Nope…you are not alone at all. It takes a lot of time, emotions and brains to manage this condition. Someone asked earlier if you can take a “holiday.” Well, in a manner of speaking, that is what we (you included) are fighting for.
You are fighting for that day in the near future when things will be easier and it will feel like a holiday. Science and technology have helped…no, not cured, but help nonetheless. Perhaps two (2) decades ago it was nearly impossible for Diabetics to travel abroad. We can do that now: https://forum.tudiabetes.org/t/long-term-travel-and-insulin-effectiveness
In the meantime, if you do not want to talk to your own doctor(s) about how you feel, how about a hobby. (Thanks Wheelman!) Suggestions for something not physically taxing: reading, cooking, taking in a good movie or a series on t.v. (no snaking tho).
Hi wheelman, thank you for kind words. My dispair seems to be a more physical feeling rather then a mental one. I’ve accepted the change that needs to take place in my life and worked a lot towards it. When ever I can I meet family and friends to get out of this everyday trot. I started playing guitar 15 years ago and still play when ever I can. I also play all kinds of drums and I even do a bit of painting once in a while. my problem is, and this is why I think this is a physical rather then a mental issue, I don’t feel anymore satisfaction after wards. Even when I sleep I go to bed and wake up in the morning without feeling refreshed. And when I stop exercising/do physical workout I even feel worse and so do my glucose levels. It’s puzzling. i want to check my thyroids next time I go to the doctor. The symptoms are similar to what I experience.
Thank you for your advise though. It was very kind.
Hey L,
I have lots of hobbies and I don’t have a problem travelling. I travel long and often when ever I can. Oh and I will talk to my doctor. I have another clue that might guide me in the right direction.
Unfortunately Irish doctors are not very helpful. I’ve talked to my physician on multiple occasions. And also changed my GP lots of times. Just to give you an idea what Irish doctors are like; the only reason I got diagnosed with diabetes was because I had to tell the doctor check for diabetes. Even after telling him my symptoms he didn’t suspect diabetes. So once he tested my bloods it was all so clear to him all over sudden. So in other words, if you don’t tell Irish doctors to check for something they won’t check for it. Everyone I know, diabetic or not, has experienced this issue in Ireland. So I’m pretty much on my own when it comes to diagnostics.
Thank you for taking your time to reply. I take any help I can get.
Hello,
Thank you for your reply. I have indeed considered holidays. The problem seems to be that I don’t feel refreshed afterwards. It just doesn’t help. I suspect a hidden physical disability. I got an appointment with my physician next week and will ask him to check for certain things. I’m sorry to here you had such a tough time. I hope you feel better now found the support and answers you were looking for. Hugs from Ireland!
Thank you for coming back and taking the time to read all of our replies and to reply in return. I’m really glad you have a new direction to go in. And yes, keep pushing the doctor(s) if that is what it takes because in the end you get to say: “I told you so!”
Please let me add that I am in the United States and was able to visit Ireland in the summer of 2007. You have a beautiful country, filled with beautiful people. When I was there, it felt like everyone came out of the woodwork to stop and say Hello.
Hi, Pete!
My name is Nicole Holcom and I’ve been a T1D for 30 years. I think you should go see a counselor to possibly get some medications to help. Diabetes causes depression due to fluctuations in glucose that the brain needs to function, as well as the chemical changes in the brain that is also caused by diabetes. There is quite a bit of information on this online. You should research it, especially the scientific studies.
I personally have tried antidepressants several times, but never saw a decrease in my symptoms of depression. However, don’t let my experience detract from my advice about seeing a counselor. Everyone is different and medications may do wonders for you.
I wish you well!
Hello Nicole,
Thank you for replying.
I have tried this already. The antidepressants don’t seem to work on me. No idea why. I’m well aware of the effects that a fluctuation in glucose levels can bring about. Thank you for your advise.
Pete7, I feel your pain. I’ve had T1D coming up on 25 years. On two occasions about 15 years ago, my husband called the medics and I awoke to seeing them standing around my bed and giving me juice. When I think back on how my life was in the past, I just want to cry. I’ve had brain MRIs, and my frontal lobe is in poor shape.
