AceFace
Forum Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I was asked by Naomi of Diabetes UK to tell my story, thought I would share it with you, what's your story?
My story begins in 2000 a number of years previously i had a Martial Accident where i had my knee cap kicked off, and now i needed operation, my wife and i were sat in the pre operation waiting room and i will never forget these words” Mr McCoy how long have you been Diabetic” which came as a shock, Diabetes was so far removed from my life i didn’t even know a diabetic, and just thought of big needles, after the initial shock i was type 2 what a relief i thought, little did i know, hence to say the operation was cancelled.
Over the next 15 years i sort of ignored it really probably denial, i had a horrific lifestyle in diabetes terms, drinking at lot, which i don’t mind admitting became a problem in the end and still is today, (another battle) eating anything although i inherently knew this was a time bomb, i had read all the complications, but of course it only happens to other people. I also had occasions where i so knew i was sugar high irritated and angry but didn’t have a monitor at this stage, not that i would have probably used it anyway.
In 2015 i was on the usual medication Glipzide and eventually Metformin, and some blood pressure tablets, i really struggled to take Metformin, so it was dropped, i had my usual checkups which were more of an inconvenience, eyes, feet, I had it, and still do, nothing seemed to be working, i was pretty much testing my sugar levels at this time, it was not good, and my lifestyle hadn’t really changed either, i guess it’s like people who give up smoking after their first heart attack, it was going to take something to get my wake up call, and in 2017 i got my wakeup call.
In 2017 i was referred to the Regional Diabetic Nurse, who decided to put me on insulin injections, Humalog mixed twice a day , and at the first appointment just couldn’t face it, i was just shown a pen and expected just to do it, i think my Diabetic Nurse had so much experience and i don’t say this lightly forgot a little compassion, i spent the next three weeks until a rearranged appointment having panic attacks, and anyone who has experienced them at this level knows what I’m talking about, my wife attended the appointment with me where i took my first injection i was looking at my wife’s face as if it would be alright, the horror on her face il never forget it, we laugh about it today.
I spent the next six months in free fall always taking the injections and always waiting for the hypo i was calling my Diabetic Nurse regularly and every time the units of insulin went up, creating this vicious circle of panic attacks, I’m a representative for a living so spend 90 percent of my time in the car and admit to crying alone like a baby on some occasions desperate, for those who have not got Diabetes the constant monitoring of your blood up to four times a day, the high sugar levels, the low sugar levels, the Black Forrest Gateaux which is off the agenda, the highs and lows emotionally is a roller coaster, and worst of all the fear, and for those who have Diabetes, you know exactly what im talking about, I am now on two types of insulin three times a day
Where am i now, I’m good i have learned to live with the with the injections, and together with talking therapy and other therapies i have made good progress, i would like to thank my wife and daughter for the hell i put them through this year, they have been my rock.
I would also like to give a special thanks to the Diabetes UK Forum who has helped me more than i can imagine with all their experience and compassion.
My story begins in 2000 a number of years previously i had a Martial Accident where i had my knee cap kicked off, and now i needed operation, my wife and i were sat in the pre operation waiting room and i will never forget these words” Mr McCoy how long have you been Diabetic” which came as a shock, Diabetes was so far removed from my life i didn’t even know a diabetic, and just thought of big needles, after the initial shock i was type 2 what a relief i thought, little did i know, hence to say the operation was cancelled.
Over the next 15 years i sort of ignored it really probably denial, i had a horrific lifestyle in diabetes terms, drinking at lot, which i don’t mind admitting became a problem in the end and still is today, (another battle) eating anything although i inherently knew this was a time bomb, i had read all the complications, but of course it only happens to other people. I also had occasions where i so knew i was sugar high irritated and angry but didn’t have a monitor at this stage, not that i would have probably used it anyway.
In 2015 i was on the usual medication Glipzide and eventually Metformin, and some blood pressure tablets, i really struggled to take Metformin, so it was dropped, i had my usual checkups which were more of an inconvenience, eyes, feet, I had it, and still do, nothing seemed to be working, i was pretty much testing my sugar levels at this time, it was not good, and my lifestyle hadn’t really changed either, i guess it’s like people who give up smoking after their first heart attack, it was going to take something to get my wake up call, and in 2017 i got my wakeup call.
In 2017 i was referred to the Regional Diabetic Nurse, who decided to put me on insulin injections, Humalog mixed twice a day , and at the first appointment just couldn’t face it, i was just shown a pen and expected just to do it, i think my Diabetic Nurse had so much experience and i don’t say this lightly forgot a little compassion, i spent the next three weeks until a rearranged appointment having panic attacks, and anyone who has experienced them at this level knows what I’m talking about, my wife attended the appointment with me where i took my first injection i was looking at my wife’s face as if it would be alright, the horror on her face il never forget it, we laugh about it today.
I spent the next six months in free fall always taking the injections and always waiting for the hypo i was calling my Diabetic Nurse regularly and every time the units of insulin went up, creating this vicious circle of panic attacks, I’m a representative for a living so spend 90 percent of my time in the car and admit to crying alone like a baby on some occasions desperate, for those who have not got Diabetes the constant monitoring of your blood up to four times a day, the high sugar levels, the low sugar levels, the Black Forrest Gateaux which is off the agenda, the highs and lows emotionally is a roller coaster, and worst of all the fear, and for those who have Diabetes, you know exactly what im talking about, I am now on two types of insulin three times a day
Where am i now, I’m good i have learned to live with the with the injections, and together with talking therapy and other therapies i have made good progress, i would like to thank my wife and daughter for the hell i put them through this year, they have been my rock.
I would also like to give a special thanks to the Diabetes UK Forum who has helped me more than i can imagine with all their experience and compassion.
