It's not always easy to admit you need help. People who ask for help have in the past been seen as weak, or giving up. This really isn't the case. Despite the numerous campaigns to encourage people to open up, many people simply can not.
For me personally, realising I needed to ask for help came about 3 months ago. It can take time, but I truly believe that with the right support, you can feel better.
But of course, people can't know how to help, if they don't know that you need that help, in the first place.
People are very different in how they handle things that are thrown at them. Some people are quite comfortable in asking for help. They know who to turn to, they know how they're going to get that help, and they have a rigid plan of what they will do to overcome whatever it is they are facing.
Some people are very different. For example, some people decide that turning a blind eye is the best course of action. Sleeping for longer, avoiding social situations, heck even taking up extreme sports, so they don't have to think about their troubles!
Regardless of how easy it is to ask for help, the important thing is that the help is there when it is eventually needed. So from a diabetes point of view, giving access to local diabetes nurses, consultants and care teams, is a big 'must'. There are other sources of help too - websites, local groups, blogs and the diabetes online community (Twitter and Facebook especially).
To those who say asking for help is a sign of weakness, when was the last time you asked for help? Asking for help is showing strength. Asking for help is acknowledging there are issues that need to be addressed - be it physical, emotional or psychological. Those who ask for help should be given credit for doing so. Rather than shying away and allowing the problem to get worse.
People who have had diabetes for months or years may feel like they shouldn't have to ask for help. This isn't true. Diabetes isn't an easy condition to live with and sugar levels can change at whatever time in your life, for whatever reason. There is never a time that people can't ask for help with their diabetes, or anything, even.
When it comes to your health, there are two options - turn a blind eye and see what happens. Or ask for help from your local diabetes team, other people with diabetes, etc, and see how you can overcome this, together.
If you do want to talk to someone about your diabetes, feel free to drop a line to louisepeersupport@live.com .
Showing posts with label lonely. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lonely. Show all posts
Sunday, 9 November 2014
Thursday, 21 August 2014
The Diabetes Rollercoaster
I've probably heard the words 'diabetes' and 'rollercoaster' being used in the same sentence a hundred times, possibly more.Thinking about my own personal experience since I was diagnosed with diabetes, I'd probably agree with anyone who claimed diabetes was a rollercoaster.
From the moment of diagnosis, adjusting to the body's requirements, right through to learning to live a 'normal' life, there is constantly a battle to beat the lows, and keep the high's going. Anyone who lives with diabetes deserves a medal, from this perspective. But why does diabetes come with the rollercoaster of feelings, as well?
Some days will be good days. Waking up with a decent blood sugar reading, being able to calculate the right medication. No high readings and no horrible hypos. What a great day these are.
But then some days will be bad days. For some reason or other, you might wake up with a high reading, or you might catch a mid-morning hypo. How inconvenient, I always think. Especially if you're stuck in a meeting and no end is in sight! Halfway through a meeting the other day, I was convinced I must have had a reading in the mid-teens - I was falling asleep, I felt grumpy and I couldn't concentrate. After the meeting finished, I checked my sugar levels and I was a perfect 7. Perhaps what I had felt were just the symptoms of an incredibly boring meeting, in that case!
There might be times when you can pinpoint why your meter tells you you're a certain level. You might have forgotten about that small glass of fruit juice at breakfast, or you may have not had the time to have a mid-morning snack. Remembering though, can bring you a solution.
However, what about the times that you can't work out why your sugar levels are particularly high or low? The lack of control may well leave you wanting to bang your head against the wall in frustration. It might make you want to rebel against your diabetes.
Whatever it makes you feel, diabetes shouldn't make you feel like it is controlling you and your life. Sometimes, we could perhaps take our sugar level readings with a pinch of salt (not sugar), accept the reading and look at how to fix it. Of course, this is easier said than done.
Diabetes has no right to make you feel the way it sometimes makes us feel. So, once you've taken a correction dose, or had a hypo treatment, remind yourself how incredible you are for living with diabetes, and say hi to everyone else who is probably feeling the same way as you. You're not alone.
