I’ve never personally known another type 1 diabetic, so I’ve never really known what other people do. I am curious, though, for the people who are doing fairly well, do you have any tips? Do you stress out about it a lot? Do you try not to let your readings affect you? What works? What doesn’t? Any tips you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
So I have a problem with lows, as in, I get low a lot. I spend almost all of my time stressing out about my diabetes, what my blood sugars are, what they were, what they will be. (I’m something of a perfectionist.) This causes me a lot of anxiety. I know this isn’t healthy, but it’s what I do. I guess I’ve always figured the only way I could be in really good control is if I constantly think about my diabetes. Is that required?
I feel that constant pre-occupation with Type 1 is required, and the only way to successfully manage the disease. I’m not one of those that goes around trumpeting stuff like "Diabetes doesn’t define me!’ (of course it does!).
In the past I have compared Type 1 to getting a severe, mortal wound on a battlefield and the only way to stay alive is to keep one hand pressed to the wound at all times. So long as you do that, you live indefinitely. Easy enough, eh?
My one tip is this: Make use of every single advantage that is available to you. Pump, CGM, Symlin, etc… Nothing has improved my health more outside of my own diligence.
i’m trying to stick to my new years resolution of taking that 110 year old lady’s advice for old age and eliminating stress. Life is worth living not stressing, so far being ‘care free’ has worked to my advantage, lets hope it stays hahaha
I’ve heard really good things about symlin, but my doctor won’t let me take it until I get my sugars up, so my A1C is at least 5.5. Have you found that it helps you then?
Okay, this is something I just don’t understand. I was on a pump for about 4 years, and it just didn’t really make any difference for me. Lots of diabetics swear by the pump, but I never really noticed any difference between the pump and the MDI. So why do people love the pump so much?
Try raising your target. Yes, actually give less insulin. It’s OK! You’ll be ok at 95-120. I think stress is normal when you’re having lows! A 4.8 A1c is marvelous, but it is due to those lows, and that “but” has its problems. Those lows keep one’s fight hormones working hard. I believe in being VIGILANT. I’ve been accused of being a perfectionist, too. I wouldn’t have had my job if I hadn’t been, so I can talk this way. BUT I REFUSE to let myself rest in those lows! Hypoglycemia unawareness comes to those who stay low. Awareness comes to those who stay above that.
Let your perfectionism put you in those 95-110s. Now you can settle back. Feel the anxiety roll away. Picture yourself in GREAT control, cause now you can look at the foods you eat and what they do on the upper side. Only one side to deal with now. Doesn’t it feel good?
So now, tell us what your lows actually are! What kind of insulin do you use? And do you go to work, volunteer at stuff, have another life, and if not, what other life would you LIKE?
I am actually considering doing research in my chosen field, counseling, to work on the phenomenon that diabetics often live with of defining themselves by their blood sugar number. It can cause anxiety, depression, or even denial and lack of self care for people. Yes, we have to be aware of our diabetes throughout the day but we are not just diabetics, we are complete people with hopes, dreams, and lives separate from our disease. A blood sugar reading of 200+ does not mean we are a bad diabetic, it just means something changed, we didn’t count our carbs right, we are getting sick, etc…I use mindfulness techniques in effort to fight this in myself and it is so difficult. I use the mantra when I test of “I am not this number, it is a measure that helps me adjust as needed.” It is all about finding a balance between being vigilant and not being so hard or critical of yourself.
I’ve known a lot of people with type 1 and I think knowing everyone screws up is what helps me. People who are perfect or try to be perfect just make me anxious! When it comes to my blood sugars, I try to remember that I’m not defined by a single number, but that my attitude towards my health is what is important. If I am trying to be good and healthy, then that’s what matters.
If you are going a lot, you are taking too much insulin. Diabetes requires that you think about it a lot because your body isn’t going to think for you anymore. But if you go low a lot, there are ways to minimize that. I know it sounds like it’s easy, but I know it’s not. But it’s important to test frequently and to make changes when you notice patterns. I feel like a lot of people - myself included - don’t want to analyze patterns because it’s a lot of work, but it’s important. Finding a doctor and educator that you trust is really important, and it will help in the long run. At least, it did for me.
I love what you just said. For a long time I ignored my diabetes - through my teenage years and early 20’s. So I was unhealthy but blissfully unaware! It was great mentally but terrible physically!
In the last 5 years I have worked so hard at being a ‘good diabetic’ but as a result if I have a really high reading it can make me upset and put me in a bad mood for hours. Its like a black cloud. I am finally trying to reconcile the two but its hard. And I have been type 1 diabetic 23 years!!! But for some reason it has been as I have grown older it has hit me.
So I love what you said. Anxiety is a big problem for me but am definatly getting it under control. I am trying to relax about my sugars and realise I can only take each reading as it comes and not worry about things I cant control. A good diabetic isn’t someone with perfect sugar levels, a good diabetic is a diabetic with the right attitude.
Good to hear someone else in the same boat. Thanks Suzanne.
I am glad someone gets where I am coming from on this! I know that one of the reasons I am getting better at not blaming myself is because I am getting treatment for my depression. I also notice as the depression has lifted, the anxiety creeps in! What I learned in graduate school is that this is common and I am not alone. Part of my program from school included a strong suggestion that all students undergo their own therapy. This has made a big difference for me. Of course I know I am a bit biased since I am studying to be a therapist but if it works, go with it! A good attitude goes a LONG way, it took me forever to figure that out
We seem to be the pumpless minority. Although even money aside I wonder where to tape it. To the forehead? It would be nice if one could rent one for a month and see if all the hassle and millions is worth it with much better quality of life or at least significantly better A1c.
I use the pump and have been able to lower my A1c’s in the 5 years I have been on it. But Dave, so many with type 1 diabetes are overwhelmed with the amount of work that they have to personally do to acheive tight control on the pump.I, too, have had diabetes burn-out with the pump and did get a less than desired outcome.for about 6 months in 2008. This occurred when I was stressed with family stuff, job pressures .To be a successful pumper, you have to juggle all of the learning and testing and you are "your own science experiment stuff(Dave,is this a quote from you on another diabtes site?) AND your whole life… The poster may have understood all that was in the Walsh book ( I checked it out of the library, and I do plan to buy it this month as I do work on tightening my basals…); yet still could not fathom as to how to live a life with the pump…
This may be because IT IS WORK, weeks and months of work… and if you are not willing to do that, the pump will not perform any better than shots… I think the level of work for a pump is a LOT MORE… but the outcome is generally more favorable… And do understand how pumping can be a formidable, overwhelming task for many people…Let’s not beat them up for that…
