h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great to see a concise, informative posting that explains in plain English the things I try to communicate to those around me, usually so badly. True, unless you're diabetic yourself it's hard to grasp the concepts involved and even friends who have first aid training were under the misconception that I need insulin injecting into me if I go hypo...scary!

I have further complications being on an anti-candida diet. ie no yeast no wheat, no sugar, no dairy, no alcohol, no caffeine, no fungi, and all derivitives thereof; basically to starve the candida. As the candida dies there are some strange side effects, in my case aggravated by swinging blood sugar levels(Not sure wheter these are caused by the die-off or my busy life). Hypos still need sugar, mmmm! ...but this feeds the candida, prolonging my need to stick to the regime.

I have only had diabetes for a little under 3 years. At first I was calmly resigned to the condition as my health had been topsy-turvy for several years previously without an apparent out clause. Several operations later I developed diabetes, which was at least controlable. So I thought. The nurses praised my efforts to keep levels level but later trips to the local diabetic unit made me feel useless as my levels went through swinging phases.

I gave up testing so much for a while due to painful fingers and a busy schedule, but this busy ever changing schedule makes the levels even harder to regulate. I am pretty self disciplined about eating regularly and when I remember, injecting, but is becoming increasingly frustrating to carry on "living" life rather than just existing or surviving. Food becomes an obsession, when and where the next meal will be, how much to eat, what is in it and then how much to inject, depending on all of these factors, plus how active you have been or are going to be, how stressed or not you are, and time of the month as hormones jiggle levels around too. And this last couple of weeks have involved a hypo or two nearly every day...
Soooo frustrating.

Well I've ranted on long enough... vaguely coherent...thank you for your posting and giving me the opportunity to rant in an appropriate place... comments? observations? ideas on improving my control?...

Hi Kat!

Yeah, the anti-candida thing makes life a bit more complicated than it need be, so I empathise with that. Unfortunately, though, I've no directly relevant experience for dealing with such a contingency. Same goes for the hormone thing, too (wrong sex, tragically... - probably sums up my entire life...). The "swinging phases" experience is remarkably common, so I don't think your medicos need be at all surprised about that.

Have you had a look at any of the relevant forum sites (sorry I can't link here, but I personally recommend (1) Reality Check and (2) Hypostasis [you might have to look these up] - which are both Australian - but then I've contributed fairly extensively to both, and know that issues such as those you describe are discussed fairly extensively in each)?

I can say that "giving up testing" is not a good way to go - it's too easy to believe that there will be no consequences from doing so, and it's far too easy to overlook the effects as they occur. Juggling insulin inputs is an option, but other things (as you allude) would also have to be adjusted. The only general advice which is any good is: make the changes you need to make (and every action you need to take) as small as you can possibly make them, and be prepared to change again when the effects are not satisfactory. The other thing is, bearing this previously general advice in mind, that you have to use your doctor - painful as this may be to actually do.

Sorry for not signing off there, but I was too long writing the previous reply and my connection was about to drop out.

Let me know how it goes!

Regards,

H.