Hey, Is anyone ever too scared to do things because of your diabetes? I never used to let my diabetes get in the way of my life at all however in the past year for some reason i let it prevent me from doing things. For example- Sometimes i won't go out at night after i exercised because i'd be scared id get low.
Or if my sugar is high i won't go out until it comes down
Or I'm afraid to get an "active" job because of my blood sugars
I'm also somewhat scared of driving on the highway now because a year ago i almost blacked out.
Is this normal or should i seek help? lol thanks ;D
Sometimes I’m afraid to do things too. I never travel alone. I always make sure there is someone with me. That’s a fairly recent thing in just the last two years. It’s a scary thing. If something happens, you are at the mercy of strangers.
I think it is normal to be apprehensive to do things with this disease. However, we have to live a long life with this so I think you must confront your fears and try to work through them. It's possible you might want to talk to a professional who can help you deal with some of your anxiety. We live with so many inherent constrictions with this disease it would be a shame if you let it rob you of all your freedoms.
I don't know, I mean I've just never let it control my life. I don't know if that was more stubborn rebellion or just a fly by the seat of my pants attitude and hope for the best. I think as I've gotten older and have had this longer, I am probably more cautious, but no I dont let it control me, if I want to go somewhere or do something I do it.
To me it's normal now. Like u I really didn't let it bother me too much for like 35 years into being a Type 1 (maybe more I honestly don't know) but for the last few years (after a wreck that I did black out b/f due to a really low low that I didn't feel coming on) I do loads less now. Like something everyone (or atleast I did when I done it) takes for granted like driving. I found that a car can be a bad thing if ur not in controll. But it's kinda like Cinderfellla says if ur alone ur at the mercey of strangers so I kinda like knowing I have someone who knows what's up with me incase I get to being too "strange" LOL!
I work in high tech industry and bicycle. Sometimes I mountain bike and sometimes I road bike. One year i was so scared cause I kept getting lows all the time because of changes in my meds. It got to the point that I did not want to go to work or bike. I was always on my blood pressure monitor cause I had high blood pressure and the doctors kept telling me that I would have a stroke if the blood pressure did not come down. After being like this through out the summer I could not stand being at home worrying about things and how it was impacting the people around me. So as I had done before when I used to mountain bike I got up and started to get back to life. The one thing I did was constantly test. Since I am a type 2 we are not given cgm's so I am stuck testing with meter and strips. I test like 12 to 14 times a day to make sure I dont get lows while in meetings or exercising. A little excesive but its what I need to function. I rather stab myself in the finger repeatly than sit at home.
So my suggestion if you want to get back out and do things find a way that will make you comfortable when you are out and about or doing things. Testing was my safety net, so if you are alone testing may be a good way to make you feel better. As long as I know the number I know that it may just be allergies or sinus problems and not lows. I had issues with allergies feeling like lows for a while so I would over treat and wind up high for hours.
All I can think of is contingency plans. Covering the bases. Like, about driving -- don't get into the car if your BG is below 120 (your target number could be different). I used to do long-trip driving, and I ALWAYS had an open bottle of regular Coke in the car, and I just kept sipping on it. And in addition, you can stop and test every hour. For me, the tests never showed anything much out of the ordinary -- I might run a little high, but I was just SIPPING on the Coke, not guzzling it.
If you exercised, and think you might go low, then have a little protein snack before you go out. Nothing wrong with having a pocketful of munchies, too -- but again, an OCCASIONAL munch, not a snack-fest.
If your BG is high, why not go out? You can test as much as you want, and if you're cautious about it, and careful not to stack insulin, you can bring it down slowly and not go low. The issue here is slow and careful. I have a pump and a CGM, and that helps immensely, but frequent tests would tell you the same thing. If you're trending down, DON'T take more insulin; if you've flattened out or are going back up again, maybe do, but just a LITTLE. No rage boluses! :-)
I'm trying to say that you shouldn't let these things stop you, BUT you need to be prepared, and ready to meet all contingencies. And it wouldn't hurt to have a friend along who knew what you were doing, and what you are scared of, and who would be ready to help appropriately. You only have one life, and you have to LIVE it! :-)
I think it's perfectly normal to be scared doing some of the things you describe. Remember, fear is a healthy thing most of the time, as it helps to keep us alive! So long as that fear isn't controlling your life, you're ok (IMO).
Yes, I too am scared sometimes to do things for fear of losing consciousness. Several years ago, I was traveling a lot for work and whenever I had to travel alone, I was always way more on top of my BGs and far more fearful of going low when alone in a hotel room, for example. Driving too can be a bit nerve-wracking. But this fear is what drives me to test before getting behind the wheel.
I think getting older changes our level of fear and how we let it impact our lives. As kids and teens, we're rarely scared of anything. But as a adults, we become far more aware of the consequences of everything and are more careful and less likely to take risks (hence the lower car insurance rates!)
I say be scared, but keep it in check. It's ok to not leave your house sometimes because you're scared of going low, but if it turns into an all-the-time thing, you may need to get some help.
