Teenage Rebellion...

[rachyhaych331]

I'm only 19 and was diagnosed 4 years ago with type 1 diabetes. I haven't handled it very well and have pretty much rebelled against my diagnosis from the very beginning. I'm getting to the point in my life where I have to be honest with myself and stop hating this disease.

I can't be the only one out there that feels like this, surely? 😱

 

[Northerner]

Hi rachy, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear you've had problems accepting your diagnosis, but it's great that you have decided to get to grips with things and join up here. You're not alone - far from it! Diabetes is something that affects us every day, and getting diagnosed at the age you were is particularly difficult to deal with, since there will be so much going on in your life.

The way I look at it is this: rebelling and not taking the time to test and inject as your should leads to poor glucose control. With that comes ups and downs in moods, feeling tired, grumpy, and probably also guilty, angry and annoyed. It ends up taking more of your energy each day to not take care of yourself than it would to just do the tests and injections and then forget about it!

What have your diabetes team been like? I presume you've had to transition to an adult team? Do you go to your appointments? Now that you've made the decision to get to grips with it, it would be a good idea to book an appointment with your DSN so you can tell her/him how you have been feeling. They will have seen this many times before so hopefully will be able to give you some good pointers to getting back on track. What insulin regime are you on? Have you done a carb counting course?

I would recommend getting a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas and just having a browse through it. It's the best book available about Type 1 and is written in a very positive and informative way - you'll probably discover a lot of things that you weren't aware of, and hopefully that will help you. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have - this is a very friendly group with people who have a whole range of ages and experience of diabetes. Many of them have been through what you have been going through, so if there is anything you are unsure of, or if you just want to have a good old rant about something, fire away! 🙂

 

[rachyhaych331]

Hi Northerner,

I do have a pretty good support system, but you could probably say that I take advantage of it a lot and don't use it properly in some senses.

My mum has been diabetic since she was 6years old and she's now on the insulin pump which makes it a lot easier for her to look after herself. I've been looking into going on the pump myself for quite a while now but the vigorous testing and what not that has to be completed before I can go onto it has been putting me off. My mum is a great help but I always get stressed out and grumpy when she can tell that my bloods are high simply over the phone or when I merely mention that I'm a little bit thirsty.

I'm currently in my final year of university so that has made it easier to misbehave with my diagnosis and keep everything to myself. I'm not normally one to talk to anyone in particular about how I'm feeling or how everything is getting me down. I have a great life, great prospects and great friends but I don't feel the need to burden anybody but myself with my problems.

You hear stories all the time of people misjudging how to look after themselves and then there are insanely good people out there that just find looking after themselves a breeze. I think because I was diagnosed at such an awkward age it definitely made things difficult... and it doesn't help that my mum can't even watch my inject because she feels so guilty!

I go to my appointments but university makes it all a bit of a challenge. I understand that the lifestyle is a bit different to normal, but its generally the hospitals upkeep that irritates me the most. I haven't had my yearly eye exam yet (which I usually have in May) so I'm getting on at people for that, my prescriptions are constantly getting lost or doctors underestimate how much insulin I need and I always find myself having to go to Boots and ask for emergency supplies. I've been in A&E 3 times this year with DKA.

You all seem really nice though, thank you for your help so far. I'm feeling a lot better today. I was having a large moment of doubt and panic last night when I posted my initial message, I'd been out for ice-cream and waffles with my friends and whilst they all tucked into their huge sugar filled deserts I found myself barely able to drink a small milkshake without feeling sorry for myself.

Thanks again! 🙂

 

[Northerner]

I can see how it would be annoying if your Mum is so clued up, it sounds like you feel you are being judged, which is very common for all of us I think - the number of posts I read here from people who are afraid of 'getting shouted at' by their consultant when their HbA1c is a bit higher than they expect shows just how guilty we can feel, consciously or not.

It's a real shame that you have had so many problems with your prescriptions Diabetes is hard enough to deal with without additional problems being thrown your way!

I think that just talking about it with others who really 'get it' helps a lot. Whilst your Mum is obviously very clued-up about things, it would have been very different when she was diagnosed, and she would have grown up with it not really knowing anything different. You were at an age where it would have had a great impact on your life, just at a time where you were getting your independence then all of a sudden having to deal with this thing every day!

But hopefully things will improve for you. What tests do you omit, usually?

 

[HOBIE]

Welcome rachy h. You have joined a good site with lots of the right people. Life is not meant to be easy at times but I love it. I have been T1 for over 48yrs now & when I was a kid I would not let anybody tell me I cant ! Playing football with others I would run faster than them to prove to them & myself I could ! It isn't easy at times. I have never been on the dole in my life & been self employed for more than 30 yrs. Please keep at things & welcome again 🙂

 

[stephknits]

A warm welcome, rachy. I often think how lucky I was to be diagnosed at 42, not 15. I can't imagine managing university life with diabetes - at least not well! Wishing you all the best 🙂

 

[Bessiemay]

Welcome to the forum Rachy. It's good to hear that you are taking your D a bit more seriously but it's not end of the world really. I was told 10 years ago that it's not an illness or disease just a condition that can be managed. That's easier said than done because other problems are thrown into the mix but keeping your BS steady is a good start.