Overwhelmed!

Type 2
1

Hi everyone,


I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in May of this year and it has been a very overwhelming couple months. I am still going through the "why me?" stage of this all, and trying to balance diabetes with everything else that i'm doing. I am 19 years old, and couldn't figure out why this I got this. My story is kind of confusing (well to me at least) and i'm learning and trying to put it all together.

I am a junior in college and I went to the doctor's office after feeling sick of and on for years. I had all of the symptoms, but diabetes never crossed my mind until my dad was diagnosed about 3 weeks before me. My worst symptom was being extremely tired, but I thought that balancing school and work was to blame. It got so bad in the lat two months of the semester, that my grades started slipping because I could not stay awake to study or even do homework. Sometimes I would miss classes because I was very tired after work, or felt weak and disoriented. I also also urinating a lot, extremely thirsty all the time, and always hungry. I was also beginning to lose weight, and I did not know why because I ate all the time. Other things happened like my cravings for sugary treats, and frequent yeast infections. I was beginning to get depressed and I stopped talking to my friends just for no reason or sometimes i would just cry for no reason. I decided to go to the doctor when I went home for the summer after my dad was diagnosed and his symptoms were the same. I went to the doctor's office hoping that it was nothing, just my body going through changes. When the doctor did the test my bg was 355! She then told me that i have to do blood work to check everything. She wasn't sure what type I had and the results of the blood work would have taken weeks( i live on an island..lol). I was placed on insulin at first because she did not want to leave me without it in case i needed it. My a1c was 11%. When she explained that i had diabetes, I was in shock and thought about how long I had this! I remember when i was about 12 i had the same symptoms, but I lost a lot more weight (30 lbs in a month without trying). My mom took me to the doctor and he said nothing was wrong. .

Right now i'm confused because looking back i think i had diabetes from the time i was about 12! The results came back that I was a type 2 but i'm only 19 and overweight by about 10 lbs. Right now im on oral meds and diet and exercise. I lost the about 10 lbs, but It's been hard for me especially being in college and eating the right foods in the cafeteria. Everything is overwhelming right now! How did everyone cope and accepted their diabetes?
2

Hi and welcome, although of course this is not a club that you want to be welcomed to! You’ll find a lot of helpful information here. Have you seen an endocrinologist at all? Do you happen to know what kind of tests were run on you?

3

Do you know what tests were done to arrive at a type 2 diagnosis (c-peptide, antibody tests)? Frankly, I suspect that you are NOT a type 2, but actually a LADA or Type 1. It is extremely important to get the right diagnosis as early as possible (I was misdiagnosed for six months).

Also, what oral meds are you taking now?

4

Hi! Thank you! I’m already finding lots of information here. I made an appointment to see an endocrinologist in about two weeks. I am also doing the antibodies and c-peptides test tomorrow for my visit.

5

Please take a WELCOME from us! We’re here to help in anyway possable. Looks like both Duck and Shannon are telling you to get checked again you might be a Type 1 or a Type 1.5. I have to agree with them. It’s worth the extra test to find out. Good Luck! Let us know what’s up. Yes this is such an overwhelming thing that alot of us here have learned how to deal with this on our own. As my DR says “There is no text book case of diabetes Everyone is different!”

6

Lea, I sort of hail from your area a bit, as I’m from Puerto Rico… :slight_smile:

I understand how you feel. Please, just take a deep breath… and take things one day at a time. Believe it or not, the fact that you are here, is a huge step in managing and accepting your Diabetes. I know it may seem so overwhelming and like it’s going to be the end of the world, especially if you’ve had any family or acquaintances who’ve had Diabetes, and are familiar with the complications. Just remember… You are not them, and diabetes in this day and age can be a very manageable disease, and with today’s tools and knowledge, we can lead very long, productive lives… and enjoy all kinds of foods.

We all have gone through the period of diagnosis… and some of us are still going through some of those emotions. Many of us went through doctors who, indeed, ignored us, told us there was nothing wrong, or who simply misdiagnosed us altogether. (You can see some threads where people talk about when they got diagnosed, and just before… like the I remember When… thread.) Many of us go through the classic range of feelings when a relative dies: Grief, Anger, Shock, Acceptance, Denial, etc… It’s quite normal. Diabetes is as if we’ve had a death in the family… because part of who we are: our independence, our spontaneity, our carefree attitude, has died. Those are issues difficult for people to deal with, and they take time…

You are not alone in your feelings, and in your struggle. The best thing to do now is to seriously educate yourself. Do your own research when you’ve had some time, and read some sites such as “Blood Sugar 101.” Controlling the amount of carbohydrates you consume is going to be your toughest instrument against fighting Diabetes, no matter your type… (Please insist on finding out your type.) There are many groups in our community about making lower carb meals, or carb sensible meals. You can use your glucose meter to test pre and post meals, and to determine how much carb amounts affect your numbers and your goals. Now is the time to be a little detective… and discover more about your body, and how meals and every day life affects it. :slight_smile: Do not be afraid of posting, and asking questions.

