hey dylan, thanks for the suggestion, but i really dont think i would benefit from a thearpist. I get the feeling that you took something i said the wrong way. I dont want to die, sometimes i just get frustrated with diabetes. I do miss being a size 4, but i felt like crap, and now i'm happy being a size 8. I feel good, my fiance still thinks im attractive, all is well. I know my past habits were so dumb, and basically suicidal but i look at them as a good thing, because I learned so much from that one stay in the ICU. I've learned taht with just a little effort, i can be healthy and feel good. I learned that my family and fiance are there to help, if i'd just let them. And, i learned your roommate is still going to try to talk you into eating cake and getting starbucks, but most importantly, ive learned from this experience, that its okay to say yes to those things, and i do still lhave those things, but now in moderation, and i bolus for them!
I know what a drag it is to constantly battle the disease and to hope it will go away if you just ignore it, but years later you don't want to deal with complications. Take one step at a time. Try to eat well and don't go crazy about it -- allow yourself a piece of chocolate, but don't binge. It's something I deal with even today and I've had diabetes for 51 years! And give yourself some TLC because it's a pain to have a chronic illness.
Diabetes Camp was a very positive experience for me when I was younger. I went "Camp Crestfield" in Slippery Rock,PA. My parents, sister, best friend and my boyfriend are my support group. I am very pleased to add juvenation to that list also :) Thank you Gina for this wonderful website !!!
Type 1 for 25 yrs.
Cass,
If you had a dietician tell you to stop taking your insulin so you can lose weight that right there should make her lose her license. Actually it should be gone already. It sounds to me like you have diabulimia a very serious condition.
I too went through the same thing you are experiencing I was struggling with diabulimia for a while. I was hospitalized 4 times in a year because of DKA. I lost the weight then I would go to the hospital gain it back lose it gain it back and it was a horrible cycle for a long time. I lied to my whole family as well. I hated how I looked from gaining weight and I wanted to go back to my size 0 pants again but, it was not healthy what I was doing to myself. I became very depressed and went into a very dangerous time in my life where I just wanted it all to end. I wanted my life back to what it once was without diabetes. I have actually thrown my pump at a wall and broke it because of sheer frustration.
Cass your life is so much more important than being thin. You are worth it. You need to be healthy so you can live a long time. I hope that you will talk to your family or doctors about what you feel because it does help. And if you need go talk to a therapist I have done it myself. When I finally let everyone know what I was going through it felt like a burden was off my shoulders and that was the day I finally got my life back again.
If you ever want to talk you you private message me.
Gina, you summed up everything that was going through my head while reading about Cass. Everything you said was spot on. I went through a stage where I was having my shots (morning and night) but then just forgetting about it all during the day, not wanting to bother other people, not wanting to bother myself. It's so important to speak to your family and doctors whenever you know things just aren't how you want them to be, they'll always be able to help you. They sure helped me.
Oh, and Juvenation has been an awesome help too! So many questions I never knew I had!
Luke,
I am glad that you got yourself together. Once you finally realize that you have a problem and can tell someone you are having a problem you can get help. Getting help saved my life. I don't think I would be here to share my story if I didn't.
[quote user="Gina"]
I don't think I would be here to share my story if I didn't.
[/quote]And neither would Juvenation, Mrs. Moderator. :)
I'm thinking about seeing a therapist even though my diabetes is in good control. Sometimes I just need somebody to talk to. Juvenation is great and has really helped a LOT of people, but face-to-face you can't replace (oh wow - you see how I rhymed there?).
okay, so don't act like you didn't expect this from me haha, but diabetes camp has really helped me. i mean, my family has always been super supportive, but there is nobody who understands life with diabetes as well as other diabetics. and i think that by making so many friends that know the lifestyle i do, it makes everything so much easier. and i also think that this site is a really great alternative if you do not have any diabetic friends to talk to outside of the internet, because everyone can help each other out, you know? and having diabetic friends helps me stay optimistic with all the ups and downs. i mean, i have been diabetic for what seems like a million years but i still love meeting new diabetics just to help people out and make friends! so if anyone ever wants to talk, i'm soo downnn[:
Rachel,
Sometimes I wish that there was a camp for adults
For me it's been the fact that so many of my family members have diabetes. Seeing all of them live their lives like it's not a problem is something to look up to.
