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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.
Hi @Suziepearce welcome
you've come to the right place, there’s many of us that’s been through what you will be going through it’s common to feel overwhelmed and confused
some call it the forum none of us wanted to join, but glad we did
When you were diagnosed, was it suspected
or like many were you being tested / unwell for another reason
If you share how you were diagnosed, I’m sure some of us can help
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. There are lots of folks here who will completely recognise that shocked and overwhelmed feeling that you are describing - even if a risk of diabetes has been lurking for a while, it can still pack a real emotional punch when the diagnosis finally happens.
Be kind to yourself and give yourself time to adjust. You may experience a jumble of emotions over the next few weeks, rather like grieving, with moments of anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and eventually, when the shock has worn off, hopefully a form of acceptance, and a shift into a new ‘way of eating’.
Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years. And weight that they lost and/or their change of menu seemed to have a positive impact on a range of other long term health concerns, from better skin, to fewer migraines. Some say that ironically they’ve not felt so ‘healthy’ in years!
@Suziepearce hi and welcome to the forum, as both @goodybags and @everydayupsanddowns have said, this is a great place to learn about diabetes and to benefit from other people's experience of diabetes. The support provided is good and if you choose to implement it, can bring a major change to how you manage your diabetes.
I was diagnosed in October 2024 and I was scared and initially backward focused, but having read some of the subject threads on this forum and used the LearningZone on the site, I soon started to focus on moving forward by making changes to my diet and exercise regimes and made sure that when I went to see the diabetes nurse at my local Surgery I had a long list of questions to ask, to make sure that I got the best chance of improving my HbA1c quickly.
There is no such thing as a stupid question on the forum so ask away.
Oh one last thing, some people may ask you for a bit more information on your diagnosis including what your HbA1c was/is, they are not being nosy (well I don't think they are), its just having that information will help in ensuring that you get applicable advice.
Hi @Suziepearce and a warm welcome from me too 🙂 . There is a lot to take on board when you're first diagnosed but being able to ask questions and chat to members who understand what you're going through will hopefully provide you with help and support you need.
