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Type 1 at 38

V

vetnurseevans

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hey everyone I'm Tara I got diagnosed as Type 1 in December at 38 years old. Finding the whole thing quite hard - especially my mood swings if I'm honest find I've got very little patience ATM - will this settle ???
Also finding lack of support from my supposed diabetic nurses - everyone I talk to gives me different idea levels?? Sorry for the moaning guess it's just alot to take in xx
 
Hi @vetnurseevans (Tara) welcome to the forums and there is no problem with having a little rant or moan about things. You are not alone with this issue around the level of support that you get. Some people get good support and others not so much. However, these forums while not inhabited by medics does have a lot of people whose experience of diabetes in all its form, can provide plenty of suggestions on how things can be improved or whether what you are experiencing is the norm.

I am a relative newcomer myself having only joined in October last year, but my experiences on here have been exceptionally supportive and positive and I am sure that you will receive a similar experience.

As a type 2 I cannot really comment on the issue of mood swings but I think the key piece of advice that I can offer is that diabetes irrespective of its type takes time to become a well controlled issue and small steps can be just as beneficial as the giant leaps. Others will be likely to offer you much more focused advice based on their experiences in the near future.
 
JimmyBlue said:
Hi @vetnurseevans (Tara) welcome to the forums and there is no problem with having a little rant or moan about things. You are not alone with this issue around the level of support that you get. Some people get good support and others not so much. However, these forums while not inhabited by medics does have a lot of people whose experience of diabetes in all its form, can provide plenty of suggestions on how things can be improved or whether what you are experiencing is the norm.

I am a relative newcomer myself having only joined in October last year, but my experiences on here have been exceptionally supportive and positive and I am sure that you will receive a similar experience.

As a type 2 I cannot really comment on the issue of mood swings but I think the key piece of advice that I can offer is that diabetes irrespective of its type takes time to become a well controlled issue and small steps can be just as beneficial as the giant leaps. Others will be likely to offer you much more focused advice based on their experiences in the near future.
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Thank you @JimmyBlue
 
Hi Tara and (to quote one of our users) welcome to the club that no one wants to join.
I think mood swings are not uncommon. Most diagnoses like these come unexpectedly and seem to flip people's worlds upside down. There's tons of info, the type and level of support varies across areas and you find yourself having to explain your 'new self' to others while you're still trying to fully understand what that 'new' really is.
The good news is - you're at the right place. The forum is for all of that - questions, worries, rants, victories... Anything and everything. <3 You'll find lots of gathered knowledge here from folk who are always willing to listen, offer support, ideas or even learn something new themselves. Thing is - diabetes is different for everyone. People manage it differently and choose different approaches, and some HCPs are only now catching up to that idea that there's no 'one-size-fits-all' to the advice that they should be giving people.
What I'd suggest is engaging with people here on the forum (as well as taking on board what your GP and DNS say while seeing what works for you and asking all the questions that worry you) - lots of lived experience is gathered here. You might find it useful to read on the DUK Website or register for our Learning Zone if you find the information coming your way overwhelming sometimes.
Just know that everyone is here to support when and if you need it!
 
Welcome @vetnurseevans 🙂 It’s completely normal to run through lots of different emotions after a Type 1 diagnosis - upset, anger, fear, irritation, disbelief and more. It does gradually get easier, I promise.

What insulins are you on? Do you have a Libre? Are you carb counting and adjusting your mealtime insulin?
 
Inka said:
Welcome @vetnurseevans 🙂 It’s completely normal to run through lots of different emotions after a Type 1 diagnosis - upset, anger, fear, irritation, disbelief and more. It does gradually get easier, I promise.