Take things ONE day at a time, one step at a time. :slight_smile: But do TAKE those steps.

Welcome to our community.

7

I took the c-peptide, antibody and also a urine test. I’m visiting an endo in the next two weeks, so i’ll see how it goes!

I’m taking metformin

8

Thank you so much for the inspiring words! I feel like i’m going to accepted, it’s just hard to do so. Yes, and it’s true, i’m glad that it is something manageable. I guess I just feel like my future will change dramatically and i dont want that. Also, eating out with friends is depressing, but i’ll get used to it, hopefully…:slight_smile:

9

And yeah… you don’t have to be seriously overweight to be a Type 2… Especially if you have a strong family history. Sometimes, it just happens. :frowning:

10

See the group “Thin Type 2 Diabetics” as a reference… They were not overweight when diagnosed…

11

I would tend to agree with most other people here that the antibodies test is important to rule out LADA or Type 1.5 because it would be a pretty unusual presentation of type 2. I mean, it’s not impossible, but it’d be unusual. I’m glad you are seeing an endo, I think that’s really important when you have an unusual case.

12

Hi Lea: Good that you got the antibody and c-peptide testing done. You have been given some good advice here, and of course good support. I would disagree a bit with Frances in that I would say your case doesn’t sound unusual at all. Sounds like onset of Type 1 diabetes, and you are now in the honeymoon phase. Like Shannon, I suspect you do not have Type 2, and it is critical to your health to get a correct diagnosis and if indeed you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to be on insulin. Best of luck to you.

13

Well, you have gotten good advice. You need to look out for number 1, you won’t always get a proper diagnosis and you need to be your own best advocate.

Now as to coping. That is something we all struggle with. Frankly it s*cks having diabetes. You don’t deserve it, it isn’t fair and it is a royal pain. When I got diabetes, I felt like a part of me had died and I went through a sort of grieving process. I like to say that I went through the major Kubler Ross steps; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and then Acceptance.

It can be hard, as a student you don’t have other people with diabetes around you, nobody understands and there is nobody to talk to. But you just made an important step. You’ve now connected with thousands of other people who also have diabetes and understand what you are going through. And let me tell you, everything is going to be ok. You are going to figure this out, you are going to figure out what to eat, how to treat yourself and how to live a long and happy life. And you may need to remind yourself when things seem tough that it is going to be ok.

14

Welcome to TuDiabetes! It’s OK to feel overwhelmed, we all did, and still DO feel that way from time to time. Make time to exercise, and eat as low carb as you can, and you will feel lots better!

God Bless!

Mark

15

What I said, or attempted to say, was that hers would be an unusual presentation of Type 2. If I saw someone that young who was not particularly overweight I would NOT think type 2.

16

bsc has got it right. Its new and a tough change to go through, but honestly, In a while it will seem like same old same old. Its just like moving to the dorms or learning to drive. Its a shock at first, but no biggie. Youll handle it fine and it will be routine soon.

As others have pointed out, make sure you check what Doc’s say against you own research and try to make sure things are sound. Seek out well reputed Dr.s in your are so they advice (which is what it is) is good and not way off base.

With all that, just remember to do the best you can for yourself. Youll have ups and down as we all do. But, seeking out help as you have, just shows you care for your self and will continue to do so. We all do the best we can. Take it one day at a time. =^)

So, welcome to TuD.

17

I’m so glad you saw this - I was trying to figure out a way to “bump” it to you.

18

Oops, sorry Frances, I should have read your post more carefully! Thanks for clarifying.

19

Welcome to our community Lea! You’ve gotten some great advice from everyone and hang in there. Take one step at a time. Having diabetes is overwhelming but you’ve got a lot of support here. I’ve learned so much and always know I can come here for information and support. Once you know if you are type 2, LADA or type 1, you’ll have a clearer path on what to do. Take care.