Diabetes Burnout

My guess is you have had Diabetes type 1 for a while. Yes I agree Diabetes is a pain, it is relentless, day in day out. But don’t forget for one moment Diabetes is a CHRONIC disease. That means your Diabetes needs constant awareness and maintenance, every day.

You must check blood glucose levels several times a day.

You must take your insulin as instructed.

You must consider all food and drink, count the carbs.

If you don’t you are seriously jeopardising your body and storing up complications.

One such lady neglected herself during her teenage/adolescent years and here is her story - she is real, it happened!

Kerry has kindly let me tell you about her complications in a bid to educate and help young people come to terms with their diabetes and the implications of bad control.

Kerry is 32 she has type 1 diabetes and used to believe that being slim was much more important than taking control of her diabetes.

So many of us are guilty of believing complications are for the oldies, and it appears to me from speaking to various ages that the complacency rears it's ugly head in young adolescents, especially from 16 - 20.

Yes it is hard and depressing realising you have diabetes, today, tomorrow forever but no one needs to give up. It seems the obvious reasons for not taking control is: I can't be bothered, haven't got time, I feel alright, why test. I don't like doing it in public or I take insulin, why test? WRONG!! EVERYONE OF US old and young alike have to take control, take care of ourselves and aim to have a good hbA1c.

It has to be our aim, if it isn't then complications could develop - FACT.

Kerry is 32, she developed severe complications 5 years ago. She had retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy and gastro paresis resulting in severe pain and numbness in her feet. She has partial sight, has a drastic drop in her blood pressure when she stands and has problems with her digestion. She was practically bedridden for 2 years!! She is a young woman.

She is on the mend now, I think she is an extremely brave lady. She's had laser treatment, several eye operations and 2 operations to remove most of her colon. To cap it all she's had a pancreas transplant which is technically more difficult than a liver, kidney or heart transplant. Kerry has been lucky that it was successful but it is only predicted to last 8 - 10 years, then she may have to go on the insulin again if she doesn't find a new donor!!

It is obvious to me that a lot of us especially the young (no offence, not all) have no concept at all in the implications of neglectful or poor management.

It is paramount that EVERYONE is EDUCATED about the possible complications. It needs to be informative and directed in such a way, that it doesn't ram it down our throats or nag us. I know only to well when I preach to my 12 year old son about doing his sugar level, that he hates to be told.

I am surprised in view of the consequences of poor control that our hospitals are not educating enough. Since the carbohydrate counting has come into effect, I don't see why they can't give out this information. Youngsters need support and factual guidance in order to take care of themselves in a safe and healthy way.

If I have implied that young people don't take care of themselves, I am sorry but am desperately trying to put a message out to those that don't!

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