[Adjitater]

I have visited many forum sites since I can no longer work and there are some things discussed that I just don't get. The biggest thing I don'y get is the need for people to complain about having diabetes. Perhaps it goes back to when I was diagnosed and the things I was told at that time. I know it sounds cold but I really can not be sympathetic towards new diabetics and thats why I seldom respond to the introduction posts. The other thing I don't get is why some type 2 diabetics think it is ok to give advice to a type 1 about how to control blood sugar. Type 1 and type 2 really only have 1 thing in common and that is elevated blood sugar. How it got there and how it is treated is totally different.
Pam is the one person that may truely know what those differences are despite her type 2 diagnoses if your pancrease stops you are more like a type 1.

 

[Jen]

You're just old and jaded - hahahahaha! Diabetes is no fun, and having come to T1 at age 52 (almost 53), I can definitely sympathize with the shock of it all. That said, it does no good to complain; people need to put one foot in front of the other and carry on with their new normal. One big issue for the newly diagnosed is the piss-poor information they get from their medical experts. No wonder they are terrified. They're given bad dietary advice, discouraged from doing an adequate amount of testing and not instructed well in how to use their meds. Seriously - every person should be given Becker's, Sheiner's and/or Walsh's books at diagnosis!

Although many T2s may not use insulin, we all have similar dietary needs and emotional needs. I think we have a lot to offer each other and never hesitate to read posts from T2s, nor do I avoid responding to their questions if I think I have something to offer. I won't jump in with advice on meds targeted at them, but will surely give support if I can.

I am grateful every day that I have the means to treat this condition because the alternative is not attractive to me. I'll do anything I can to help someone else come to terms with it.

Best,
Jen

 

[onaughmae]

I have visited many forum sites since I can no longer work and there are some things discussed that I just don't get. The biggest thing I don'y get is the need for people to complain about having diabetes. Perhaps it goes back to when I was diagnosed and the things I was told at that time. I know it sounds cold but I really can not be sympathetic towards new diabetics and thats why I seldom respond to the introduction posts. The other thing I don't get is why some type 2 diabetics think it is ok to give advice to a type 1 about how to control blood sugar. Type 1 and type 2 really only have 1 thing in common and that is elevated blood sugar. How it got there and how it is treated is totally different.
Pam is the one person that may truely know what those differences are despite her type 2 diagnoses if your pancrease stops you are more like a type 1.

I can totally be sympathetic. I think especially toward someone diagnosed a little later in life. For me, I was diagnosed young, (although not as young as a lot of people), so at this point in my life its really all the experience I have. Its just part of me. I think of someone cruising through life and just getting hit out of the blue with it later, and I can see how they are freaked out by it. Sometimes you just need a little support...and maybe a swift kick in the arse to get ya motivated!

As far as the differences between types of diabetes, we all share one thing in common...none of us can just decide "I am going to eat this fabulous dinner and not have to worry about what it is going to do to my blood sugar". The way we approach that meal might be different, but the end result is the same...high blood sugar. We all have to be cognizant of the amount of carbohydrate in that meal. I honestly think sometimes its a little harder to be a T2 that is on little or no medication. Most of the time, if they consume too many carbs and their blood sugar is high, all you can do is wait for it to come down. They have to be much more restrictive in their carbs and prevent the highs in the first place. I do agree that they need a lot more advice about carb control. T1's dont need as much carb control as they need instruction on proper management of insulin therapy. But even so...a new T1 needs to learn to understand the relationship of carbs (and protein and fat) and how it all works in relation to blood sugar in order to be able to learn to dose their insulin accordingly. Either way...its a challenge. Do I eat more carbs than maybe most of the T2's on this forum? You bet...I know I do. Ysterday for dinner I had a pretty healthy sized portion of spaghetti with sauce and cheese...and a big old pear for dessert. I wouldnt recommend that for a T2 that is diet controlled or taking minimal amount of drugs though. My particular challenge with that meal was that I needed to know how much carb was in it all so I could manage the blood sugar (110 1.5 hrs later, so not too bad). I agree the advice needs to be more specific between types....but I think we share enough common experience that there is room for us all to support and encourage each other. Personally, I learn a lot everyday from both sides of the fence in big Camp D

 

[Antagonist]

We all come here for support and understanding which we can't find at home from our friends and relatives who don't understand how hard it is to live with it. We are all different and not all of us are so strong as you are

 

[foxl]

I felt like my struggle to accept D was monumental. And yet ... I see both of your points, quite clearly!

I guess my motto is. "don't get mad, get EVEN!" including at D. That keeps me going so I do not wilt with grief, hah hah!

But ... keep in mind, depression is far more common in Diabetics, and that may have some bearing on what we see.

 

[Adjitater]

Let me clarify what I beleive is the cause of why feel this way. If you all can remember when you were 12 years old. The most important things were simple. Bike rides, baseball games, and many other ways to have fun. Then you start getting sick, you don't feel sick except that you have to go to the bathroom all the time and you you can't get enough to drink. So the worrying begins and gets worse as you start to loose weight and your close don't fit. You think to yourself that you have lukemia or that you are just going to die. then you get to sick to go to school and thats when you give up and do nothing but sleep until you are taken to the Dr. and find out that you have diabetes. Well what does that mean surely they can fix it. We just put men on the moon surely they can fix this. Now you are at the hospital and guess what they cant fix it they can only give you insulin shots. How long do those last. They hesitate with an answer and then tell you that you will have to take shots for the rest of your life. Now as a 12 year old kid you dont want to act like a sissy so you just say ok. then after about a week of staying in the hospital you are feeling great. Then they come in and say ok you need to learn how to give yourself a shot. WHAT???? Yes you need to learn how to this, it is not your mothers job, not your dads job, they don't have diabetes you do so you need to learn how to take care of it. The sooner you get over it the better off you will be. Then they ask you, do you want to go home and stay at home or do you want to come back in a couple weeks and do this all again? Besides it is not fair for you to ecpect someone else to take care of you when you are able to take care of your self. So from then on it was up to me. Not mom not dad not some doctor that really doesn't know me. That was 39 years ago this January. I have always done it for myself, by myself and probably always will now. So I guess I have a hard time understanding how adults can't handle this somewhat simple disease. Sorry if thats cold and jaded but what was taught to me at the age of 12 will never alow me to think any other way.

 

[onaughmae]

I agree...its unltimately up to you to take care of yourself and live...or dont...and die...pretty simple. But, I can still understand the initial shock and disbelief that comes with a diagnosis. When you first get a diagnosis of diabetes you go through a grieving process. You are not dead...but the life you knew is gone. It is still a grieving process. You have to move through shock, disbelief, bargaining, etc before you can get to acceptance. So, I can totally understand when someone needs some support. But....I also belive it gets to point where enough is enough...time to get motivated. Like my mama always told me...either piss or get off the pot

 

[Adjitater]

I also belive it gets to point where enough is enough...time to get motivated. Like my mama always told me...either piss or get off the pot [/QU

thanks for this line it made me laugh.

 

[Richard157]

Adjitater, I am a type 1 with insulin resistance. That is called "double diabetes". To control the resistance I have to take a type 2 med, along with my insulin. So I have learned much about type 2 diabetes along the way. I do hesitate giving advice to a type 2 diabetic though. There is a diabetes site that is exclusively for type 1. I can talk to ALL the members there. Lol!

Richard