Hello all…My name is Christine. I am 37 years old and just passed my 30 year mark as a type 1 diabetic. All though when i was diagnosed it was called juvenile(did i speel that right?) diabetes…
I’m going through a really rough time and can’t seem to find the motivation to take care of my diabetes…
i wake up everyday and say "Ok self, today we are going to do this right…"
I test when i get up, take my insulin, and sometimes have breakfast…
then I’m done being a diabetic for the day…
i do take my insulin, but sometimes not until i feel my self going high from lunch…
i always take my bedtime lantus…it’s the day in the middle that throws me off, i know i need to do better, but it’s just never enough. I want to do better but …well i already told you what my days are like.
i’m about 30 pounds overweight, not too bad, i lost 30 pounds, and thn gained 10 back. I’m thinking of going back on my pump, but the last time i was having a lot of site issues.
OH, and most important of alll…i HATE low lood sugars.
I could go on and on but that is enough to get started…would love to hear from anyone out there…
—christine
hi, Christine, welcome to TuD. I struggle with motivation too, and feel like I should be doing better, no matter how much effort I seem to be putting in, it sometimes feels like not good enough. I did make some changes last year which included a new endo, a few trips to a CDE and RD, and they changed a lot of things, so now I hardly have any lows. I would recommend a review by your diabetes team, and if they are into blame and shame, then you need a new team. And maybe instead of “today we are going to do this right,” why not give yourself a more concrete goal for today, and one that is not so big. “today, I am going to test before lunch”. Perhaps you could reward yourself if you follow through with some little reward (for me, it might be a new lipstick or a piece of really good cheese). Take baby steps, Christine. There are many amazing people here who will be encouraging you! You can do it!
if it helps any i haven’t checked my sugar since feb, i take my lantus and guess on my humalog, or i just don’t take insulin for my food, i tend to to worry more about bills then my diabetes. So your definitely not alone. Good luck
Christine, congrats on 30 years with T1. We all may do things wrong, but you’ve obviously done a lot of things right to pass such a significant milestone, right? (I’ve had type 1 for nearly 19 years now. I think 20 years will deserve a big party or something. I’ll start convincing my husband now. Cruise, anyone?)
I’ve turned my d-life around since joining here a year ago. So many great tips. So much experience in one little corner of the interwebs-universe. 
Hi, Christine. Please take better care of yourself! Just do it. Don’t even think about it. Try to make it a habit. It is just as easy to test and take insulin before lunch as it is to take insulin for highs after. You’re going to have to take insulin anyway, and you will feel so much better if you do it before eating. I know how difficult it is; it is so difficult at first. The only way to get around it is to make it a routine. We test my niece almost every three hours round the clock, sometimes four, and two hours after eating. It is the only way to address the changing blood sugars. Seems every time we look at the clock, it’s time to test. And 30 years with Type 1, no wonder you are sick and tired of it and want a diabetes vacation. But time for that vacation to be over! It would really be great if there could be some noninvasive way to test blood sugars. Maybe you would be willing to try the new Dexcom cgms? That device would certainly help.
Hi Christine, Please do try to follow a scedule where you will be sure to test and take your insulin on time.Maybe going back on your pump will change issues.When I started on the pump it motivated me even more.You did the right thing by joining this group.We are all a family here and are willing to lend an ear,or should I say our eyes!
Hi Christine, You’re special and you.re beginning to realize its no accident that you’re special. You’re beginning to see God made you special for a purpose. He must have a job for you that no one else can do it as well as you.Out of the billions of applicants, only one is qualified, only one has the right combination of what it takes.That one is you.YOU’RE SPECIAL. If I clinically dead, in Boston, with a BG of 880, and with my second chance have been a ROLE MODEL, to over 40,000 diabetics and at 91 have been a computer rookie, have found a way to mentor to members who are in areas with very little diabetes info, “WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR AREA TO IMPROVE YOUR DIABETES PREVENTION & AWARENESS PROGRAM” Since 1977 have been on a journey filled with all kinds of friends and experiences, and ways to add LIFE to my YEARS and YEARS to my LIFE Work with a good dietitian, and set small rewards when you reach your goals Check out your local LIONS CLUB, they have an excellent diabetes awareness program and tell them the DIABETIC LION sent you I have been in LIONISM since 1972 clarence.haynes@sympatico.ca
Hi, Christine. You’ve made an important first step in seizing control of your diabetes: you joined this site and you asked for help. (And how we all need help and support with the constance vigilance required to control blood sugars!)
Sooo. What’s your “small step” going to be today? Let us know; we’re here to cheer you on!
Christine…30 years! I can’t imagine. Have you developed any complications due to poor control? I ask because I’d imagine that to be a good motivator. At least the science has come a long way since you first had to deal with this. There are more tools and there is more knowledge. Most of us here struggle as well and are glad to be here for each other…good luck and keep us posted.
Christine:
Please take care of yourself. It’s hard and people need motivation so I would like to suggest that you go to my profile site and read my story. I hope that it will make you think, scare the dickens out of you, or inspire you to carry on. It’s not easy but you can do it. And it won’t be perfect either. You will have great successes and sometimes, little defeats. But just keep on going and take care of yourself.
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI