I have horrible anxiety due to my diabetes. Right now I am suffering big time every time I bolus. I have anxiety until I test my bloodsugar at the two hour mark, but do it sooner if I feel off. Other thing that does not help is having hypoglycemic unawareness. I have anxiety for lows and highs and I feel awful if bloodsugar is not close to normal, and for me normal is 100-135.
I would love to have my symptoms back for lows of sweating and shaking, but I have nothing, until it is way way low.
Hi Karen -
You might take comfort in the fact that your normal range gives you a nice cushion above the 68-70 that is the usual cutoff for hypoglycemia. If you start to feel "off" at 75 that provides a lot of protection.
Maurie
You are not alone in this fear, I have so much fear/anxiety around going low! I have been diabetic since 1999, and while it has always been in the back of my mind it became a real cause of anxiety for me in 2009 after a different health scare. I had a slight case of PTSD and specifically medical anxiety because of that scare. The two best things that have helped me start to get over this fear are (1) my CGM and (2) weekly therapy/cognitive behavioral exercises to help me get over my fear. It has taken a lot of time and attention but I am making progress and starting to get past it. I know lots of people have issues with CGM, but as long as you perceive it as a back up, trend predictor and not what you take your meds off of it is great. I have found mine to be extremely accurate. The first day is always a wash but day 2-5 of it, specifically day 3 & 4, it is consistently within 10-15 pts of my meter reading-- making it the same margin of error as a meter. I use the one from minimed and absolutely love it. Therapy has been great, cause I have been able to work through the feelings/moods of why I feel this way, think of alternative perspectives and come up with action plans that give me comfort and make me feel safe. I would also consider a diabetic dog, most are non-profits and you have to pay a small fee of $150 and that is it. It could help give you peace of mind at home. Addressing the issue is the first step to fixing it, so kudos and good luck to you!
Hello Laguitariste:
Testing by definition is "self-injury". In any other context we'd be hospitalized for doing so. How do you frame testing to avoid that unfortunate "paradox"?
Can diabetics become mentally unbalanced pursuing too zealously "perfection" re: diabetes?
Stuart
no
Hate to say this, Stuart, but you need to chill. If we do not test and understand and act, we die. We are not unbalanced at all. In fact the people here are some of the most balanced, knowledgable and focused people I have ever had the priviledge to meet.
Thanks to all of you who have taught me so much!
I don't think it's irrational - lows give you a very immediate and urgent feeling that something is not right, and your body wants you to do something about it. If you don't have the proper foods at hand, it can turn out to be a panicky situation. It's the thing I'm most concerned with myself.
Me too, I can’t stand lows! Especially if I’m by myself in public. It’s scarey.
I know this might sound a little over-the-top, but if you were to get a home alert system, nobody would really have to know. You could wear the necklace or bracelet only when you’re at home. All you have to do is push a button and the ambulance will be there right away. You might feel more safe it you have that.