Diagnosis and Learning about Diabetes Care

• Keep positive, to be diagnosed with diabetes is not the end of the world.
• At the time of diagnosis it's obviously, quite a big shock and it feels like a really big change to your life, but as you get used to it you'll realise that it isn't really all that big a change.
• Make sure you've got a good doctor. If you don't like the doctors you've got, maybe try and find another one because it is really important you have a doctor you trust.
• If you have questions in between check-ups or problems about control and you are not quite sure how to handle it do ask for help!

To be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes is not the end of the world, you will get used to living life with diabetes. Try an get as much information as you can.

Just learn to be patient because when you are starting to managed your diabetes your blood glucose levels might not always be as good as you want them to be.

They were told her husband had to be tested again in another pregnancy. He went to see the nurse but refused to have the test. (Played by an actor.)

Do listen to what your body is telling you and back it up with blood glucose tests. Do look after your diabetes and stop thinking about horrible things that can happen to you.

Self Managing Diabetes

• Take control of the management of diabetes yourself as soon as you can. Once you start to manage your diabetes everything seems better because you're in control.
• It's absolutely valid to be upset and it's valid to want to give up. But at the same time there are so many things that you can do and there is nothing that you shouldn't try and do.
• Always carry glucose tablets with you everywhere you go.
• Wear your diabetic pendant when going out with friends.
• If you go low, don't panic, just self managed it.
• Do regular blood glucose tests every time you are changing insulin regimen.
• Do regular blood glucose test if you start a diet and always discuss this with your consultant or nurse. 
• If you have type 1 diabetes kind of symptoms ask your doctor to test your blood glucose level. 
• Doing insulin injections is not always easy and it might take you some time to feel confident about doing it. Be patient.
• If you find it difficult controlling your blood glucose levels you will get miserable and you will feel bad but the thing is to carry on and don't give up.
• The biggest thing is that you have to aim for is good management of your diabetes because it is not your life and health now but in ten, twenty, or so years down the line.
• Diabetes doesn't control your life. You have to control diabetes. It's just part of your life, it's not you.

The more you learn about diabetes and its insulin treatment the better you will become at managing it.

Don't be scared and as long as you control your diabetes and do your injections, diabetes does not have to restrict you in any way.

Says that he has lived with diabetes for 16 years and if hasn't stopped him from doing what he wants and most of the time he forgets he has it.

Work with diabetes rather than against it because it is generally those people that do not control their diabetes well that end up with diabetes related complications.

Control diabetes, don't let it control you!

Others can help too!

• If you have problems with doing the insulin injections don't give up and ask your consultant or GP for help. 
• Tell your friends that you are diabetic and make sure that they know what to do if you have a hypo.
• If your parents are nagging you is because they care. 
• Try not to let diabetes affect you but if you are having problems talk to someone. Talk to your parents or one of your friends or the diabetic consultants or the nurses at the hospital. 
• When going out socialising you can have just a good time without drinking alcohol. Ask your friends to help you not to drink that much.
• Seek help if you start missing insulin injections or if you are making yourself sick or restricting your food intake. Don't wait until you problem gets worse. Talk to your diabetes care team and be honest with them. They can't help you unless they know what's going on.
• If others around you don't like the fact that you've got diabetes, don't want to accept it, then they're obviously not friends and you could do better without them.
• If anyone thinks that you're weird for having to do an injection, just ignore them.

Keep positive and do control your diabetes. And when you feel depressed do make sure that you talk to those close to you.

Says that you can't battle an eating disorder on your own, that you need to ask for help.

One important thing is to make sure that you tell others; friends, teachers, employers that you have diabetes. Managing diabetes is difficult but you have to persevere always.

Last reviewed April 2010.