I was diagnosed earlier this year, just before my 20th birthday. I teared up a bit and got this overwhelming feeling of helplessness when they told me, but quickly pushed it away and asked if I could still eat steak : ). I’ve never been an emotional person. I drove myself to the hospital and checked myself in and waited a few hours for my parents to get their. My mom cried for hours and I had to comfort her. She said she’d never be able to watch Steel Magnolias again ; )
I haven’t had any major breakdowns about it yet, although I’ve only had it for 9 1/2 months. I feel the most overwhelmed when I have lows or forget my insulin at home when I go out or something else like that, but I grit my teeth and get through it. Mistakes are part of life. I realized at the beginning there was nothing I could do but learn to live with it, and I feel like that outlook and my resolve to do the best with it I can is what is helping me through this. I’m a somewhat religious person and I figure that God didn’t just decide I should have diabetes because he hates me, so there has to be some reason, and I know he’ll let me know sooner or later. So I just learn as much about it as I can and teach anyone else who’s curious what I know and look for that reason. Part of me is excited for what God has in store for me, even if he’s chosen to do it in a way that isn’t very much fun. But I figure there’s not much else I can do, so I have to make the best of it. Not saying there aren’t times where I get a little down and do the “Why me? This sucks” deal, but I don’t allow myself to dwell on it for long. If I did, I know I might feel like giving up, and the stubborn part of me wouldn’t ever let that happen. Sometimes I do feel lonely, I’m the only person in my family and my circle of friends that had diabetes, but that’s what this place is for!
i call it my diabetes burnout phases. I’m fine for a few months, then everything in my head turns, i cry, sob, beg for sympathy, get angry at the universe. Man…i am so glad you mentioned this. I have been reaching out to find anybody else who goes through this. I guess it’s just a part of the type 1 drill i hate it. If you ever want to chat message me and i’ll give you my multiple IM screen names
I’ve had diabetes for twenty five years and I get the why-mees sometimes. I think that’s part of having a disease and that’s part of being different that the “average” person. I think too, it’s good to get a little cry in every now and then. Best of luck to you…
…your post reminds me of the other day…me and my boyfriends aunt were getting our haircut…it just so happens that the hairstylist is a type 2 and is pregnant and is taking insulin while she’s pregnant…anyway, they proceeded to tell me that my diabetes was very bad cuz i’m on the pump…i got mad and told them NO i’m not bad…i tried to explain further and decided i was only going to get more frustrated and mad…they are just ignorant! and the aunt i was with is borderline diabetic!!! agh! some people…thanks for hearing me vent!!!
it’s ignorant people that push us into a diabetes depression…it happens all too often…and then i realize that i actually have control of my disease and my problems aren’t as bad as some peoples’ are…
my son was diagnosed last week and the first time I propped him up in his bed to give him a drink made me immediately think of the scene in the hairdressers salon on shelby’s wedding day. It breaks my heart. It is such a strong movie and the performances are amazing. Having said that, I know it will be a long time before I can watch it again.
I will be the first to tell you that I’m exactly the same way…Sometimes something just triggers it and I can’t deal. The other night I was fighting high blood sugar all day and when my roommates went out to eat, I stayed behind and cried…It just happens. No biggie. Keep your head up. =)
Do I ever know how you feel. I was just diagnosed less than a month ago. While I in some ways am thankful for the new-found strength being diabetic has given me, most of the time I want to scream at the top of my lungs. There are so many other stresses life throws at us, so to deal with this on top of everything else…for lack of a better word…sucks. I am an optimistic person and don’t like to complain a lot, but sometimes that hinders me. I keep too much inside, trying to deal with everything alone and over time it builds up. I recently started a journal, which I religiously write in every day. It’s my space to vent, be frustrated, and cry, without the feeling that i’m being judged by anyone. My friends and family are supportive, but no one REALLY knows (I’m sure you can relate). The time I spend writing allows me to self reflect and get out ALL of those awful feelings, I feel like I am transferring my burdens from my troubled mind to the paper. It’s also good for those days you feeling exceptionally good, (for me, finally getting my BG in a normal range!) and being able to go back and read all of your milestones will allow you to see how far you’ve come.