My cousin just had twins a few months ago and she takes care of them and her diabetes and I am really proud of her.
My father has been diabetic for almost 20 years now and he's been my biggest support.
My grandmother and my aunt, though they have both died were diabetic. Knowing that they didn't let it ruin their lives is important.
2 Things
1. The support of my wife, without which I could not have gotten through 20 years of this.
2. Knowing that I am not alone out there.
Hey James,
The moment I read the heading of this discussion the first person that popped into my mind was Nicole also. She was my dietician since I was first diagnosed until I turned 18 and was transferred over to a different place. She was definitly the greatest person to have around. From when she came to my hospital room until I turned 18, she was always awesome! I am so glad I had her as my dietician, she is so helpful and just a genuinly great person.
Janelle
Looking back I think there were two groups that helped me deal with my condition, my family and camp. My family was my only support network and they treated me as just one of the gang. They kept sweets in the house and did not hide anything from me. They pushed me to do anything and everything I wanted, with in family limits, and even paid for me to attend a soccer camp hosted by Pelé. When told I had diabetes, Pelé smiled, nodded and told me to start running (no special treatment there...). He was very careful to have food and emergency supplies in easy reach, but did not make it obvious. I guess I was one of the lucky ones.
I wanted to ask if anyone remembers an old animated diabetes education film called EDI (short for Exercise - Diet and Insulin)? They used this tool a lot during the 70's to educate newly diagnosed kids. The film, as a teaching tool, was great but it had one major flaw - if you play word games with the title EDI also spells DIE. The film was eventually pulled because of this (I think??) but I have not seen anything to replace it. I ask this because I councel children with T1 and I am looking for a good tool to use for a group gathering we are having.
I would have to say my mom. Without her, I probably wouldn't be doing so well. She managed it most of my youth, was able to push me to be independent when I was ready, and although we fight over it a lot..she gives me all the support I need. She had to sacrifice a lot too, which I appreciate.
Course my doctors/teams and my big brother help a lot..but my mom helps me the most when it comes to managing my diabetes.
[quote user="Gina"]
Sometimes I wish that there was a camp for adults
[/quote]
Gina, I'm going to volunteer as a helper on the next available diabetes camp. I know an older girl with diabetes who did this and she absolutely loved it. As most of the older helpers we're also diabetics. But it would be a great idea to have a camp for adults.
Wow, it feels so good knowing theres other people dealing with the same problems i am. This site has already helped me with so many ?s i have had. Its amazing!!
My mom helped me the most, for sure. She cared for me when I was younger and now that I have more independence, she still makes sure to remind me to test or bolus. Even if it's annoying at times, I know how helpful it really is.
Also, my endo is amazing. I've been with him since I was diagnosed (at 18 months old), and he really does care about me. I know pretty much everyone in the office, and they all know me. He was the one who originally pushed for me to get the pump, and now I can't imagine going back to MDI.
I have other supporters of course, like the school nurses, my friends, the very tolerant PE teachers, and the rest of my family. (:
The one person who has helped me and totally changed my life around is my husband. He has really helped me to put things into perspective. He made me wish that I would have taken better care of myself and my diabetes when I was younger! He also gave me two stepdaughters who I consider to be my own. They bring me the greatest joy everyday!
Great discussion here. I'm very competitive in some situations. I won't let Diabetes "win" with me. We wake up together everyday (me and diabetes), I usually win. Sure I lose occasionally, but no complications yet (after 18 years). I trust my doc also. She is kinda like the score keeper/coach. I say to myself "diabetes should have picked someone else, because it doesn't know who it is messing with".
Also, keeping complications at bay will allow me to see my daughter grow up and have her own family. And will also allow me to grow old with my wife. These things keep me going.
Jason