Feel free to drop a line if diabetes is getting you down. Bottling up how we feel can do more harm than good.
Signing out, Louise
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Where's your support network?
There are few things in this world that we can do entirely alone. As children, we needed help to learn to ride a bike, we needed someone to teach us learn to swim. Growing up, we needed the help of teachers and professors, to pass academic exams. We no doubt needed help in our first jobs, someone to guide us in the right direction. Someone to show us the ropes, and to point out where we went wrong.
Living with diabetes is no exception, yet many people often feel like they have to go through it alone. Maybe because they don't know anyone else who has the condition. Maybe because they feel like a 'burden' on their loved ones. Maybe they even feel guilty for having diabetes, and don't feel anyone else should have to put up with it, too.
This is very far from the truth, and very far from the expectations. Diabetes is a condition that doesn't yet have a cure. Until the day that we have a cure, we have to live with the condition. There are no 'holidays' from it, we cannot postpone the condition from ourselves. There is no escape.
There are no doubt times when we wish we could run from diabetes. Lock it in Room 101 and carry on as normal. Diabetes is the cause of so many cases of depression and anxiety, and of course, that could then have a knock-on effect with diabetes, itself.
When we feel like this, it is easy to want to lock away not just the diabetes, but lock ourselves away, from the rest of the world. To some people, this is a coping mechanism. They may need time to think. However, what about those who do this because they feel they have no one to help them get through this?
Diabetes UK has a number of branches when it comes to support networks. This is something they pride themselves on. and rightly so:
Careline: Dedicated helpline for people with diabetes, their parents, partners, friends, colleagues. The helpline is staffed by trained counsellors, who are there to answer ANY questions you have relating to diabetes. Very useful if you have a quick question, or if you need someone to just listen to you.
Local support groups: These have been running for many years, and give support to those with diabetes, on a much more local and personal level. Some groups focus on providing support, some look at ways to raise money for Diabetes UK. Many groups have guest speakers, covering a range of topics. Find your local group.
Diabetes Peer Support Volunteers: This is all about talking to someone who knows first hand what it's like to live with diabetes. They might not be healthcare professionals, but they CAN share their experiences, and help you to work out your issues.
There is a wealth of information out there, in the local community, and within the diabetes online community. As peer support volunteers, we really want to find a way to support YOU. Who do you talk to about your diabetes? Do you have someone you can talk to? Let us know, and let us listen to YOU. Because no matter what anyone thinks, it's all about YOU.
Living with diabetes is no exception, yet many people often feel like they have to go through it alone. Maybe because they don't know anyone else who has the condition. Maybe because they feel like a 'burden' on their loved ones. Maybe they even feel guilty for having diabetes, and don't feel anyone else should have to put up with it, too.
This is very far from the truth, and very far from the expectations. Diabetes is a condition that doesn't yet have a cure. Until the day that we have a cure, we have to live with the condition. There are no 'holidays' from it, we cannot postpone the condition from ourselves. There is no escape.
There are no doubt times when we wish we could run from diabetes. Lock it in Room 101 and carry on as normal. Diabetes is the cause of so many cases of depression and anxiety, and of course, that could then have a knock-on effect with diabetes, itself.
When we feel like this, it is easy to want to lock away not just the diabetes, but lock ourselves away, from the rest of the world. To some people, this is a coping mechanism. They may need time to think. However, what about those who do this because they feel they have no one to help them get through this?
Diabetes UK has a number of branches when it comes to support networks. This is something they pride themselves on. and rightly so:
Careline: Dedicated helpline for people with diabetes, their parents, partners, friends, colleagues. The helpline is staffed by trained counsellors, who are there to answer ANY questions you have relating to diabetes. Very useful if you have a quick question, or if you need someone to just listen to you.
