Feeling really down...

The 2nd line is supposed to read I am petrified.sorry.

Hey Betis!

There's no doubt about it--diabetes can be really, really hard.

I agree with Ginger in that a good support team makes a world of difference. Even if you're not able to switch doctors, finding a diabetes mentor, be it a nurse, diabetes educator, or even better, a responsible friend with diabetes, can be really helpful.

I'm in high school too, and I'm stressed about getting into college, managing my diabetes in a new setting, etc., etc. Even if my blood sugar is rocky or I just did poorly on a test in school, talking to a friend on the phone, going for a walk with my dog, or going shopping with my mum can take my mind off diabetes. I know it's really hard to push yourself outside of your comfort zone--especially when you're working so hard on school stuff--but try to get your mind off diabetes when you're not managing your blood sugar.

In my experience, talking to other people and pursuing my passions makes me a more balanced person--diabetes doesn't have to get in the way.

Welcome to Diabeteens :)

Maggie

Ok, so first I would recommend asking your endo if you can raise your target BG?  Some endos work from a textbook number.  They want to see you between 100 and 120, but for some that is too low!  For example, mine is between 120 and 150! Thats a huge difference!  What we found was that working between 100- 120, proved that I had too many lows during a 6 hour window and so with my CDE and my endo, we adjusted the number so I wasn't feeling so low!  This has worked much better and I am able to make those numbers work for me.  As to whether that ratio works for preventing complications?  Well, I can't say for sure, but I will have lived with diabetes for 40 years Easter of 2010!  And guess what, I have no complications.  

You need to find what works for you body!  Textbook numbers aren't the answer, they are a "mean" which means some will be higher and some maybe lower, and the good news is that doesn't make you less perfect than anyone else living with diabetes!

Feel free to give us more info to help!  Obviously we are all here for you, willing and eager to support you!

PS, Ireland is one of my favorite place to visit!  Where do you live?  And I have back stage passes to U2, next week! That's the price you pay for being.. older!

Okay, Betis, first off, take a deep breath!

You will survive this.

Diabetes is challenging, every day. When our blood sugars are fluctuating we lose our energy, our ability to concentrate, we just want to take a nap! No wonder you are tired and not interested in exercising. Blood sugars that are up and down all the time will do that.

1. Are you checking often enough? I hate having low blood sugars too, so I keep mine between 100 to 200 for the most part, because I am really really active! Many of us are. I am a competitive powerlifter. Bloggers Maggie & Anna are both awesome avid runners! Ann Bartlett from up above teaches yoga and she's a runner.

You can incorporate exercise. but you have to plan for it! For example, I always check my blood sugar before I start to exercise. If I'm going to be weight training, I want my blood sugar to be around 150 before I start. If it's down near 100, that's okay, sometimes I might pop a glucose tab. But I know that weightlifting tends to increase my blood sugar so I don't worry as much.

If I was going to go for a really long walk or jog or anything cardio like that, I would make sure to have 40 grams of carbohyrates beforehand, or if I'm having a meal like lunch right before, I will just cut back on my insulin by 3 to 4 units.

This works for me. I only know this because I kept track and I studied myself, because I was tired of chasing my blood sugar and tired of guessing all the time.

So my first advice would be to calm down and start to study yourself! Take notes and check often! If your blood sugar has been high a lot you are going to feel sluggish because all of that glucose is sitting in your blood stream and it isn't getting to your muscles and your brain so it can give you energy!

Do you think you can start taking some careful notes throughout the day?

-Ginger

Hey Betis,

haven't heard from you in a little while....how are things? have you found any helpful ways to change the way things have been going for you lately? Anything I can do?

-Ginger