Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jacob's mom on June 10, 2012 at 3:11pm

Hi nat, maybe it is like the 3 year itch reality has really set in? i would hazard to say you are still the same you but feeling more depressed over the situation, have you seen a therapist it may really help if things have gone from white to black so to speak it could be more of a clinical depression that you would need more help with obviously just speculating but wish you well! where are you from by the way? i'll be sending you some better energy if wishes could help you would be feeling lighter already! keep your chin up. amy

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Permalink Reply by nat on June 11, 2012 at 8:05am

I dont really want to go to the clinic.. I believe i will be fine :)

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Permalink Reply by Aimee on June 12, 2012 at 5:00pm

Hi Nat,

Have you talked to your doctor about this? If you are having a difficult time dealing with life you may need some help. I have been to therapy at different times in my life and it has helped. I have even needed medication at times as well. It takes a strong person to admit that they need help. It took me years of suffering before I finally told my doctor that I was depressed. I kept telling myself if I changed one thing or another in my life then I would be happy again. After trying it on my own for years I realized that I couldn't do it without help.

I am just wondering if the difficulties you are having with your diabetes are a symptom of your depression and not necessarily the reason you are depressed. Now that I think about it, I am not sure whether it matters which caused which, if you are depressed you should seek help.

I have definitely felt the same way you have felt. It took a huge weight off my shoulders when I finally turned it over to the doctor. At the very least, the doctor can help you rule out depression and then you can focus strictly on diabetes control as the problem. Please make an appointment.

I am praying for you. Aimee

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Permalink Reply by Gary on June 12, 2012 at 5:42pm

I've been beyond fed up with it for most of my life. Nearly a half century. In short its ruined my life. Unfortunately we can't do a god dam thing. It's either live and suffer or die. It's really as simple as that. Maybe just maybe we will eventually see a corrective biological treatment. Take care of yourself in the meantime.

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Permalink Reply by nat on June 13, 2012 at 2:34pm

Thank you for the replies.
I might go and see the doctor but i constantly feel up and down. Like happy and then sad.. ?

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Permalink Reply by Gary on June 13, 2012 at 5:14pm

Nat,

Some people with diabetes are ultra sensitive to the glucose fluctuations and like myself I am in a very disturbed state when they are not perfect. A little to low or high and the symptoms are pretty awful. If your unfortunate like me there really is no way around it or solution because as a diabetic your levels will never run like a non diabetic except on occasion. More people seem to be mentally unstable with lows but I have that problem with both. You should keep a record of when you feel in a good frame of mind and what your levels are at the time. Not that that is an answer but at least you can see a trend if the levels are causing sadness and or depression. Despite some of the encouragement here Diabetes is relentless. Your life becomes an emotional roller-coaster. Personally I can never accept what this disease has done to me and the only light at the end of the tunel is a cure.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on June 13, 2012 at 5:57pm

Do you have any links to studies substantiating "some people with diabetes are ultra sensitive?" It goes against the grain of uniformitarianism. Unless there's a study we can read about and attack, of course...

I'm not a big fan of "curism" either. Sure, there are people working towards it and they are scientists, blah blah blah. I have what I have to attack diabetes with now and that's all I'm gonna have until then. I'll bet $5.00 there's no cure within 5 years, just to make it interesting...

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Permalink Reply by Gary on June 13, 2012 at 6:22pm

Yeah five years is very unlikely but I think within the decade is feasible. It wont be a cure either, Just a corrective biological treatment far superior to this. I think the science is there but more of the problem is going to be able to produce it in a cost effective way to be able commercialize it for the entire diabetic community. I keep dreaming one day I will call one of the companies doing their trials and they hook me up. I quit my BS job and get involved in the trial. I promised my mom years ago I'd get off insulin before she passes on and I pray for her sake and mine I can keep that promise. And yes though maybe not so common but trust me there are other people with diabetes besides myself that are ultra sensitive. The difference between them and me is I stopped living because of it and they didn't.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on June 13, 2012 at 6:49pm