Local support groups: These have been running for many years, and give support to those with diabetes, on a much more local and personal level. Some groups focus on providing support, some look at ways to raise money for Diabetes UK. Many groups have guest speakers, covering a range of topics. Find your local group.
Diabetes Peer Support Volunteers: This is all about talking to someone who knows first hand what it's like to live with diabetes. They might not be healthcare professionals, but they CAN share their experiences, and help you to work out your issues.
There is a wealth of information out there, in the local community, and within the diabetes online community. As peer support volunteers, we really want to find a way to support YOU. Who do you talk to about your diabetes? Do you have someone you can talk to? Let us know, and let us listen to YOU. Because no matter what anyone thinks, it's all about YOU.
Monday, 18 November 2013
Making the best of a bad situation
Living with diabetes can at times be very difficult. There may be times when someone who has diabetes, feels that life is very unfair, and that they don't deserve to have the condition. There are so many things that need to be thought about, every day, of every week, of every month of the year. Living with diabetes is almost like having a full time job, except without the added bonuses - there are no pay rises or annual leave with diabetes!
For anyone living with a chronic condition, such as diabetes, it is not uncommon to also suffer from periods of depression and anxiety. Diabetes can feel like it is taking over your life, overwhelmingly so. So many people have periods of depression, which can in essence, make diabetes management even more of a struggle. It is a vicious circle, difficult to escape from.
So what can someone who feels like there is no way out of this deep black hole, do? Feelings of despair when it comes to diabetes management won't disappear overnight. It can takes weeks, months, even years to feel truly happy with yourself and your diabetes. Despite this, there is a lot that can be done to make the journey easier and shorter.
If you are at the point where diabetes has taken over your life, take a minute to think. Think about all the things that you are entitled to, have access to, and can do, because you have diabetes. It sounds almost ridiculous, but there really are ways in which people with diabetes, can make the most of a bad situation.
Regular health check ups. Diabetes UK promotes the 15 basic health checks that anyone with diabetes should receive from their health care team. These checks include blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, eyes, feet & legs, kidney function, weight. You are also entitled to support if you are a smoker, or are planning a pregnancy. You should also be offered an education course to help you understand and manage your diabetes. Speak to your health care team about the 15 essential health checks. If there is something you are not getting, you are entitled to the checks and support.
A healthy lifestyle. People with diabetes have to closely monitor their blood glucose levels. This means that in general, they are more likely to be looking at what they are eating and assessing how much exercise they are doing. If this is on the conscience, then it is probable that the person will be making an effort to take care of themselves.
Fashion statements. When all is going wrong, and diabetes isn't playing ball, think about the things that make you who you are. Many people wear medical ID jewellry, to ensure that if they are found unwell, people would know that they had diabetes. There are a lot of different types of medical ID jewellry nowadays. Gone are the days where your only option was wearing a dog tag or gold bangle.
A quick search in Google also brings up hundreds of images of people with medical ID in the form of tattoos. This is yet another way in which people choose to use their diabetes in a positive light. Not only this, but they can also look good whilst doing so!
Free prescriptions. Certainly in the UK, if you have diabetes, you will not have to pay for medical prescriptions. This includes prescriptions for diabetes-related medication, or any other illness. Imagine how much money would be spent every month, if we had to pay for all our insulin and testing strips as a bare minimum!
Free eye tests. It can not be said enough, how important it is to take care of your eyes. Aside from the retinal screening that anyone with diabetes, is entitled to, it is also important to have a regular eye test. Diabetes can eventually lead to a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy. However, regular eye tests can spot the early signs of the condition, meaning you can take action, before it becomes a problem.
Exit passes at theme parks, for children with diabetes. It sounds too good to be true! Places like Thorpe Park and Alton Towers have an 'exit pass' for children with diabetes. This means that they are able to miss the queues for a ride. This is because for a child, going to a theme park is very exciting. Excitement can lead to either a hypo or a hyper. If hyper, then a trip to the loo is normally needed, so they would likely lose their place in the queue. If the child is hypo, they need to treat and wait 15 minutes, which you can't do in a queue. Obviously, this would need to be clarified with the venue, and a letter from a GP may be required. However, it is an incentive to see diabetes in a more positive light.
