6 months

[kidvid]

Today marks my 6 month anniversary. I'm writing you guys because I don't where else to turn. All together, things are going well for me. My A1c dropped from 12.7 to 6.1, I'm managing a pump pretty well, my cholesterol has dropped. My prognosis looks great. I read posts here and elsewhere daily about people in dire condition compared to mine. I'm grateful, but I'm not happy.

Just 6 months and I've interacted with medical pros more in that time than I have all of my 47 years...probably 10 times more. The phlebotomist knows me by first name. A visit to the pharmacy seems routine. A successful negotiation with my health care insurance carrier makes my birthday pale in comparison.

I read an article yesterday regarding the ethics of a medical test. The test identifies 18 dire medical conditions in human embryos. Diseases like Huntingtons, Alzheimers, etc. The point that stuck in my mind, when I read it, was the fact that in most of these cases, both the parents and future children in question would not be alive, or would not live past childhood barring modern medical technology. They would be dead. Worm food. Wrong side of the grass.

Thats me. Dead except for this little pump stuck on my side. I cried on the drive to work today. I guess this is gonna take a little longer than 6 months to get used to.

Thanks,

Joe

[TxTechKimmy]

It can be an overwhelming illness some days Joe. That is normal. I have had it 30 years now, and I still have my days. It is a HUGE lifestyle adjustment. We'd all be dead without our insulin...or air..food..water. That is the peril of being a human being. Just be thankful we live in an era that allows us to utilize a pump to keep us alive and pretty much live a 'normal' existence. I know ..trust me...when I have my down times, sometimes thinking about those things...well...doesn't matter. Just know that after time, it'll be easier. I know that doesn't make a whole lot of difference right now, but it will.

[Laura71]

Wow, do I remember that feeling. Like all of a sudden everything about your existance had faded away in comparison to dealing with diabetes every minute of every day. Nine years later, I still sometimes find myself feeling a little shaken when something reminds me that the little vials of insulin in my fridge are what's going to give me a tomorrow... and the next day....

Hang in there! Diabetes never really stops sucking. But it does slowly become less overwhelming, less all-comsuming - a part of your life (a big part, an important part, yes), but not your entire life.

[scara]

most of the posts I've read say that you never really get used to it, but it affects you less and less... so far I've noticed that my "good" days are becoming more frequent and I don't seem to take a wrong step (high or low reading) quite as personally as I used to.... I try to just treat it, learn from it and move on with my day.

That said there are still rough days and I expect there always will be, diabetes is daunting and unrelenting.... and I know it could be MUCH worse... but it also could be MUCH better.

I guess to sum up.... I hear ya.

[TxTechKimmy]

Look at it this way...the 'bad' days make you really appreciate the 'good'. Especially when you have more good than bad.

[Jazz]

I was diagnosed 8 months ago at the age of 44 - I can identify with your thoughts and feelings entirely! These last 8 months have been quite an experience to say the least - I have been thrust into a whole new world of needles, monitors, hypos/hypers, doctors/pharmacies, dieticians, diabetes management skills, etc, etc, etc!!! I am managing very well, though I too have become very aware of my own mortality, but I am also very thankful to the medical research that has allowed me to continue to enjoy life and I intend to make the most of it!

[Lynpenny]

You know last year when I was dianosed with this I spent all my time in the Dr. office. Now I go only once every 3 months to get my labs run and talk about them. I have this under control most of the time. I do have to remind myself that I can not eat like I used to. (God do I miss potatoes.) It is hardest when I'm traveling. We are traveling alot this month. I have to find places where I can get something to eat that won't mess me up.
I'm sure that the diet for the heart problem with the diabetic diet makes my choices harder. It has been right at one year since my heart bypass and I'm feeling better and getting in better shape. You know this heart thing is a complication to the uncontroled diabetese that I've had for as much as 10 years without knowing about it.
But life is looking up. I can travel and not have problems. I invested in a mini fridge to go in the car to carry my insulin and water and snacks so I can drive across the country. I did find a wallet organizer for the insulin and syringes to carry when I go to England next summer. I don't think I want to pack the mini fridge on the plane.
I don't let this get me down I don't have the time for my self pity. I do have days when I feel blue about it but I can usually look on the good side and keep going. But it can be overwhelming especially at first.

[Mich]

Well Joe, I think you'll never be glad that you have diabetes but over the years you begin to see it differently. It's never pleasant, but it gets bearable when you put it into perspective. I've had it now for 46 years, since I was 12 and sometimes I still go through a foot-stomping bout of resentment.

But then, I stop and think of the people I've known over the years who died much too young and much too quickly and it almost makes me feel lucky by comparison. I have had the chance to try things I never thought I would and meet people who have made my life richer and most important of all, I get to tell my family and friends how much they mean to me.

In the short view, it's a real pain to try to remember every medical thing you must drag along to leave the house. It's also annoying when you have one of "those days" when stress or (fill in the blank) makes your sugar go nuts and you spend the day testing and catching up and trying to guess what exactly it was THIS time. It does get easier to guess how much insulin you need to cover the things you eat. You finally settle into stopping in to see your various docs just like you do putting gas in your car and getting the oil changed. Keep a list of stuff you need to ask each one when you see them.
(Things you've seen on the news, the internet, this board) Ask them to explain things when you don't understand.

There are about as many opinions about every single part of being a diabetic out there as there are diabetics. In a year or two, you will have settled into what works for you. Pick and choose. If it doesn't work, do something else. If you test often while you are getting used to things, you'll start to recognize patterns in yourself. And then over the years you'll learn new things too.

Remember that you are a person with diabetes (not the other way around) and treat that person well. I honor you for your feelings. You are reminded daily how precious life is and you see a future ahead in which to enjoy that life. Insulin pumps are just the latest in a long string of great inventions that have made our lives a little more comfortable.

Yep. It's trite but true: Nobody ever said life was fair, but in perspective we might be some of the luckier ones. Bet you can't tell I'm a retired teacher :flowers: Mich

[2bsugarfree]

dnt have much to say- i only want to share that both my grandparents are diabetic patients and they go through terrible pain to control it-they are quite ol dna dhave to monitor closely over their food.