What insulins are you on? Do you have a Libre? Are you carb counting and adjusting your mealtime insulin?
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Thank you X I'm on Novarapid and Lantus. I'm meant to be getting a libre but I'm still waiting for the diabetic team to get in touch (been over a month now ). I'm trying to carb count but I don't seem to have very much consistency with my readings ATM whatever I do which is frustrating. I've got no patience with my daughter and my OH tells me I'm so moody and shouty x
 
I think the moodiness is normal. It’s an awful lot to cope with practically and if your blood sugars are a bit erratic, then that can affect your mood too. I found it all relentless at the beginning. It’s also a real downer to have to think so much every time you want to eat. That does become more routine though and not such a big thing.

It’s still very early days for you, so take things slowly and, importantly, be kind to yourself.
 
Get a free trial libre from the abbott website while you wait, but I would be pushing on a daily basis for this.
I was diagnosed a year ago and it was a huge shock (age 61) after that it was like grief, with all the emotions that entails (particularly anger) then the realisation that it's not like other illnesses, this isn't going to end which is depressing. Add to that the emotions when you are too high or too low and you and your family are in for a bumpy ride for a bit.
That was the down bit, the good bit is it does get easier, the moods do get better, you will get control of this but it takes time. Someone on here said to me to give it a year and they were right. The difference now is huge. Be kind to yourself, ask lots of questions here, get yourself the two books that are often recommended (someone better than me will jump in and give you the titles in a bit). There are some very useful threads on here so rummage around when you have time. Xxx :care:
 
Hi @vetnurseevans and welcome to the forum - I know from fairly recent experience that a type 1 diagnosis is pretty overwhelming and sorry to hear that your healthcare team have not been as supportive as you need - and as @Inka has said you will go through a huge range of emotions - hopefully we can help here - ask any questions you want - nothing is considered "silly"
 
Hello Tara, @vetnurseevans. Welcome to the Forum. Sorry you are finding this tough going - you are not alone in being like that, nor alone here on the Forum.

@Inka has just beaten me to it, I have also found both those books helpful in different ways and read Think Like a pancreasc from cover to cover shortly after I abruptly found myself needing help. (I skipped rapidly through the Chapters on Pumping, then.) I used his book to learn about carb counting.

There is a fair bit of T1 in my maternal family and a cousin, himself now a retired SRN, told my wife straightaway that my D was deceptively difficult for anyone and could make me moody. He lightheartedly recounted tales from long ago of his BG going very low, he would get really snappy and his wife and young son would push various high glucose things at him telling him he was going hypo. They were right, of course! A couple of years ago my Consultant told my wife that every single day of my life I am subliminally making over 300 decisions about my Diabetes: and that was long after I had CGM to help me. I wish there was a simple leaflet or post card for partners, family and friends that we could give out whenever those close by "don't get it".

Anyway, Welcome. We here do "get it" and we're a friendly and supportive bunch of folk. Do ask questions, any questions and someone will normally have an answer.
 
Welcome to the forum @vetnurseevans /Pat

It is a lot to take on board very quickly when diagnosed with Type 1. It is not surprising that you are having mode swings, this can simply be due to glucose levels, and then add in the change to managing Type 1.

It definitely does get easier, and there are plenty of people in the forum happy to help in any way we can. No questions are considered silly and we ‘get it’ .

I look forward to hearing more from you.
 
vetnurseevans said:
I'm trying to carb count but I don't seem to have very much consistency with my readings ATM whatever I do which is frustrating.
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It can take a little while to get a basic system working for you, and to build an idea of the (multiple!) ‘exceptions to the rules’ that your diabetes may sprinkle in. It’s also possible that your clinic started you off on fairly conservative doses to reduce the risk of you crashing from high levels at diagnosis to hypos.

There’s an introduction to carb counting here:

Learn about carb counting

People l
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

vetnurseevans said:
I've got no patience with my daughter and my OH tells me I'm so moody and shouty x
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FWIW, I get pretty grouchy when my BGs run high for any length of time too. Hopefully your mood will improve as the grief/shock of the diagnosis fades, and your levels begin to settle a little.

Hang in there, it will get easier.
 
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