Recently diagnosed - feel overwhelmed

[Disneynut]

Hi Everyone, hope your week is off to a good start.
Found out I was type 2 at the end of January, after the initial shock I was doing ok, but then today had a bit of a meltdown. Suddenly feeling like it’s a life sentence and my years have been cut short. Guess I’m looking for inspiration and guidance from people who have been doing this a while please.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Disneynut 🙂 A diabetes diagnosis is a massive shock and that shock can last for a while and all kinds of emotions can pop up just when you think you’re dealing with it. Be kind to yourself. Know that what you’re feeling is normal, and that you’re not alone.

If you look after yourself, then you can live a good, healthy life 🙂 Are you on any medication? What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Ask any questions you want: nothing is too trivial or ‘silly’.

 

[rebrascora]

HI and welcome. Sorry to hear that you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment but this is totally normal and it can hit you at odd times and then other times you can feel like you are on top of it again.
I used my diagnosis as the kick upthe backside I needed to improve my diet and lose a bit of weight and that has had a massive knock on effect with other aspects of my health. For instance I now no longer suffer migraines and I was averaging one severe on a month where I was literally losing a day of my life each month and had suffered them for years/decades and they stopped the moment I changed my diet to low carb. My joint pain has also diminished significantly and I can now run down steep hills whereas before I was hobbling at a walk and thinking that I was heading for knee surgery.... but not just my knees as my back hasn't given me any serious grief in the 4 years since diagnosis and I haven't been pampering it I can tell you. Prior to that I would get bouts of severe sciatica and spasms and lots of aching.
Anyway, what I wanted to say is that there have actually been a myriad of benefits which have arisen as a result of my diagnosis and using how I felt about it.... and there were some very negative feelings of guilt and shame.... to motivate me to do something positive to change and as far as I am concerned I am now far fitter and healthier and feel significantly younger than I did 4 years ago and I am sure that I will live longer and with a better quality of life and health as a result of those lifestyle changes. It would have been nice not to need that kick up the backside to change but the important thing is that things are actually better now. Not saying it was easy to change my diet particularly as I was a sugar addict and ate a lot of bread an potatoes too, but I now really enjoy my new low carb diet and have found other things that I enjoy and best of all, I don't crave the stuff that I used to binge on. I eat less but I enjoy what I eat.

I hope you can come to find similar benefits from your diagnosis in a few months or years with the benefit of hindsight.

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum, it can be a bit of a shock but many look upon it as an opportunity to improve their life style and although it is a condition to be taken seriously, with the right changes it is very manageable and people lead a active normal life. Just that some things need a bit more thought.
The important thing is to adopt a dietary approach that you enjoy so that it can become your new way of eating.
Many find a low carb approach is successful and that might suit you but may depend on what medication you have been prescribed if any and how far into the diabetic zone you are.
This link may give you some thoughts on what may suit you. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[Disneynut]

HI and welcome. Sorry to hear that you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment but this is totally normal and it can hit you at odd times and then other times you can feel like you are on top of it again.
I used my diagnosis as the kick upthe backside I needed to improve my diet and lose a bit of weight and that has had a massive knock on effect with other aspects of my health. For instance I now no longer suffer migraines and I was averaging one severe on a month where I was literally losing a day of my life each month and had suffered them for years/decades and they stopped the moment I changed my diet to low carb. My joint pain has also diminished significantly and I can now run down steep hills whereas before I was hobbling at a walk and thinking that I was heading for knee surgery.... but not just my knees as my back hasn't given me any serious grief in the 4 years since diagnosis and I haven't been pampering it I can tell you. Prior to that I would get bouts of severe sciatica and spasms and lots of aching.
Anyway, what I wanted to say is that there have actually been a myriad of benefits which have arisen as a result of my diagnosis and using how I felt about it.... and there were some very negative feelings of guilt and shame.... to motivate me to do something positive to change and as far as I am concerned I am now far fitter and healthier and feel significantly younger than I did 4 years ago and I am sure that I will live longer and with a better quality of life and health as a result of those lifestyle changes. It would have been nice not to need that kick up the backside to change but the important thing is that things are actually better now. Not saying it was easy to change my diet particularly as I was a sugar addict and ate a lot of bread an potatoes too, but I now really enjoy my new low carb diet and have found other things that I enjoy and best of all, I don't crave the stuff that I used to binge on. I eat less but I enjoy what I eat.

I hope you can come to find similar benefits from your diagnosis in a few months or years with the benefit of hindsight.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me, you have no idea how much it is appreciated, especially today when it suddenly all felt so black.
I’m only 4 weeks into the diet changes and as you say I can see some benefits already. You’re absolutely right, with better lifestyle choices, hopefully I will be living a healthier life overall.
Thank you again for the time you took out of your day to answer me !

 

[Disneynut]

Welcome to the forum, it can be a bit of a shock but many look upon it as an opportunity to improve their life style and although it is a condition to be taken seriously, with the right changes it is very manageable and people lead a active normal life. Just that some things need a bit more thought.
The important thing is to adopt a dietary approach that you enjoy so that it can become your new way of eating.
Many find a low carb approach is successful and that might suit you but may depend on what medication you have been prescribed if any and how far into the diabetic zone you are.
This link may give you some thoughts on what may suit you. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

Thank you for this it has given the incentive to keep going and not hide away on a corner
Thanks for the link, I will go and look at that now so that I am better informed.
Hopefully today was only a blip in my mental well being and I can get back on track to improving things again.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my plea for some sanity, it’s greatly appreciated.

 

[Disneynut]

Welcome @Disneynut 🙂 A diabetes diagnosis is a massive shock and that shock can last for a while and all kinds of emotions can pop up just when you think you’re dealing with it. Be kind to yourself. Know that what you’re feeling is normal, and that you’re not alone.

If you look after yourself, then you can live a good, healthy life 🙂 Are you on any medication? What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Ask any questions you want: nothing is too trivial or ‘silly’.

Thank you for your kind words, they really help.
I’m on Metformin and

Welcome @Disneynut 🙂 A diabetes diagnosis is a massive shock and that shock can last for a while and all kinds of emotions can pop up just when you think you’re dealing with it. Be kind to yourself. Know that what you’re feeling is normal, and that you’re not alone.

If you look after yourself, then you can live a good, healthy life 🙂 Are you on any medication? What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Ask any questions you want: nothing is too trivial or ‘silly’.

hi, thank you for your encouraging words, they are very much appreciated !
I am on Metformin and Dapagliflozin, have had an interim check up with the DN and my numbers seem to be coming down already, so that’s positive. Have my next HbA1c on 17th April so working hard to try and make sure that is lower

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Everyone, hope your week is off to a good start.
Found out I was type 2 at the end of January, after the initial shock I was doing ok, but then today had a bit of a meltdown. Suddenly feeling like it’s a life sentence and my years have been cut short. Guess I’m looking for inspiration and guidance from people who have been doing this a while please.

Awwww ((( @Disneynut )))

Big hugs to you! What you are feeling is completely valid, and not at all unusual. Emotions and the psychological impact of your diagnosis can come in waves, and you are quite right, it can feel overwhelming, and as if your body has 'betrayed you'.

Some people liken a diagnosis with diabetes as bringing with it a form of grieving - with the jumble of 'stages' chaotically pouring out, sometimes all on the same day, and then absent for days or weeks at a time. Bringing flurries of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and eventually longer periods of acceptance.

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, but never quite managed to get around to.

Hope your results for your April appointment provide encouragement to keep going with the positive changes you have been making so far. 🙂