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Stressed out Newbie

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
LJC26 x

LJC26 x

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
hello everyone,my name is Laura and I'm from Scotland.

I was diagnosed type 1 diabetic in July 1999 when I was 10 years old. The last few years I have struggled in controlling my diabetes, I hate injecting, I hate testing my blood sugar, I hate carb counting...the list goes on. I was recently admitted to hospital with DKA in March 2017, I have been admitted twice previously, in 2009 and 2011. This time I really got the kick I needed to try and get my diabetes under some sort of control. My HB1C is currently sitting at 114 which I know is far to high. Before being admitted I had not been testing my blood sugar, couldn't tell you the last time I even thought about doing it, must be over a year, maybe longer. I didn't inject after meals when I should of done and I didn't take my lantus (long acting insulin) at night time. I drink far to much alcohol, I smoke 20 a day and basically do everything and anything that a type 1 diabetic should definitely not do.

Since being discharged from hospital, about a month ago, I have been and done the DAFNE course at my local hospital and feel that I had been doing slightly better and accepting the fact I was a type1 diabetic and this is what I had to do every day. However I feel the last couple of weeks I slipped back in to my old ways, not testing, not injecting, drinking to excess again to cope with life stresses such as work etc.

Basically what I am looking for is any help, advice or support to help me accept that I need to take better care of myself and stop the self destruct mode that I seem to be going through. I do not want to end up in the back on an ambulance blue lighter to my closest hospital which is 75 miles away to the HDU ward with DKA ever again. I worry and stress the life out my parents, boyfriend and friends and don't want to put them through alol the stresses again like I have in the past few months.

Any words or wisdom, help guidance or support would be much appreciated.
Laura xx
 
Hi Laura, welcome to the group..... I think you have already made the first step in joining this forum, we offer a lot of help support & accountability.
 
Martin Canty said:
Hi Laura, welcome to the group..... I think you have already made the first step in joining this forum, we offer a lot of help support & accountability.[/QUOTE
Thanks Martin I was at my doctor today who recommended I join a forum to get the help and support from other diabetics
Click to expand...
 
Hi Laura, welcome to the gang. As Martin says, you've made the first step of joining this forum. We're a friendly bunch, so whether you want a rant, or have questions, one or more of us will be along to try and help wherever we can.
I'm sure Northie or someone will be along soon, and give you some links to info you can read which hopefully will help.
Just keep thinking of your family, boyfriend and friends whenever you don't feel like testing or injecting. Although it can be a pain in the a***, in the scheme of things, it takes a short time to do these things and it does become second nature. It will put your and their minds at rest and hopefully ease some of the stress you are feeling.
 
Hello and welcome Laura 🙂

It is a tough call trying to get back on track but it very doable and worth every bit of effort. I lived through a period of really unstable control and lost the plot in knowing where or how to help myself.

Start today. Make sure you have got all the necessary equipment in date, test strips, insulin, meter etc and start with small steps setting yourself a goal to test when you wake up, before you eat and before bed.The numbers might not be pretty but write them down as a starting point. Having done DAFNE you should know how to carb count/insulin doses and corrections. Start a food diary write down what you eat, carb content, blood glucose, insulin taken and start to build up a database of what happens to you when you eat. It may sound tedious but it is worth every bit of time investing in getting yourself organised so you have a healthy, happy future. Talk to your DSN and ask for help. Diabetes is largely self managed but we all need a helping hand and if your team know what problems you're having and know you are trying to sort yourself out they will do everything they can to help you. Did you meet any people on your course you could meet with to get some face to face help?

A good bit of advice I got was to sort out my levels before bed and through the night. I know that's easier said than done but even a small improvement in those levels accounts for approx 8 hours of control which all helps to improve your HbA1c and gives you a good starting point for the day.

Decide to take care of yourself and things will improve. Diabetes doesn't forget us however much we would like it to. Invest some time doing the things that you know already, make time for them because they are vitally important. I care about my control more than I ever thought possible and once you get into an organised system it doesn't take much time out of the day to start seeing better results.

This forum is a great place for help and advice by lovely people who 'get' diabetes and all the challenges it throws at us. Good luck with it , let us know how things are going 🙂
 
Hello and welcome Laura 🙂

It is a tough call trying to get back on track but it very doable and worth every bit of effort. I lived through a period of really unstable control and lost the plot in knowing where or how to help myself.

Start today. Make sure you have got all the necessary equipment in date, test strips, insulin, meter etc and start with small steps setting yourself a goal to test when you wake up, before you eat and before bed.The numbers might not be pretty but write them down as a starting point. Having done DAFNE you should know how to carb count/insulin doses and corrections. Start a food diary write down what you eat, carb content, blood glucose, insulin taken and start to build up a database of what happens to you when you eat. It may sound tedious but it is worth every bit of time investing in getting yourself organised so you have a healthy, happy future. Talk to your DSN and ask for help. Diabetes is largely self managed but we all need a helping hand and if your team know what problems you're having and know you are trying to sort yourself out they will do everything they can to help you. Did you meet any people on your course you could meet with to get some face to face help?