I can relate to your fear. For me, it's gotten worse as I've aged and have seen scary lows and greater fluctuations at times. I agree with Natalie on the contingency planning - that equates to peace of mind for me. If I go anywhere in a car, whether I'm driving or not, I test before and often and I bring along my small backpack that has a small bottle of gatorade and a glucagon emergency kit, as well as jelly beans and peanut butter crackers. If I'm driving, I have a small bottle of gatorade in my drink holder that stays there always.
Sometimes I even find myself hesitating to go out or make plans with family, then I remind myself "you have the glucagon kit and the gatorade...it will be okay". That's helped me alot to overcome my hesitation. The other tool for piece of mind is a cgm. I keep my Dex in my lap while I'm driving so I can glance at it if I need to...I keep thinking one day I'm going to get pulled over for texting behind the wheel when I'm not really texting! I can see that now...but Officer....
I'm still grappling with traveling for business. I actually skipped a conference I normally attend last year because of health anxiety but I don't want to give in to that forever. I'm also hoping to get a pump soon so am not comfortable traveling long distances with a pump until I get used to it.
The strange thing is that I never used to be like this. I'd go anywhere and everywhere over the almost 25 years in and sometimes had to scrounge in my purse for forgotten lifesavers but never planned and didn't worry about it. It's only been the last couple of years for me and I think it has more to do with becoming more hypo unaware and just being scared I won't feel it or catch it in time.
I agree with two earlier points that fear can be very healthy and swimming with all this junk attached to you is annoying. Swimming is just difficult with a CGM and a pump and exercise and heat, etc. I think those activities that you are hesitant to do may require extra planning? Diabetics are great at planning ahead so that is what I recomend. I firmly believe that there is not anything a diabetic cannot do if they have enough supplies and time to plan ahead.
I have also found that camping is quite difficult for me. The increased exercise, unknown timing of meals, erratic schedule, poor sleep, being in the middle of nowhere if there is a problem and dirty environment is difficult enough for me. And all that stresses me out and makes it that much more challenging. Also, swimming often happens when you are camping to make it even more difficult.
Can you feel yourself get low? And maybe you should change your meds if they're causing the lows?
Your story reminds me of me though- i used to ride my bike miles and miles into the woods by my house on a trail we have here. I would bring a bag with me with juice and my meter etc and of course my phone and i would just ride about 15 miles into nowhere around no one. Well I can't even thinking about that now- it seems so stupid. Although I can't help but think I had the right mentality back then and not now- I mean i had all the stuff on me incase something happened and my sugar was in better control back then when i didn't worry.
I think it's normal to be cautious with what we do in life because BG is impacted so easily. Unfortunately, diabetes demands constant attention and monitoring. My biggest fear is dropping low so I just always try to be prepared... I keep life savers, glucose tablets, granola bars stashed everywhere... coat pockets, purses, glove compartment of my car, at work, (even at the gym, I keep something nearby.) I feel safer that way. I can fix a high anytime because I'm on a pump so that doesn't bother me anymore. Always be prepared to tx a low and check your BG often :)
yeah...I always tell myself I'd rather have a low then be high, i'm still on MDI's and very insulin sensitive...so correcting is tough..until I have a bad low..then I'm like...OH WAIT, I hate those more. Diabetes sucks!
I love biking, to me it's relaxing because on a bike, it's really easy to lug all the junk along with me, high-carb Gatorade, low-carb Gatorade, jelly beans, meters, whatever. I didn't bike as much last summer as I was running more (training for marathon...) but stiil got out maybe 3x/ month, a lot of times to relax on Sunday after long run on Saturday. I can usually tell pretty easily as I always try to ride as fast as I can and, if I start to feel like I can't ride hard, it's usually a good indicator that I'm running low. I can check the CGM while I ride too, as long as there's not a lot of traffic. The only downside is that I feel obligated to ride farther as I am also keeping an eye on the Garmin "calories" and it doesn't burn the quite as fast as running.
I like running and have worked out ways to lug stuff along, meters, sugar, etc. That gets dicey as for the longer runs, it's quite a chore to lug enough stuff along, particularly since the meter takes up the large pocket, etc. To me, the challenge is fun.
As a kid through my early 30's I didn't let it stop me do anything accept dating. In fact I used to Jetski and play racquetball and was on two shots of NPH only. I had no idea where my sugars were and quite frankly didn't care. This was back in the early 90's and management was a bit different then today. I didn't feel well back then but I still did stuff. Now from the anxiety and depression of not feeling well I barely leave the house. It doesn't scare me to pass out from lows accept while sleeping but the anxiety has me housebound.
i guess i've pushed through the anxiety and depression about this...it's not going anywhere, half the time I too feel like crap..but, i'm hopeful still. i test a lot too. i'm getting on a pump, hope that will help. have you thought about that - a pump, newer insulins..and, as we've all mentioned, the anxiety and depression is holding you hostage, Gary, and it's heartbreaking. Really, try seeing someone for that, there's no shame, D is a lot to handle for all of us! Mind and body go hand in hand...just try a med for something, if it is your blood sugar fluctuations, loosen up a bit on your control, like one does if they start to have hypo unawareness. If a med could make this less difficult for you, in any way, try it...this is it, there's no second chances, this ain't no dress rehearsal, ya know. Strive to feel better, search for what that may be for you, on all levels, and go for it? At this point, what do you have to lose????
