HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Depression/anxiety & diabetes combined.

Support Forums
>
Diabetes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/29/2008 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there everyone.
As you can I am new in these forums.
I am an insulin dependent diabetic. I have been recently been told from my doctor that I have depression and anxiety.
I have been diabetic now for 18 years. I am now starting to run into problems caused from my diabetes, that you all are probably aware of with a diabetic with next to no control of the diabetes.
My doctor (GP), is wanting me to attend counselling of some sort, but has put me on some medication to help me with it all.
I have two wonderful children under the age of 5 years, an a hubby I love to pieces. My husband knows everything that I feeling, but I just cant seem to get myself motivated anymore to take my insulin as prescribed nor do my blood testings.
My recent blood test done at lab showed I had high lipids, high HBA1c (11.1), also up in GGT number.
I have an ulcer on left shin, that is hurting real bad, on pain relief for that and daily dressing done at the hospital.
I dont know where to turn to help anymore, and dont know what to do with myself.
Any advice or help is much much appreciated.
I am in New Zealand, so things might be slightly different here compared to overseas, eg counselling or the diabetes blood testing numbers, I am not sure.

Regards

cry cry
Posted 10/29/2008 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Warm welcome to HealingWell!  I'm so sorry for the complexity of what's going on.  As you know, a diabetic counselor or dietition will probably hand you a diet plan, tell you what to eat and what to do, remind you that your blood sugar control is very important and say, "see you later"....  As I see it, the depression and anxiety have to be under control not only for your well-being but also for you to get your diabetes under control.  Are you able to speak to a mental health professional?  A psychologist or psychiatrist?  I presume that would be mandatory if you're on medication to control the anxiety.  Well, in any case, here on this forum we can help you with diet information and support at the very least.  I guess with your leg ulcer that physical activity is difficult or painful?  Walking?  Exercise?  You should know that activity helps keep blood sugar under more control just as diet and meds do.  What do you normally eat for meals?  Please don't despair.  Let us know what's going on.  Ok? 

Posted 10/29/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Lady,
Are you type 1?
Posted 10/29/2008 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lady:) I know it is hard to keep checking blood and to eat right and keep this disease under control. I treat is as just another thing I do each day like putting shoes on and it fits into the schedule. As you work on staying healthy, it just turns into your life. The great way you feel makes it worth it and you will keep doing the right things. Make sure to keep healthy food in supply and then if you have to eat, you can grab it like you would a donut or chips. Please start to work on it not only for you but for the children. They need a healthy Mom. Once you get the blood sugar under control, the wound will heal faster and you will feel so much better not only health wise but mentally too. Those darn high sugars mess with the mind. Keep coming here and get all the support you can:)
Posted 10/29/2008 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Oh gosh, ceebee, you're so right about being prepared.  The best way to make sure you don't just grab to eat whatever's available is to have the 'good' food ready.  The problem today is that all the easy and accessible food is pre-packaged and seems to be carb-based like crackers, cookies, bread, popcorn, granola bars, rice cakes.  They just sit on the shelf waiting to be eaten.......... and to raise your blood sugar.  (Same for those vending machines.  Ever take a good look to see what's in there?)  So, what to snack on?  Cheese sticks, cheese cubes, leftover chicken piece, sugar-free yogurt (check the carbs), a lettuce wrap with sliced turkey, nuts (not the can!), tuna salad, chicken salad, cheese puff (recipe for this was in a past thread).  But you have to have these readily available, within reach.  Make up tuna salad and keep it for snacks in addition for lunch.  Keep washed, individual lettuce leaves in a plastic bag in the veg. bin so you can just reach in and take 1 or 2.  Cut up some cheddar into cubes, put in a baggy and take it to work or school and keep a bag for home snacking. Yes, it takes some time, effort and planning but it pays off. 

yeah

Posted 10/29/2008 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hey again,

let me say thank you to those here responding to me, also those whom is reading this. You never know, you might be on the same ship as me, but not too sure where to go or what to do.