A good bit of advice I got was to sort out my levels before bed and through the night. I know that's easier said than done but even a small improvement in those levels accounts for approx 8 hours of control which all helps to improve your HbA1c and gives you a good starting point for the day.

Decide to take care of yourself and things will improve. Diabetes doesn't forget us however much we would like it to. Invest some time doing the things that you know already, make time for them because they are vitally important. I care about my control more than I ever thought possible and once you get into an organised system it doesn't take much time out of the day to start seeing better results.

This forum is a great place for help and advice by lovely people who 'get' diabetes and all the challenges it throws at us. Good luck with it , let us know how things are going 🙂[/QUOTE]

Hello

It definitely is a tough call trying to get back on track, however, I know it has to be done. I thought I would of had the sense to do it last year after I was admitted to hospital with Septicaemia, it was a very close call, with doctors telling me I only had about 12 hours to live, however I pulled through, was signed off work for 9 weeks for rest after being discharged. The 9 weeks while off work I had fantastic control but I let it all slip away again after going back to work.

I decided yesterday after speaking to my doctor that if I look after my diabetes, then my diabetes will look after me. I woke up, tested my blood sugar this morning which was 13.4, not the best but had breakfast (something else I didn't do) carb counted and took 2 extra units for correction. Food diary seems a very good idea, think I shall keep it in my phone (easier than carrying a notepad.)

I met a few people on the course who I could meet up with, we have the 6 week meet up in a few weeks so will hopefully help me, I also have an appointment with my DSN at the start of May so I will maybe tell her how much it brings me down and see if there is anything she could suggest to help me. One of the things I struggle with the most is alcohol. I drink far to much for being a type 1, when I drink I don't eat and I don't inject my insulin so that will all need to change too.

More time definitely has to be made for it, thank you 🙂 xx
 
Greyhound Gal said:
Hi Laura, welcome to the gang. As Martin says, you've made the first step of joining this forum. We're a friendly bunch, so whether you want a rant, or have questions, one or more of us will be along to try and help wherever we can.
I'm sure Northie or someone will be along soon, and give you some links to info you can read which hopefully will help.
Just keep thinking of your family, boyfriend and friends whenever you don't feel like testing or injecting. Although it can be a pain in the a***, in the scheme of things, it takes a short time to do these things and it does become second nature. It will put your and their minds at rest and hopefully ease some of the stress you are feeling.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome. Feel a bit more at ease from joining the forum last night. Read quite a lot of useful and helpful information. I was at a diabetic specialist appointment yesterday and they suggested I join the forum as would get loads of support and useful information to help me along the way. Blood sugar was 13.4 this morning but took a correction dose after my breakfast so will test shortly to see how I am doing. Just feel a bit embarrassed at how much I have been struggling with it over the past few years, I was diagnosed 18 years ago this year, should be second nature to me now :( xx
 
Hi Laura welcome to the forum you did the right thing i have had some issues Alcohol and bad lifestyle just like you i was helped greatly by this bunch good luck you can do it
 
Steff said:
Hi Laura a warm welcome to the forum I just read through your post and it reminded me of a guy who joined recently i wanted to paste the thread to you as he came on in a really bad way and since then he has turned things around and is doing all he can to take the bull by the horns here is it https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/hi-all-i-think-its-about-time-i-got-some-help.65852/ I hope it helps

ps i hope you dont mind me posting this @1st Paradox
Click to expand...

Hello Steff

Thanks for sharing the post with me, really did help and feel there is a lot of similarities. I'm a bit the same myself, always make too much time for other things and other people and don't seem to make enough for myself or my health. I got discharged from hospital on 19th March and was off work until 3rd April but feel since coming back to work I have let things slip again. Appointment with the doctor yesterday seemed to help me and decided last night to grab bull by the horns and start looking after myself properly, whether I need to take 10 mins here or there during my working day to test bloods etc. I was 13.4 this morning and took a correction dose of 2 units, plus 4 units for my Weetabix and milk for breakfast. Have just tested again and I was 11.4. Really gets me down when glucose levels are over 10 so think that's why I probably stopped testing and because I wasn't testing I wasn't injecting as didn't know how much insulin to take. I had been offered the DAFNE course several times but I didn't want to take holidays to go and do the weeks course as felt it wasn't important, how wrong was I? Best thing I have ever done for my diabetes and although I had let things slip again a few weeks after doing it, I hope I will be able to get back on track again.

L 🙂 xx
 
Hi Laura and welcome to the forum.
 
