being an auto-immune condition where my own immune system destroyed crucial insulin-producing cells in my pancreas so I now have to take over that job myself by injecting insulin and keeping a close eye on my blood sugar. Most people are interested not judgemental 🙂 After the first time you’ve told someone, you don’t have to mention it again.
I recently told someone new and yes, I was a bit nervous because it was at a meal and I was aware I was going to have to do a bit of faffing around that people without Type 1 don’t have to do (counting carbs, checking blood sugar, taking insulin) but they were fine. They weren’t really bothered and were more interested in their food!
Type 1 does impact things, but I see it as an annoying little unwanted companion fussing around. Yes, I have to think about it when I plan things like exercise, but I don’t give it any additional headspace. Each time you do something it gets easier and you get your own little ways of dealing with things.
I usually keep my explanation brief and say something about Type 1 being an auto-immune condition where my own immune system destroyed crucial insulin-producing cells in my pancreas so I now have to take over that job myself by injecting insulin and keeping a close eye on my blood sugar. Most people are interested not judgemental 🙂 After the first time you’ve told someone, you don’t have to mention it again.
I recently told someone new and yes, I was a bit nervous because it was at a meal and I was aware I was going to have to do a bit of faffing around that people without Type 1 don’t have to do (counting carbs, checking blood sugar, taking insulin) but they were fine. They weren’t really bothered and were more interested in their food!
Type 1 does impact things, but I see it as an annoying little unwanted companion fussing around. Yes, I have to think about it when I plan things like exercise, but I don’t give it any additional headspace. Each time you do something it gets easier and you get your own little ways of dealing with things.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @soph2001 . I am so pleased that you have found us and I hope that the responses you have already had show you how beneficial linking with others can help so much. Like @rebrascora I have found that the support on here has been invaluable.
T1 is hard work and it is hard to understand when you are not living with it every day. Even very long standing friends, who have been around it for many years still get in a muddle. I do try to explain what I am doing and why when people react to my alarms or my testing. I suspect that other people will be less concerned about what you are doing than you are, so try to avoid hiding it. Testing and injecting are part of every day for us, and if people find injections cause them problems they can look away. Having said that I do understand that it takes time to get used to all this.
With regard your managing your injections, can you tell us which insulins you are using. This helps us in our responses to any questions that you have. Whilst we have a lot to do each day, there are basics that will eventually become habitual. If this is mammoth task at present perhaps focus on one particular aspect. Often it is good to get basal insulin sorted first, as that will then give a firm grounding on which to sort out bolus injections.
Are you working with a specialist team at the hospital or in the hands of your GP? Whoever you are working with be honest with them about how you are feeling. It took me a long time to do this myself, but I was glad that I did so. 16 years on I will still sometimes have a good blurb at an appointment, or come on here and have a good rant. People are supportive and ‘get it’. Your feelings are perfectly normal.
If you are not working with specialists at present do ask for a referral. They will be able to help you identify what adjustments you need to make, and support you in doing these yourself.
Keep in touch. There is a wealth of experience to tap into on here. Just ask, and know that no questions are considered silly.
T1 is hard work and it is hard to understand when you are not living with it every day. Even very long standing friends, who have been around it for many years still get in a muddle. I do try to explain what I am doing and why when people react to my alarms or my testing. I suspect that other people will be less concerned about what you are doing than you are, so try to avoid hiding it. Testing and injecting are part of every day for us, and if people find injections cause them problems they can look away. Having said that I do understand that it takes time to get used to all this.
With regard your managing your injections, can you tell us which insulins you are using. This helps us in our responses to any questions that you have. Whilst we have a lot to do each day, there are basics that will eventually become habitual. If this is mammoth task at present perhaps focus on one particular aspect. Often it is good to get basal insulin sorted first, as that will then give a firm grounding on which to sort out bolus injections.
Are you working with a specialist team at the hospital or in the hands of your GP? Whoever you are working with be honest with them about how you are feeling. It took me a long time to do this myself, but I was glad that I did so. 16 years on I will still sometimes have a good blurb at an appointment, or come on here and have a good rant. People are supportive and ‘get it’. Your feelings are perfectly normal.
If you are not working with specialists at present do ask for a referral. They will be able to help you identify what adjustments you need to make, and support you in doing these yourself.
Keep in touch. There is a wealth of experience to tap into on here. Just ask, and know that no questions are considered silly.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
People generally are exceptionally clueless about diabetes, especially Type 1 - loads of people automatically assume that only elderly folk (especially if overweight, groan) people have diabetes and never even consider that either Type 1 children become Type 1 adults or that people can be first diagnosed with Type 1 D as adults. I was diagnosed aged 22 and when I was younger used to invariably get such comments like, 'but you don't look like you should have D!' Aaargh .......
This doesn't improve much as you get older - cos they then assume you are obviously T2 and still don't understand anything whatever about the treatment of either, really.
It's not actually a PITA - the pain's more in the brain (whichever bit of it that's the depository of understanding/empathy) than the backside ever could be!
This doesn't improve much as you get older - cos they then assume you are obviously T2 and still don't understand anything whatever about the treatment of either, really.
It's not actually a PITA - the pain's more in the brain (whichever bit of it that's the depository of understanding/empathy) than the backside ever could be!
If you’re confident with it and in control then I find I’m not self conscious about it, well mostly and others pickup on that confidence.
I was out with sports mates last night who know I have T1D, I had to inform for safety reasons, but I must admit I didn’t inject at the table before food, I don’t care if they see my libre2, I didn’t inject as I prefer it not to be a topic of discussion disturbing jokes of the evening.
Regarding the control, I found it very difficult during Xmas with high carb food, I’m back to low card again and it really makes it easier for me to keep my BG level. Maybe worth considering to help make the control a little easier on yourself.
I hope things get better for you quick, it can be tough
I was out with sports mates last night who know I have T1D, I had to inform for safety reasons, but I must admit I didn’t inject at the table before food, I don’t care if they see my libre2, I didn’t inject as I prefer it not to be a topic of discussion disturbing jokes of the evening.
Regarding the control, I found it very difficult during Xmas with high carb food, I’m back to low card again and it really makes it easier for me to keep my BG level. Maybe worth considering to help make the control a little easier on yourself.
I hope things get better for you quick, it can be tough
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