Trouble with everyday realities of diabetes

Hi @enska thank you for sharing your story and being so honest about your struggles.

The everyday realities of diabetes can be overwhelming and every one has there struggles. I wanted to tag fellow Connect members @retiredteacher @chocolate5lover @hopeful33250 @earlyrn @marvinjsturing and @kamama94 as they all have diabetes and can offer support for you and may be able to share what is toughest for them

Back to you @enska have you seen any complications set in? How are feeling today?

@enska, I have diabetes and major clinical depression as well as stage three CKD , COPD, and fibromyalgia. Right now my depression is well-managed with duloxitene, daylight light bulbs, counselling as needed, meditation, and trying to help others. The duloxitene also helps the fibromyalgia. I have about one COPD exacerbation requiring hospitalization about once a year. By going on a renal, diabetic-friendly diet my CKD has gone from stage four to stage three. Right now my diabetes is well managed with Tradjenta and insulin. I do 4 or 5 finger sticks a day and take meds as prescribed and follow a vegan renal diet which also is fairly good for a diabetic. It's not easy but I figure I must be compliant if I want to live long enough to see great-great grandchildren. I hope you can see your way clear to become more compliant and am sending you good vibes.

@enska I totally understand your frustration except that I am a newer diabetic 2. I was diagnosed almost three years ago. I am a senior citizen, though I am not sure that matters. I also do not take any medicines. However, I could have written much of what you express when my PCP told me by mail that I was a diabetic. So, this is my take: I am not sure we ever totally accept the restrictions, but I have found they are doable. I do get depressed because I don't want to be a diabetic. Sometimes I don't know if a food will be a problem. Once I know, I remove it from my list. I am organized and have foods on index cards and plan my weekly meals with my cards. I exercise at least five times a week and feel good doing that. It also helps my blood numbers. As far as knowing what's coming even if you take care of yourself is concerned, that's not possible for anyone. I live one day at a time and do the best I can. Do you have a job you enjoy? Do you see an endocrinologist? Have you checked with a dietician? All of these people are trained to get diabetics on the right track and help keep us basically "normal." They are our team. I added Mayo Connect to my team because I know I can get support and help from numerous people on this site. I also keep a journal and write how I'm doing. If I can tell you anything else, it would be that we are all different (unique) so you know you have to be in control of yourself. Stay in touch with us on Mayo Connect. We will help you all we can.
Carol

@ethanmcconkey Thank you for your kind reply. Thankfully I have had no complications yet. I just saw the eye doctor today and things looked good. I was worried about that so I'm relieved. I am feeling hopeful today and grateful for the wonderful help being offered.

@kamama94 Thank you for your insight. I am hopeful that I can be healthy to see my two nieces grow up. One was just born 2 weeks ago and one just turned 3. They are the shining lights in my life! I'm encouraged to see someone else that is also managing several conditions and I wish you well too.

@retiredteacher Thank you as well for your kind response. I'm encouraged by you too and really impressed at your organization! You gave me a good idea and that's that there are people to help me. That didn't occur to me before. I kind of always see myself in a battle with doctors. I haven't had good luck with them because they are often stern with me and not sympathetic. But I see a nurse practitioner now who is helpful and sympathetic. Your comment made me realize that I have to also work with her and that she's just trying to help me (some doctors in my past made me wonder if they even cared). I like the idea of coming to Connect as another resource and I'm glad I made this post. I almost deleted it because I was worried people would be judgmental, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

You all have given me a lot to think about and I'm grateful!

@enska I am glad that you found Mayo Connect. Please keep us in touch because we do care. We are in the diabetic situation too. If there is a question we can answer or if we can just stay in touch, we are here. I'm glad you have a Nurse Practitioner who is helpful. Sometimes if someone working with us will just let us get our frustrations out and tell us what to do, we can be more determined to be in control. It's great that you got a good eye report. Diabetes can cause problems, but most are preventable if you follow a routine and are ruling it instead of letting it rule you. I'm glad you are with us and so glad you did not delete. Nothing is too foolish to ask. It's just foolish not to. Knowledge is power.
Have another good day tomorrow.
Carol

@enska

Hello Elizabeth

We are so glad that you dropped by Connect to share your story with the Connect community. This is a great place to find camaraderie and support. It is very difficult to accept the limitations of a chronic disease like diabetes, but it is certainly not impossible. I was helped greatly by meeting with a dietician and talking about foods and ways to cook them, etc. A good dietician can be more helpful than a doctor sometimes because they just deal with issues surrounding food😊

I think you will enjoy looking at the discussion on exercise, it is called Lighten Your Limbs with Friends and here is the link to this discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lighten-your-limbs-with-friends/. I think you will find some inspiration here as you read about people who are trying to get in shape in order to have transplants and deal with other serious issues.

Please drop by and voice your concerns as needed. I look forward to hearing from you again!

@hopeful33250 Thanks so much! I have seen a dietician before plus saw one regularly a couple years ago as part of a binge eating treatment. I'll have to think about visiting one again. Having just recovered from a months-long depressive episode, I'm trying to get back to normal little by little. My food goal for the next few weeks is to eat 3 meals a day since I had stopped eating very much for a couple months. Thank you for the link and information!

@enska

Thanks for sharing more of your struggles, Elizabeth. I'm glad that you are recovering from a depressive episode. Depression can be very draining, can't it?

If you care to share more: What have you been doing to help yourself during this time?

@hopeful33250 Yes, it can be very hard. I attended the Mood Program at Mayo Clinic which is a 2 week intensive outpatient treatment for depression. It was extremely great and changed my life. Additionally, I started taking my meds for both diabetes and depression after stopping sometime in December. Luckily I'm on the mend now. I have been browsing the depression and anxiety group on Connect to help where I can.

@enska
That all sounds wonderful, Elizabeth. It is important to be proactive and you are doing all of the right things to help yourself.