I'd also bet $5 that it's more likely to be that you're data is flawed somehow. Following doctor's orders, not testing, not watching carbs, etc. can all contribute to "rollercoastering"

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Permalink Reply by Gary on June 14, 2012 at 4:01am

Then how do you explain people slaving over diabetes yet still have high and low sugars? Even people testing 10 plus times a day. Sure the more you test the more careful you are eating, the more you keep stress low the better your control will be but that is far from a normal existence. Plus doing all that your likely thinking about your diabetes more. Watch this trailier if you haven't already seen it. Listen for the word "Relentless"!

http://www.patient13thefilm.com/

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on June 14, 2012 at 3:55pm

OMG, I am a stress monster but I don't stress out about diabetes at all. My job is hugely stressful and having a 13 year old daughter isn't a piece of cake (ha ha...) either. I think that people struggle with numbers because they follow doctor's orders and the general directions. "Hmmm, your numbers are off, try this and come back in 3 months (or 6 months or next year...) and we'll see how they look then". If my numbers are off for more than a few days, I make some changes! It's far from a "normal" existence but it is how you kick its ass. A lot of people without diabetes run out of gas in their 30s and 40s, gain weight, lose muscle tone, etc. When I studied martial arts, I learned that if you keep working hard (really freaking hard a lot of the time but it didn't kill me...I only had situations that made me stop twice in like 6 years of it?), you will get stronger, faster, more flexible as well as other benfits like confidence, happiness and concentration. Since I stopped that, I've kept up with running and feel the same benefits. I'm not in a group but learned enough to keep at it and am in the best shape of my life at 44. While I'm not the best condtioned 44 year old as my "race results" show, I do the best I can and keep working and, at least so far, have kept improving. I think that you can do the same thing with diabetes but that medical providers are chicken%$&* and don't encourage patients to test, be careful eating, find stress outlets (like exercise...), etc.

I have to disclaim that I am not quite kicking it's ass, the way Helmut does. It's good to keep trying to improve.

Wow, that "Patient 13" video is intriguing as hell! Thanks for posting it!

Permalink Reply by lotsofshots on June 14, 2012 at 5:17am

Gary, I think that your idea about keeping a journal or record of BGs and how they correlate with moods is an excellent idea and it seems like that could give one some insight on how to gain control or manipulate how one feels. Paying attention to both what is going on with BGs and the impact it has on well being would be a very valuable tool. This might help us get some insight into having a bit more control over our emotional states.
I have a hard time with emotions as well. When I get low I feel weak and wiped out and this seems to last a long time, even after the BGs get back up. Sometimes this makes me feel sad, or even feel depressed and negative about things. It is hard to deal with. When I have highs I don't feel like I function well, and feel dull and scattered.
I feel like I do get on an emotional rollercoaster because my BGs can sometimes be unpredictable and volitale and when that happens it makes me feel vulnerable and out of control.
I try my best to do everything that I can to keep my BGs stable because it seems like the less variable they are the better I feel emotionally.
I think that food and diet is the best controlling device that I have. I am more likely to have more good days when I monitor my food and BGs and try to keep them in range.
Sometimes it is frustrating because I feel like I can never get it right and when I don't, I take a big hit emotionally as well. Having other heatlth issues and being on medication is also a factor.
I try to get a lot of exercise and also to stay away from the downward spiral of negativity. I have faced some frustration lately since I have been seeing lots of docotors and really don't feel like many understand the impact that this has on our daily living.
That being said, I do go in an upward spiral when I have a positive outlook, and it seems like I am in better control and things go more smoothly emotionally.
When BGs impact your moods because you have this sensitivity, that causes pain and confusion, and a lot of stress, which raises BGs too.
Sometimes I get angry about the whole vicious circle and feel like I am never on top of it.
I seem to go through rough patches, and then times when I feel a lot more in control. I strive to be positive and to stay in control as best I can.
I know that life and all its stresses and commitments make it hard sometimes to attend to the needs of diabetes, but I try to make it the number one priority without getting obsessional about it, which is easy for me to do.
I really like your idea about the mood journal and BGs, and think that looking at that information could be very helpful. Thanks for that idea.

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