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View Full Version : Just looking for an opinion :)


HutchWabbit
01-13-2006, 07:26 AM
A big Hi to everybody for a start ! :shakehand

I have something going on at the moment which is literally tearing me to pieces and I wonder if you could offer some views using your experiences. This would end up being stupidly long so I will condense it as much as I can.

I've just split from my girlfriend of 18 months who is has been T1 since the age of 7 (she's now 21) - reason to follow and it'll all make sense. I'm 35 and don't have diabetes myself. She's had various medical issues of seriousness along the way and some not helped by alcohol and cigarette abuse from about 13-17 (as far as I am told). Since being with me she really really changed for the better and certainly helped me out aswell. However, She's now started smoking a little (first time I've seen her do so and was to help with an attack of anxiety) and wants to go out and party again. Don't get me wrong, I'm fully in support of the partying but being sensible with it.

The key thing is here is that I've only ever seen her test herself 3 times in the 18 months I've known her and basically I'm told "I know my own body and I don't need to". Diet has been ok for a few months but it's now a case of whatever goes. She was the model diabetic until about 13 and then all **** broke loose apparently.

She's now suffering from anxiety and is making rash decisions that are totally out of character (must buy this, buy that, get a dog, etc, etc). It's a level of impatience which extends to new proportions. It's been like this for a while but now has got worst. There's basically no telling her at all with anything and if you do offer advice then you are wrong.

The problem is, is that I absolutely love her so much and more than I can possibly say here and am offering a great life with a stable home environment to help her out in every way that I can. This has been rejected as I apparently didn't ask her to move in to my new house in the timescales that she had set (down to a few months). "I didn't get what I want when I wanted it" was the statement. It was going to be my top of the tree Xmas present too so it's seriously gutting. I bought the house and it's designed by both of us with the full intention of her moving in.

I know what risks I am taking on and have written everything down and accepted them. It's something that I've taken alot of time to understand. My friends tell me to get out of there asap but I've never loved anybody this much before and she really is something incredibly special to me. My dilemma is if I stay around and support her it will kill me not being able to do anything and see this happen. If I disappear out of her life (my choice, as she doesn't want me to) then I won't have to watch this all happening, but it will mean I will miss her terribly. I'm not one to give up on somebody, let alone the person I love. Everything was perfect and going so well I cannot say and all of a sudden this HUGE change. I have my suspicions that these problems may be down to not monitoring as her sugar levels could be whatever\whenever. One of the medical documents I've been reading states that this is most likely the case as snap judgements are made based on short term goals which could be major (plus being very critical of people with no patience). Virtually all of my time is taken up trying to understand this at the moment. Everybody I've spoken to says to run as fast as I can from this as she is playing one incredibly dangerous game thinking "I've gotta do this when I am young. I don't want to get old.". Scarey isn't it. Obviously, there's more than myself worried about this.

I really really don't know what to do and apologies for rambling (it's the minature version aswell) but I'd be glad of any input you could offer. If she sees this (not sure if she is a member) then I'm a dead man for sure, but I'll risk that for the sake of her health and future. Thanks in advance.

TAutry
01-13-2006, 07:47 AM
Hi Hutch,

Welcome to the forums. I wish it was a happier circumstance that led you here. Don't be embarrassed about expressing yourself here. Most of us do it at one time or another. Some days, diabetes and other things get the better of us and we have to vent or ask for opinions. In fact, Diabetesforums has evolved into a pretty strong online support group. In fact, I think it is easier to bare one's soul online than in person.

Firstly, it is wonderful that you care so much for this woman. She obviously doesn't fully appreciate that fact.

Secondly, it is terrible that you care so much for this woman. Unfortunately, the people we love most and take closest to ourselves know how to hurt us in the most painful ways.

Now, about your situation: You're in a fix. Your ladyfriend is jerking you around and mistreating herself and there's not a blessed thing you can do about it. As difficult as it is to consider, you may have to pull back a bit and give her some space. You may need to set her free and allow her to come back to you on her own. That doesn't mean run away. It means, tell her how you feel about her, offer her your support and love. Tell her that you will always be there for her, but she has to decide what she wants and that includes how she manages her diabetes.

I'm sure others are better equipped to offer advice and some will.

Good luck,

Travis Autry

Penny
01-13-2006, 07:55 AM
May I play "Devil's advocate" here! The girl is 21! She still has a lot of maturing to do. She is plenty old enough to take care of her diabetes, but may need to grow up a bit before she commits to a relationship. TAutry is right, stand back and give her some room, if you are the right person for her she will be back. If you aren't, you really don't want her back.

TechKnowBabble
01-13-2006, 08:03 AM
I wish I had good advice to offer you, the best thing you can do is to be there for her. Unfortunately she is going to make her own decisions and have to suffer the consequences for them. I have an incredibly supportive boyfriend and I don't know how I would have gotten through the past few months without him. Perhaps she needs a support group or some type of counseling. Good luck and feel free to vent to me as you need!

HutchWabbit
01-13-2006, 09:29 AM
Good advice so far so thanks to all. Just a bit more info (and to confuse things and with reference to Penny's comment about committing to a relationship), she's been separated before we met (got married to completely the wrong person way too quick and too young). Maybe I've just come along and met the right person at the wrong time. Anyway, I'm actually going through the process of giving her space at the moment (as suggested and that's what she's asked for) as she's agreed to councelling and is going to start soon. She's said that we aren't over 'over' but she needs time. Time I am giving her and I'm getting on with things the best I can but with concern looming in the back of my mind. The question being is whether she will be straight and honest with the councellor (I have my reasons to think not which I won't go into).

At present, I just wish she would not go and make major decisions in life without going through councelling first and giving herself time which she obviously needs. For example, seriously looking at buying a house when there's no way you can afford to yet and dismissing the financial calculations as "Yeah, whatever, I don't want to know" is a good example of what I'm talking about with regards to making big decisions without thought. She's scared and is rebelling against anybody that wants to help which is really hard on everybody. She's undoubtedly done alot of damage in a short amount of time and I will do anything I can to ensure that she lives a healthy and happy life. Unfortunately, I realise there is only so much I can do and the rest is down to her. I will support her, as always, in every way that I can and more.

Anyway, I'm not going to turn the conversation onto a pure relationship thing as it's the cause of what and why it is happening and her treatment of her condition which is what is worrying me well above anything else.

discordia
01-13-2006, 09:30 AM
May I play "Devil's advocate" here! The girl is 21! She still has a lot of maturing to do. She is plenty old enough to take care of her diabetes, but may need to grow up a bit before she commits to a relationship. TAutry is right, stand back and give her some room, if you are the right person for her she will be back. If you aren't, you really don't want her back.


I'd have to side with Penny here. Your GF is only 21, you must remember what that was like:smokin: :cheers: :rock::love: :beer: . She'll get some kind of wake up call sooner or later and will eventually get her life together, whether you're there or not. Just hope the wake up call she gets isn't too drastic. Welcome to the forums and best of luck to you brother.