I actually didnt do anything when i was diagnose ( i think) cause i was berly going to turn a year old so yeah. But in the other hand, my mom used to pray alot when i was sick, now i dont think she lost faith but when people tell her to pray like in church or just catholic people that pass by houses to pray with u. My mom cries alot, and not like a cry for 5 min, like a long cry. Im her first baby and well i think thats why it hurts so much because she has told me that she thought she was going to loose me, i was too skinny for a baby i got hypothyroid with diabetes at once. And many doctors said i wouldnt make it cause that day i went to the hospital (well they took me) i was in like the lowest you could ever be, and i was just a baby so yeah. I guess my mom cried alot. As for me, well there was a time that i would of ask myself, am i strange? or Why Me? I told my mom to take me to a psychologist cause i was too stressed bout my diabetes, but she never took me cause of money issues.
i am right there with you. I cried every time I saw this movie, always Identifying with the Mother. Now I can’t even go close to that movie because my 14yo was diagnosed in Nov. Its way to close to home. She just laughs at me, but it doesn’t matter, no matter what age she is she will always be my baby.
See discussion I just posted. How do you deal? You test your blood sugar. You eat the proper diet as set by your doctor or dietician. You LIVE YOUR LIFE to the fullest and do everything you can to take care of yourself and CONTROL your diabetes. Diabetes is not a nightmare. It’s a controllable disease!
Why me? God knew I could handle this. He knew it would make me a better person. He knew I’d learn something new each and everyday. He knew I’d live a LONG life. He knew I could handle being a type 1 and giving birth - Twice to the 2 most beautiful children in the world. He knew I’d find a man who could be my partner in my diabetes care.
We all have moments where we get upset, but why not talk about the good times? You’re not all sitting around crying “why me” 24/7. Let’s make the newly diagnosed see that there is life after being diagnosed with Diabetes - type 1 or 2 or wherever you fall. Put it this way. Land, get up and keep going. There is NO reason for diabetes to stop you!
I had a moment of that about a month ago. I’ve had T1 for the past fourteen years and have basically come to terms with it - integrated it into my daily routine, don’t keep it in the forefront of my mind but rather go on autopilot about it. But…for some reason when the big box that contained my new pump and pump supplies was finally delivered to my house I just broke down and cried about it. Like, great not only do I have this disease but now I’m going to have something attached to me 24/7 too.
I think everyone goes through this at some point. Doesn’t take much to trigger it. But I guess the key is to keep moving forward and looking forward to new things in life, as cheesy as that may sound.
And…maybe this was just me…but the scene where Julia Roberts was getting her hair done for the wedding seemed ridiculous. If I’m remembering right she started convulsing because she was so low, but then was saved by a very heroic glass of orange juice! So she could get on with her wedding day! If I had started going into convulsions on my wedding day, I’m pretty sure I would have ended up in the E.R. :-p I’ve never started shaking like that when low - I might start slurring words like I’m drunk or get super spacy but I’ve never started shaking and pushing people away.
Ah, Steel Magnolias. I believe this is an inaccurate portrayal of Type 1 diabetes. Never saw Julia testing, either via blood glucose monitor or urine strips (if the glucose meter was not available at this time). Never a mention of “Juvenile or Type 1 Diabetes.” One portrayal of low blood sugar, again, very dramatic, and not like anything I have witnessed. Just a mention of her “being special” “being careful.” Oh, so very, very vague until the dramatic climax of the movie. There is no mention as to what could have been done to prevent the outcome. I think the actors could have researched better and given a more truthful portrayal. Did Shelby have complications and kidney damage already and thus was advised against pregnancy? What really happened?
The accuracy of the movies is a little behind the time yes, agreed. But that doesnt change the fact that when I watch it it reminds me that this could kill me! Because it could. I am not stupid I know that it isnt up to date with the technology that we have now but when I wrote this it wasnt about the movie it was about how I felt. I was having one of those why me, Im too young for this days the movie just happened to be on…
i hate it. If you ever want to chat message me and i’ll give you my multiple IM screen names 