I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in October 22 following weight loss issues and problems with my feet. I've always been a relatively active person and enjoyed walking. I was put on metformin and after 3 months it was obvious that it didn't suit my body and so i was placed on the slow release version which if anything made it worse with my body being achy and weak. I feel worse now than before i started on medication, however my blood sugar levels( Hpi?) have reduced from 93 to 64, my target is 57. I am struggling with my feet(neutopathy) but despite repeated requests for advice and treatment i haven't received any and i struggle mentally with not being able to go hiking over the hills, something i've done since a teenager. To keep active i do gym 4 times a week but its not quite the same. I find the treatment from my health centre to be formulaic rather treating me as an individual with my own set of issues. I am quite depressed about this and struggling to see a way forward
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Struggling in general
- Thread starter Andy62
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Lilsis
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum @Andy62
I'm also a keen walker and can sympathies with your neuropathy preventing you from walking. Also, like yourself, despitetellingmy Dr I it was causingme pain and preventingme from doing as much walkingas I'd liked, I wasn't offeredany help or advice... If I can offer you a ray of hope, my neuropathy has improved so much since losing weight and my blood sugar coming down, at least they are if my home meter is correct.
I'm back up to walking 15 miles on a Saturday or Sunday.
You seem to be heading in the right direction.
I'm also a keen walker and can sympathies with your neuropathy preventing you from walking. Also, like yourself, despitetellingmy Dr I it was causingme pain and preventingme from doing as much walkingas I'd liked, I wasn't offeredany help or advice... If I can offer you a ray of hope, my neuropathy has improved so much since losing weight and my blood sugar coming down, at least they are if my home meter is correct.
I'm back up to walking 15 miles on a Saturday or Sunday.
You seem to be heading in the right direction.
harbottle
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
That's a good reduction, are you making dietary changes as well as the Metformin?
There are other drugs that can help if Metformin has side effects. I'm not sure weak and achy is a side effect - that might be down to the high levels of blood sugar. (I was pretty weak and achy before I was diagnosed, but when I got levels down it went away. It was a huge problem when I went on a hiking weekend in Symons Yat and struggled to get up the hills!)
I also found that as I brought my blood sugar down by changing diet, I did, for a while, feel a bit odd and had to sit down after standing for a while. That went away after a few months.
Stick with it, as you are doing the right thing!
There are other drugs that can help if Metformin has side effects. I'm not sure weak and achy is a side effect - that might be down to the high levels of blood sugar. (I was pretty weak and achy before I was diagnosed, but when I got levels down it went away. It was a huge problem when I went on a hiking weekend in Symons Yat and struggled to get up the hills!)
I also found that as I brought my blood sugar down by changing diet, I did, for a while, feel a bit odd and had to sit down after standing for a while. That went away after a few months.
Stick with it, as you are doing the right thing!
Ciara DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
Hi and welcome to the Forum @Andy62 It's good to hear your levels have reduced, as said by the others in the thread, you seem to be headed in the right direction 🙂
I'm really sorry to hear that you're feeling low about your diabetes, it can be hard with a new diagnosis and rest assured you're not alone in this. The forum is here to help and is a wonderful community of supportive people, please do ask any questions you have.
If you don't mind answering, do your healthcare team know about how you're feeling?
I'm really sorry to hear that you're feeling low about your diabetes, it can be hard with a new diagnosis and rest assured you're not alone in this. The forum is here to help and is a wonderful community of supportive people, please do ask any questions you have.
If you don't mind answering, do your healthcare team know about how you're feeling?
Ciara DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
If you feel it would help you to speak to someone over the phone, please feel free to get in touch with our Helpline team. Although not medically trained, they do have a wealth of knowledge around diabetes and treatments. The phoneline is confidential and free 🙂
The number is: 0345 123 2399 - Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
You can also get in touch by email too, if you prefer:
Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
We're all wishing you all the best, please reach out should you need 🙂
The number is: 0345 123 2399 - Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
You can also get in touch by email too, if you prefer:
Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
We're all wishing you all the best, please reach out should you need 🙂
I have had a difficult 12 months, i retired last March with intention of doing lots of walking and within a couple of months my mother passed away following long drawn out illness and i was then diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, unfortunately its an hereditary thing. Perhaps not surprisingly i have found it difficult and when i initially contacted the GP practice it was about my mental state rather than anything else, however they have focussed on my diabetes and brushed aside my mental issues even when i directly raised this with them.
Ciara DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
Hi again @Andy62,
I'm so sorry to hear about this, please accept all our condolences for your loss. Thank you for sharing your experience, we're all hoping things start to get better for you.
It does sound like you've got quite a lot to be dealing with, and we are wishing you all the best 🙂
It would be a good idea to try to discuss how you're feeling with your GP again, if you've not already, though we appreciate the process hasn't been as smooth as it should have been.
If you do feel like you need additional support to talk through how you're feeling - as well as talking to your healthcare provider - can I point you towards the Samaritans helpline (you may have heard of them)? The helpline is free to call, and the line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 116 123
There are other ways to get in touch on their website too: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/
Hopefully this might be helpful for you to know - if you have any questions, as always, you're more than welcome to ask 🙂
I'm so sorry to hear about this, please accept all our condolences for your loss. Thank you for sharing your experience, we're all hoping things start to get better for you.
It does sound like you've got quite a lot to be dealing with, and we are wishing you all the best 🙂
It would be a good idea to try to discuss how you're feeling with your GP again, if you've not already, though we appreciate the process hasn't been as smooth as it should have been.
If you do feel like you need additional support to talk through how you're feeling - as well as talking to your healthcare provider - can I point you towards the Samaritans helpline (you may have heard of them)? The helpline is free to call, and the line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 116 123
There are other ways to get in touch on their website too: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/
Hopefully this might be helpful for you to know - if you have any questions, as always, you're more than welcome to ask 🙂
I am struggling at the moment and some days i feel that i can't do this anymore.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
When your blood glucose is high it can affect every cell in the body including the brain and can affect your mood and level of anxiety.
Even though it seems hard to do, paying attention to your diet to help reduce blood glucose which could help your mood.
Hi Andy62,
Really sorry to hear about the loss of your lovely mum and all that you've been dealing with recently. It's understandable that you are struggling as it's not easy managing diabetes at the best of times let alone when going through other issues.
Sometimes GPs try and deal with what they think as the biggest issue first but our mental health is just as impact as our physical health. Have you been able to have another chat with them and reiterate how challenging things are at the moment?
I know it feels as though things are impossible to deal with currently, however, it's worth reaching out to see what support is available to make life a bit simpler.
We're here for you every step of the way on the forum and you can post as much as you like about how your feeling or any questions you may have or give our helpline a call on 0345 123 2399.
Mind have a list of helplines and services that may be of use and some of them have a chat option which many find really helpful. https://www.mind.org.uk/information...crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/
Please do keep us up to date with how you're getting on and let us know if we can help in any way.
Really sorry to hear about the loss of your lovely mum and all that you've been dealing with recently. It's understandable that you are struggling as it's not easy managing diabetes at the best of times let alone when going through other issues.
Sometimes GPs try and deal with what they think as the biggest issue first but our mental health is just as impact as our physical health. Have you been able to have another chat with them and reiterate how challenging things are at the moment?
I know it feels as though things are impossible to deal with currently, however, it's worth reaching out to see what support is available to make life a bit simpler.
We're here for you every step of the way on the forum and you can post as much as you like about how your feeling or any questions you may have or give our helpline a call on 0345 123 2399.
Mind have a list of helplines and services that may be of use and some of them have a chat option which many find really helpful. https://www.mind.org.uk/information...crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/
Please do keep us up to date with how you're getting on and let us know if we can help in any way.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Could you call your GP again? You’re quite right that they sometimes have a formulaic approach and also don’t really fully listen to what you’re saying because they make assumptions or see you as just a person with diabetes. If you phoned and were very clear you needed support with your mental health, then they should listen. Perhaps a short course of medication would just take the edge of things. Far more people need support than you’d think and it’s absolutely nothing to feel ashamed of.
For the neuropathy, sometimes getting better control of your blood sugar can cause a kind of temporary neuropathy, so that might be contributing a bit, but there is medication you could try and you should be getting more support from the doctors with this.
Sending you my best wishes. You’re not alone.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi @Andy62 I am glad that you have found the forum, but sorry to hear how difficult things are for you at present.
Do contact your GP again to get some help in managing your depression. Well done on seeking help, and do so again. There is other support available as listed above. Just ask.
As others have said the neuropathy may ease if you can get your glucose levels lower. You have already used successful strategies that brought your HbA1c down by a massive amount. Well done. Are you able to identify what helped you to make that change? (When you spot what that is give yourself a big pat in the back and recognise how well you have already done) Perhaps focus on just one thing to change.
Keep in touch and let us know of your continued progress.
Do contact your GP again to get some help in managing your depression. Well done on seeking help, and do so again. There is other support available as listed above. Just ask.
As others have said the neuropathy may ease if you can get your glucose levels lower. You have already used successful strategies that brought your HbA1c down by a massive amount. Well done. Are you able to identify what helped you to make that change? (When you spot what that is give yourself a big pat in the back and recognise how well you have already done) Perhaps focus on just one thing to change.
Keep in touch and let us know of your continued progress.
I'm wondering whether you might find grief/bereavement counselling helpful. This can come without your GP's involvement - hospices may offer it, and other such 'charitable' organisations. Books on grieving and bereavment can also help you come to terms and deal with it.
Bereavement is a huge, huge, huge 'bad thing' in our lives, and can have truly devastating effects on us - including physical too.
Sometimes we 'cope', or think we do, in the immediate aftermath, just to 'get us through' and then it can hit like a sledgehammer later on. One of the things I have learnt along the way is that 'there is no time-table for grieving' - each and everyone of us grieves in our own way, and in our own time.
To lose someone we love is the worst 'pain' in the world - please, though, always remember, that grief is also a tribute to the person we loved (and go on loving).
I wish you well -
Bereavement is a huge, huge, huge 'bad thing' in our lives, and can have truly devastating effects on us - including physical too.
Sometimes we 'cope', or think we do, in the immediate aftermath, just to 'get us through' and then it can hit like a sledgehammer later on. One of the things I have learnt along the way is that 'there is no time-table for grieving' - each and everyone of us grieves in our own way, and in our own time.
To lose someone we love is the worst 'pain' in the world - please, though, always remember, that grief is also a tribute to the person we loved (and go on loving).
I wish you well -
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