Basically for me it was “Crap” not a life shattering end of the world thing more of a it’s not cancer I guess. Few other thing anger that I might end up like my mother(yes we have issues). But mostly some fear and a resolve to do what I have to do. More worried for my family then myself.
When I first found out, it was in my primary doctors office at about 10:30 in the morning on a Thursday. I said OK, and then went down the hall and puked in the bathroom. It wasn’t a good morning, but I also quickly came to the realization that it wasn’t something worse and it would be OK.
Actually, that is pretty much what I did too - I only think after the nurse left the room with my FBG of 205 - I said “S**T” instead of crap! 
(and a few other not internet appropriate swear words!). And tried not to cry…
Actually, the second thought I had was “How the hell am I going to pay for this?” LOL! (no job/no money/no insurance!) I was more worried about the money than I was about me!
I didn’t understand what diabetes was. I had never heard of it before. Even after I was admitted to the hospital I didn’t understand that I would never “get better” (although I would feel better) and would be doing this “forever.” I didn’t really realize until I went home and still needed to do shots … I do remember crying in the middle of the hospital entrance lobby on the day I was discharged, and I think this may have been the point when I realized that diabetes would still be with me when I got home, but I was only a kid so don’t really remember. I remember a few days later asking my mom if I was going to die, because it was called “die-abetes.” It was a rough year in general, but I didn’t really get angry/frustrated/scared about diabetes until I hit 23 or 24. I think that those “grieving” stages may be delayed until young adulthood for those of us who were diagnosed as kids.
I think… my father’s life flashed before my eyes. How he lived, and how he died… I felt like the wind was taken out of me; like my life was suddenly shortened by 30 years, and I would not have many opportunities for many things. It was scary for a little while.
Yeah, I felt a bit weeney-ish too after I made such a big deal of it (not that it isn’t a big deal because it does change your life but it is not like we have cancer or AIDS). The hardest part is adjusting than you become a tough weeney.
But I guess when you look at - all kinds of conditions can have a death sentence - You could have super high cholestrol, have a heart attack, fall dead. Or go in for a triple bypass and die during the procedure. People die suddenly when they are not even sick with anything serious. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.
For us, apart from avoiding diabetic coma which could kill us, we at least have some control. And there could also be worse things to learn to live with like being paralyzed. MS is another disease that I would not want to get.
Even though D is a pain in the ■■■ - I have to keep reminding myself - I got it good compared to so many others. It really keeps me sane.
So true the day I got out a friend found out he had cancer. Well it was a bad week when I was in 3 people in knew died I think that helped a bit on the could be worse front. Still miss my super high carb foods and regular soda nut better off with out them.
!st off I took Diabetes at 10 so we’re looking at it from a 10 year olds point of view. My 1st cousin was a diabetic and I had learned very early about diabetes. We were a close family…My 1st thought was “I’ll have to take shots for the rest of my life” My 2nd thought was “I can’t eat anymore sweet stuff like Debbie” This was in 73 and at that time they weren’t counting carbs they were counting calories.
This is easy as it happened only 2 years ago. ICU, DKA and 52 years old. WTF!!! LOL
I was 17, a senior in high school. I think I said, “Does this mean I have to cancel my date for Friday night?” Seriously. The doctor had not really explained too much about what “His numbers are a bit high, let’s get him checked into the hospital and we’ll get him fixed up good as new” really meant. I knew something was wrong, but it was more of a slow realization of everything that it could and would mean in my life. In a way, I’m grateful that the shock was minimized a bit. Oh yeah, I got a one night ‘pass’ for Friday night, so I made the date. “Thanks nurse Betty, I still owe you, you rock wherever you are.”
I was 19 and about to start college. All I could think was oh god not something else I have to deal with everyday without question. Then as the doctor was explaining everything I started getting mad. I think I was in denial for about a week or so. Then I got in gear.
I guess I was surprised, glad it wasn’t something I was TOTALLY unfamiliar with because I had had gestational diabetes with both my pregnancies, and maybe in a bit of shock. I had been feeling funny the week before. And I had been going through other health issues for months before, so this was par for the course. Sort of felt kicked when I was already down. And I gave up on anger or anything because there was nothing I could do about this. Nothing. But I got with the program right away because I have small children and am currently supporting my whole family. I didn’t really have the luxury of feeling sorry for myself to the point of becoming catatonic.
Then I looked for support groups as soon as my eyesight got better. I was not going to go through this alone as is my usual tendency with tough things in my life. I wanted to be sure that if I was going to need to vent, I wouldn’t feel like I was talking to a wall and to people who couldn’t really understand. I needed to know that I wasn’t alone, and that I could find solid support.
And so here I am.
It was a little different for me – I already knew in my heart what the diagnosis was, I was just looking for confirmation when I took my son to the doctor. Which, unfortunately, I got (I’d been praying desperately that I’d be told I was an overreactive mother). I had NO idea what the diagnosis entailed. I just remember being ushered through the process in a fog, holding onto my baby boy and thinking, Oh. My. God, what next?? I don’t know if the fact that I’d just had one major blow the day before (I’d just lost a prize filly to a broken leg) made it better or worse – I was already reeling from one cosmic sucker punch, so another didn’t really hurt me that much more!
When I found out my son had Diabetes I worried about every stage of his life … now - trying to treat a toddler with T1D, in a few years when he’s embarrased, adolescence when I have to trust him to treat himself, college when I’ll worry like crazy, and even when he gets married. WORRY WORRY WORRY…that’s all that went through my mind. Oh and what could I have done differently…
Danny got the same speech in 1973. I have lived to 47 with no major complications (aside from gasteroparisis) HOLD THIGHG YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
I was nine years old, and showing all of the classic symptoms in the days leading up to my diagnosis. Both of my parents were diabetic and had a good idea of what was going on.
Frankly, I enjoyed the extra attention and was having a grand old time exaggerating my thirst, fatigue, etc. When my parents tested my blood sugar and I was 423, I thought that I was doing a good job at playing sick, but subconsciously I knew what was happening.
When I was diagnosed and hospitalized, I was a bit surprised but I took it in stride because I was used to seeing my parents test and take shots as part of their daily routines. I was lucky to have that background.
Remember my mother telling me a few days before that it sounded like I had diabetes. Grr even with me know the signs and it had crossed my mind a lot. Her suggesting it knocked me into a hope its cancer cause she is not going to be right about this mind set. My mother and I have always had issues and I was not going to have something else reminding me that I was more like her then I like to admit.
Oh but it’s funny how we are getting along a lot better now sine D-Day
Have no clue. I was 3 in 1958.