By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:25:11 +0000

Hi Sama,
Welcome to the list. I’m one of the list moderators. I’m 24 years
old and have had diabetes for 15 years.
I know all too well what you mean about being frustrated and worn
out. Unfortunately, diabetes provides no breaks and no times
to “catch your breath” if you feel overwhelmed. I think this aspect
of diabetes is overlooked a lot. Those around us (me, at least)
don’t see how much it affects me. They don’t see me treating lows or
trying to bring down highs or waking in the middle of the night to
test or giving two injections within an hour of one another to try
and curb the blood sugar spike caused by something like pizza. Even
my parents, who managed diabetes for the first eight years or so
(till I was done high school) are forgetting what the grind is like
from the comments they sometimes make.
I find one of the hardest aspects of diabetes is finding that

balance between trying to maintain perfect control and beating
yourself up over every high or low, and not caring at all and simply
riding the rollercoaster that results from poor control. Right now
I’m somewhere in the middle, but I’ve been at both extremes (most
recently at the minimal control extreme that saw about two readings
a day above 300 and none below 200). One of the most important
things I’ve learned is that I will never LIKE diabetes. I don’t
think it would necessarily be healthy to like it. And I will also
never have perfect control short of getting a cure. And it will
always be an emotional trigger for me. I don’t cry often, but seeing
ads to raise money for JDRF, or segments about diabetic children on
TV, can get me on the brink of tears pretty quickly! Diabetes is an
intimate, daily, struggle, and it’s difficult sometimes to realize
that no one who doesn’t have diabetes themselves can understand what
it’s like. Some days are like fighting and uphill battle, and yet
you can’t simple give up for a day or two and start back, you must
always push on even when the scales are tipped against you.
I have heard that gettig an insulin pump makes managing diabetes
much, much easier. Everyone I have talked to has said it’s the best
diabetes-related decision they’ve ever made. I’m currently taking
five or more shots a day, Lantus in the morning and at night, and
Humalog before meals and snacks. I am hoping to go on the pump in
the next few months, though; right now I’m just waiting on whether
insurance will cover one, which I should hear within the next few
weeks and (hopefully) receive my pump and get training sometime in
late December or early January. The idea of the tubing and infusion
set intimidate me a bit, as does the possibility of something going
wrong with the pump and the dangers associated with that, but I’ve
done a lot of research over the past year and have decided that I
think the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
I hope that this list is helpful to you. I feel like I’m rambling
now so will end my introduction here. Feel free to post about
anything diabetes-related, it doesn’t have to specifically relate to
emotions even though that’s the main focus of the list.
Jen
List Moderator
Type 1 diabetes for 15 years

By: Gus Shawnee

Gus Shawnee — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:08:47 +0000

Hello,
I am a 31 year old type 1 diabetic, I have been diabetic for the
last 13 years and currently use Humalog and Levamir. To be
honest…I am fed up, frusterated and emotinally exhaused by my
diabetes and what it takes to control and balance on a dialy basis.
It hurts me emotionally and causes great conflict with those I
love. It becomes a all or nothing situation and I dont always take
the care I should.
I know I and the ones I love may pay a price for this someday and
that is what keeps me from giving up and keeps me constantly
searching for a way to better handle my condition. I am seriously
considering the pump but I am not pleased with the tubing and large
seperate pump associated with the Minimed and the Omnipod is not yet
available in my area. Please if you have any current information on
the new and upcoming technology of pumps or a definate prefrence

please let me know.
Thank you for your time.
Peace, Sama

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:22:56 +0000

Welcome imfoxyferret,
It’s good to see that you decided to join our group. Tell us how life has been
for you living with diabetes. We have a nice group of people here. I hope you
find the support that you are looking for, and please jump right in and respond
to any postings that you read.
What insulin do you use to control your blood sugars?
Peace and Health. ~Taty

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By: Neva Marjory