I am lucky to have a spouse who is younger than I, and he continues to work. Pre-D, I was a successful administrative law judge but found that I could no longer do the work. My plan was to do volunteer work, but it seems like almost everything requires decent short-term memory. I never drank alcohol to excess but I quit drinking in the hope that I’d grow back some brain cells. “Better living through chemistry” is what keeps me going. I know that an important aspect of brain health is to engage with others. But I have a really hard time making friends, because I feel self-conscious about my memory issues.
Easy to say, I know, but I’ve been there so have hope. Maybe read Learned Optimism or The Myth of Stress or any of many audio CD’s from your public library.
In addition to checking your thyroid, check for low testosterone (lab: testosterone level free and total), CBC for anemia and Vit D and B12.
Agree with counseling – safe and might help eventually.
As for “antidepressants” there are a wide variety of these and many work in completely different ways so there may be one that might help.
Don’t forget the effects of reverse T3 (rT3) which can happen even in people who are not hypothyroid and it still makes them feel hypothyroid because the presence of the reverse T3 blocking the receptors sites for T3 slows a person down and makes them feel miserable much like a person who wants to sleep all the time. Don’t test for rT3 without testing for the others (mentioned above) at the same time so you are able to calculate ratios. What I am stressing is you could be feeling hypo for a reason that is faster to correct, but complex to correct. Myself and two men I know are in the same situation and they are not even diabetic. Very few doctors are aware about the situation, so you will need to do a lot of research on your own and take the lead in your own case. That will help you feel better, by being the master of your own destiny. In my opinion being diabetic has been an interesting 35 years for me but I take a positive outlook…
But don’t let them say you are in need of thyroid medication until you have solved the problem with supplements first as in all cases when we supply a hormone from an external source in time it makes us always need the external supply and that is called down regulation.
There is a reason why the antidepressants don’t work and that is because with time the neurons sense the excess serotonin in the SSRI class of antidepressants which is not the most prevalent in use these days and the receptors pull back so that about negates the initial feeling better. So in time it doesn’t seem to work, but if you stop then whammo you really feel depressed as if the rug is whipped out from under you. That accounts for why there are warnings on those drugs about suicide and even court cases about spree killings. The drugs need to be gradually withdrawn with lots of instructions, but it seems too many people don’t get the proper education. Doctors don’t have enough time in visits and they presume too much will work out on it’s own.
There are better ways to feel happier with supplements and also lifestyle issues. There is an excellent book by a USA based Psychiatrist about “Natural Highs: Feel Good All the Time” which covers all the natural alternatives to drugs by a doctor who really knows how the brain works. Those Dr_T1 suggestions look like you should do them all. I love the effect of supplements and do lots of reading myself. When you are leading your own health situation it really does change your perspective.
I am sorry to hear you are in such a low place.I truly do understand the challenges of being diabetic as I have been T1 for 51 years.
I agree with all of the suggestions of counseling and possibly antidepressants. There was a time in my life when I made use of both. Diabetes has been shown to sometimes increase rates of depression.
In reading your post, it sounds like you are in relatively good health, outside of being diabetic. Is that so?
I read Joedy Rose’s post and I guess I want to say that being happy is a mindset. I also want to ask about your spirituality. Do you believe in God? You indicated that [quote=“Pete7, post:5, topic:51518”]
never accepted that I won’t be healed one day
[/quote] and God is able o heal…
I am not in anyway trying to negate your feelings about your condition, but recently I watched a friend of mine die from a horrible disease. She just deteriorated away. It was horrible and I was thankful ALL I have is diabetes.
You know, diabetes is a terrible disease and the future with the disease is an unknown, but a lot of people have fulfilling lives with it. And in all reality, the future for anyone is an unknown… I hope you find a way to get some joy in your life…
Thank you for your reply and kind words. What do you mean by spirituality exactly? Please note that I do not believe in god. I have extensively studied theology as a hobby 10 years ago and do not agree with this philosophical way of life. However I do believe in the power of the mind and that meditation in a none religious way can be very effective.
JaninaWalker, my friend died from cancer. She was just a few years older than me and a wonderful woman, wife and mother. Although much has been done to improve outcomes with cancer, they are not always successful. She fought hard to live and I never heard her complain. She was very sick and in great pain toward the end…
I am a practicing Christian. I respect your right to not believe in God and will not try to change your view. I framed my question about spirituality wondering if a belief in God’s power to heal may have been the driver behind your strong commitment to the belief that you will be healed.