David Garbutt said:
Hi Laura, I have just read your story of diabetic burn out and denial.
I hate to give advice so l'll try and keep it simple. Carrot and stick. You have tried DKA as a stick but to help you need a carrot, a reward to work towards, a reason to keep your glucose levels down. Take up dancing or running or going to the Gym, it is a reason to have better glucose control and also makes it easier to control those levels.
I don't advise boring everyone you meet or work with, but your friends should know you have diabetes and what it means for you and them. If they can't deal with it that's their loss.
If you can afford a freestyle libre you can use it to help get those levels down. They are expensive, £50 for 2 weeks but that should be enough to get your basal under control and show all the spikes after meals.
Good luck.
Type 1
Dx 2001
Click to expand...

Hey 🙂

I always said after the first time I ended up in HDU with DKA in 2009, 76 miles away from home, I would never let it happen again, then again in 2011 and now again 2017. I honestly couldn't tell you how long I have been in denial, probably will never know the answer to that question as I just carried on and put it to the back of my mind.

When I was in my late teens, I was always going the gym, going walks etc and was fit but then I discovered the pub and that was a major downfall for me. Im hoping to pluck up the courage to get back and do the thing I loved, maybe take a few weeks but I know I will get there, just want to get simple things sorted first, like actual testing and injecting after I have eaten.

I don't like talking about my diabetes or broadcasting it, only my nearest and dearest know and even then I feel they don't understand all the complications etc the best. I feel it brings on people asking a whole load of questions, I wouldn't know how to answer so I try and keep it to myself as much as I can. I didn't tell my boyfriend I was type 1 until we had been together for about a year which he found strange.

What is the freestyle libre? Is that the one that tells you how much insulin to inject after your meals etc?

Thanks for your comment 🙂
L x
 
Hi L :D
Welcome to the forum, i am type 2 newly diagnosed about 6 weeks, ago, i have taken the bull by its horns, but its my hubby that thinks ts a load of rubbish 😡 but like i said to him you wont be saying that if i end up with loads of the associated problems, so i wish you well and hope you get sorted soon x
 
goosey said:
Hi L :D
Welcome to the forum, i am type 2 newly diagnosed about 6 weeks, ago, i have taken the bull by its horns, but its my hubby that thinks ts a load of rubbish 😡 but like i said to him you wont be saying that if i end up with loads of the associated problems, so i wish you well and hope you get sorted soon x
Click to expand...

Hello

Thank you for your message. It's very hard to come to terms with it, feel I coped better when I was 10 than what I do now at 27. Why does your hubby think it's a lot of rubbish. Can cause ally of serious problems if not looked after and treated properly. Wouldn't wish what I have went through on anybody. ☹️ Take care and hope you carry on with your determination to not let being diabetic beat you like it had done with me.

Wish you well.
L Xx
 
Welcome @LJC26 x from a fellow Scot 🙂, no the libre is a sensor you place on your arm which can read your levels with just a swipe of the monitor, I have no experience with it but quite a lot of our members do, one of the glucose monitors that advise you how much to inject is the accu chek Aviva expert that I currently have, its great you've decided to try and kick your habits and good luck 🙂 x
 
LJC26 x said:
Hello

Thank you for your message. It's very hard to come to terms with it, feel I coped better when I was 10 than what I do now at 27. Why does your hubby think it's a lot of rubbish. Can cause ally of serious problems if not looked after and treated properly. Wouldn't wish what I have went through on anybody. ☹️ Take care and hope you carry on with your determination to not let being diabetic beat you like it had done with me.

Wish you well.
L Xx
Click to expand...

LJC26 x said:
Hello

Thank you for your message. It's very hard to come to terms with it, feel I coped better when I was 10 than what I do now at 27. Why does your hubby think it's a lot of rubbish. Can cause ally of serious problems if not looked after and treated properly. Wouldn't wish what I have went through on anybody. ☹️ Take care and hope you carry on with your determination to not let being diabetic beat you like it had done with me.

Wish you well.
L Xx
Click to expand...


I think you're already starting to come to terms with things and doing what you hate but know is necessary to keep you well LJC. You've had a massive and painful wake up call and like you say, you wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through it.
I had septicaemia two years ago following an infection and the useless hospital hadn't picked up I was diabetic at that time. It's scary but it helps us focus on what's important. Wishing you huge best wishes, Amigo x
 
Kaylz said:
Welcome @LJC26 x from a fellow Scot 🙂, no the libre is a sensor you place on your arm which can read your levels with just a swipe of the monitor, I have no experience with it but quite a lot of our members do, one of the glucose monitors that advise you how much to inject is the accu chek Aviva expert that I currently have, its great you've decided to try and kick your habits and good luck 🙂 x
Click to expand...

Hello, thanks for your message. Oh I got a letter through the last day to try that out for a two weeks trial period but to be honest I don't think I would like it. I had the insulin pump for a trial for a weekend a good few years back and o hated it, as stupid as it sounds things being attached to me makes me feel clostrophobic and I wouldn't want people asking me questiona what it was and what it was for as I don't like people knowing I have diabetes. I have one of those in the cupboard but didn't really like it either, think it's because I didn't know how to work it. Will maybe ask my DSN next month at my next appointment.

Cheers
L ☺️ x
 
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