These are just a few examples of how it is possible to 'make lemonade from lemons'. When someone feels overwhelmed by their diabetes, it can feel like nothing else matters. Trying to make the best of a bad situation, is just one way of trying to make the journey out of that black hole, a bit easier.
Finally, Gladys Knight & the Pips believe in making the best of a bad situation...
For anyone living with a chronic condition, such as diabetes, it is not uncommon to also suffer from periods of depression and anxiety. Diabetes can feel like it is taking over your life, overwhelmingly so. So many people have periods of depression, which can in essence, make diabetes management even more of a struggle. It is a vicious circle, difficult to escape from.
So what can someone who feels like there is no way out of this deep black hole, do? Feelings of despair when it comes to diabetes management won't disappear overnight. It can takes weeks, months, even years to feel truly happy with yourself and your diabetes. Despite this, there is a lot that can be done to make the journey easier and shorter.
If you are at the point where diabetes has taken over your life, take a minute to think. Think about all the things that you are entitled to, have access to, and can do, because you have diabetes. It sounds almost ridiculous, but there really are ways in which people with diabetes, can make the most of a bad situation.
Regular health check ups. Diabetes UK promotes the 15 basic health checks that anyone with diabetes should receive from their health care team. These checks include blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, eyes, feet & legs, kidney function, weight. You are also entitled to support if you are a smoker, or are planning a pregnancy. You should also be offered an education course to help you understand and manage your diabetes. Speak to your health care team about the 15 essential health checks. If there is something you are not getting, you are entitled to the checks and support.
A healthy lifestyle. People with diabetes have to closely monitor their blood glucose levels. This means that in general, they are more likely to be looking at what they are eating and assessing how much exercise they are doing. If this is on the conscience, then it is probable that the person will be making an effort to take care of themselves.
Fashion statements. When all is going wrong, and diabetes isn't playing ball, think about the things that make you who you are. Many people wear medical ID jewellry, to ensure that if they are found unwell, people would know that they had diabetes. There are a lot of different types of medical ID jewellry nowadays. Gone are the days where your only option was wearing a dog tag or gold bangle.
A quick search in Google also brings up hundreds of images of people with medical ID in the form of tattoos. This is yet another way in which people choose to use their diabetes in a positive light. Not only this, but they can also look good whilst doing so!
Free prescriptions. Certainly in the UK, if you have diabetes, you will not have to pay for medical prescriptions. This includes prescriptions for diabetes-related medication, or any other illness. Imagine how much money would be spent every month, if we had to pay for all our insulin and testing strips as a bare minimum!
Free eye tests. It can not be said enough, how important it is to take care of your eyes. Aside from the retinal screening that anyone with diabetes, is entitled to, it is also important to have a regular eye test. Diabetes can eventually lead to a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy. However, regular eye tests can spot the early signs of the condition, meaning you can take action, before it becomes a problem.
Exit passes at theme parks, for children with diabetes. It sounds too good to be true! Places like Thorpe Park and Alton Towers have an 'exit pass' for children with diabetes. This means that they are able to miss the queues for a ride. This is because for a child, going to a theme park is very exciting. Excitement can lead to either a hypo or a hyper. If hyper, then a trip to the loo is normally needed, so they would likely lose their place in the queue. If the child is hypo, they need to treat and wait 15 minutes, which you can't do in a queue. Obviously, this would need to be clarified with the venue, and a letter from a GP may be required. However, it is an incentive to see diabetes in a more positive light.
These are just a few examples of how it is possible to 'make lemonade from lemons'. When someone feels overwhelmed by their diabetes, it can feel like nothing else matters. Trying to make the best of a bad situation, is just one way of trying to make the journey out of that black hole, a bit easier.
Finally, Gladys Knight & the Pips believe in making the best of a bad situation...
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