Type I Diabetic...frustrated.

MSeel1984
MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
in Motivation and Support
So...I'm struggling with getting into shape (not really losing weight, though that'd be a pleasant side effect).

I do have lots of low blood sugars and have to treat them (better than being in a coma)...but because of the severity of some of the lows I've had lately, I over-treat (eat too much, take in a lot of calories, trying to bring the blood sugar back up to normal).

Then I go the opposite direction, trying to avoid lows, then my sugars go high...

Anybody else have these problems? Just up front, I AM WORKING WITH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST! (I do get a lot of remarks..."Why do you ask us-talk to your doctor...just wanted to clarify that).

But I would appreciate any tips/personal experiences on how to handle this situation...thanks in advance.

Replies

  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    Haha. I have the same issues. My A1C was too high, so I've been trying to bring it down, and then end up with alot of lows, so I eat too much to bring it back up. And then I'm out of calories for the day, lol.
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    It really is the biggest frustration for me is finding that happy medium and staying there. My last A1c was beautiful, but I know it wasn't because my control was that good...I think it's because I had THAT many lows...

    This time around, I'm expecting my A1c to be high which I hate...

    I don't like that diabetes is a guilt-ridden disease...Food kind of becomes something you feel bad about eating because it makes your sugar go up...so you try to keep it normal and it goes low...then you have to eat to bring it back up and feel bad for eating. Vicious cycle.
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    You're not alone. Every Type I I have talked to experiences the same cycles, and the accompanying guilt, frustration... I get angry as well. It's not only frustrating on the health front, it is a serious barrier to any kind of weight-loss or fitness effort.

    I also find my energy levels vary wildly- I actually had to leave a yoga class last week because I had been high all day and just couldn't hold myself up. It was embarrassing and frustrating, because I really wanted to do the class!

    I have also noticed that as I am changing my weight and activities, my blood sugar is much more unpredictable. I am hoping when I get into maintenance it will settle down.

    I try to remember to just be patient and be nice to myself. The Continuous Glucose Monitor is making a HUGE difference with catching lows before they get bad. (Although I'm out of sensors right now and hit 48 this morning... ugggg.)

    Hopefully they will figure out a way to fix us soon....
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    You're not alone. Every Type I I have talked to experiences the same cycles, and the accompanying guilt, frustration... I get angry as well. It's not only frustrating on the health front, it is a serious barrier to any kind of weight-loss or fitness effort.

    I also find my energy levels vary wildly- I actually had to leave a yoga class last week because I had been high all day and just couldn't hold myself up. It was embarrassing and frustrating, because I really wanted to do the class!

    I have also noticed that as I am changing my weight and activities, my blood sugar is much more unpredictable. I am hoping when I get into maintenance it will settle down.

    I try to remember to just be patient and be nice to myself. The Continuous Glucose Monitor is making a HUGE difference with catching lows before they get bad. (Although I'm out of sensors right now and hit 48 this morning... ugggg.)

    Hopefully they will figure out a way to fix us soon....

    I agree with the weight loss frustration first off.

    Second, I also noticed I had great success with the CGM, but mine is broken so I need to get in touch with my rep...apparently it's old and I need to order a new one. I want to get back on track so badly...I'm terrified of getting my A1c done :(
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    Hope you can get the new CGM! I'm waiting for sensors to come in the mail.

    I know the feeling- I feel like I must be a good, impressive diabetic, and the doctors should say "wow, you're doing so great!" and if my A1c is bad they will judge or punish me. Yeah, I go to therapy.

    The Evil D has complex layers that interact with your basic guilt, shame, and desire to please and succeed. I think especially combined with all the crap messages women get about food and good/badness. Good lord, I am impressed we have good days at all! Just keep talking nice to yourself. If you had a diabetic friend you wouldn't be so hard on them. You rock, you are dealing with a serious hurdle and doing it anyway!
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    Hope you can get the new CGM! I'm waiting for sensors to come in the mail.

    I know the feeling- I feel like I must be a good, impressive diabetic, and the doctors should say "wow, you're doing so great!" and if my A1c is bad they will judge or punish me. Yeah, I go to therapy.

    The Evil D has complex layers that interact with your basic guilt, shame, and desire to please and succeed. I think especially combined with all the crap messages women get about food and good/badness. Good lord, I am impressed we have good days at all! Just keep talking nice to yourself. If you had a diabetic friend you wouldn't be so hard on them. You rock, you are dealing with a serious hurdle and doing it anyway!

    Not to sound like a creeper, but just took a look at your profile pics-you are GORGEOUS! And I gotta say I got body envy...how on earth did you do it...any advice would be appreciated...you are like my goal physique.

    Second, I love your hair...I used to have a pixie cut like that and I grew my hair out so I could have a change. Lately I've REALLY been missing the short hair...especially with all this freaking humidity out here...It is nice to be able to make these connections with other people that have the same struggles. It's a frustrating disease to have because nobody seems to understand it...we didn't do this to ourselves...even type II's don't necessarily...it's a disease that is full of guilt...because it's directly impacted by what we do...if we work out, if we eat certain things...it all has a cause/effect relationship...I do get down about it sometimes...I feel like I ought to go to therapy sometimes.
  • CJ_Holmes
    CJ_Holmes Posts: 759 Member
    :blushing:

    Why thank you! You made my day! :flowerforyou:

    As you saw in your other thread, I think you can totally ROCK a pixie with your big eyes and cute style.

    I have been doing body-weight exercises for a few years but overeating. I guess I was "bulking" without meaning to. As I am losing weight I have discovered I actually have quite a bit of muscle under the insulation! I am losing very, very slowly, and trying to maintain as much as possible with strength work, yoga, etc. I don't do much actual "lifting" more push-ups, pull-ups and planks. I started doing a lot of core and stability exercises due to my back problems. I looked totally different when I was younger- way more bottom heavy.

    I really like talking with other diabetics who are dealing with the same issues, too. I feel very alone sometimes. I am so independent and active that I like to pretend I don't have any trouble due to my diabetes. I downplay it, and then people don't understand when I am struggling. I don't want people watching or worrying, but then I am frustrated when they don't understand. And on top of it I have the ideas I should just be so perfect at it that i actually should NOT have any troubles.:grumble:

    Thanks for the good convo!

Categories