Yes my diabetic educator has talked to me about getting some further assistance, such as diabetic psychiatrist. Till now I had never thought that is what I needed. All this is new to me, (apart from the diabetes off cause).
I am very proud of my both my children. My daughter "Angel" was born extremely early, she was born at 25wks instead of term, yes there was alot of complications with her till she was 2yrs, such as breathing lung issues, she required ongoing oxygen till 2yrs. She also could not walk on her own till 2.5yrs, she had the aid of a walker. If you look at her now, 1wk off turning 5yrs, she has come along way. You would n=know looking at her that she was premature. In saying that she has 2 holes to her heart as a result of being prem. Angel may need open heart surgery to close her holes, but that wont be decided till she is 6yrs.

Jarod my son, 1wk of 3yrs, was also prem, but he was 33wks born. The neonatal unit and the doctors all patted me on the back with Jarod as they say I saved his life that day he was born. I was an emotional wreck then, and the stress with Jarod may have added to the problems then, but my diabetes went awol then also. Jarod Ph level when he was born was extremely low, and thats how the docs say I saved him, they say if he was not born when he was he was going to be a sill born that night. He was born at 6pm, but it was touch an go with him for a few hours following the birth. (as to with Angel, but for a week or so).

As you can see I have been thru a bit with both my kids, but they both are healthy now, just like any other child, they are happy and have no memory of what happened to them. I have told them both to their understanding that they where very sick babies. They both understand that and they dont dwell on it. This makes me more happier they know, and have excepted it.

I dont know if the depression has steamed from this or prior, in which I could have been hiding from everyone.
I am not going to do anything silly, as I love my family too too much for that. But I know need some sort of help.

Regards to all for now
Posted 10/29/2008 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh, you have been through more worries and fear with the two births than you deserve.  Your children are very very lucky and I'm thankful they are now healthy.  I do believe there is an emotional toll on you though which is normal but maybe this has created a depression for you.  Of course, this is why you need to pursue that with a medical professional (which I am not!).  Considering all this, no wonder you're having trouble controlling your blood sugar, so a few questions:  are you type 1 or type 2?  What kind of food do you normally eat?  Do you have any kind of regular exercise besides running around after your kids?  What medication are you one?  What are your blood sugar levels throughout the day?  Life is never simple, believe me, but when you take one step at a time, it's easier to handle.  Take care and report back, ok?

smurf

Posted 10/29/2008 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lanie,

Okay, yes I am an IDDM diabetic, I believe I am type 1 dependent.
I take Lantus twice daily, and Humalog 3X daily. (Well meant to).
Running around after the kids seems to be all I am doing at present due to my ulcer, as docs want me to elevate my leg. When I test my sugars at home they range from 3.0 up to 24, so yeah they are not controlled. I have tested for ketones, an that result is negative, surprise surprise.
I am a poor diabetic with my eating patterns, and my sleeping patterns, an docs put this down to the depression.
Eating patterns , I would eat very little next to nothing during the day, and have a main tea meal of night time. Nothing to eat till the following morning. I drink plenty, water etc, so I am guessing this is why I have no ketones as I am flushing them out of my body.

The foods I normally eat would consist of....(not all at once)......potatoes, pastas such as noodles, alfredo, cheese, luncheon meat, oranges (careful with this), bananas, apples, mix of white and multigrain bread (toast slice), sausages, meat patties, chicken, fish, mixed veges, peas, carrots (go easy on peas and carrots), super wine biscuits, cabbage, pumpkin, kumara (this is a kind of squash and I think it may have lots of carbs), whole milk, cholestrol free margarine, meat loaf, eggs, diet coke, marmite (does this have sugar?), peanut butter.

Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 10/29/2008 7:12:23 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/30/2008 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Ok.  First, I would suggest to keep a daily journal or log of your blood sugar (times taken and levels) and food (times eaten and what) and meds.  This needs to be done everyday.  Keep this journal handy, right in the kitchen maybe.  You should see connections between what you're eating and the blood sugar.  I went back to your post above and changed the food you should stay away from in red.  Basically it looks like you're eating too many carbs.  They are keeping your blood sugar way too high.  Ceebee is right that the leg ulcer may not be healing in a timely fashion because of the high blood sugar.  Try replacing the red food above with cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini squash (I believe you call these another name - courgette.), bell peppers, eggplant, spinach, salad food (lettuce, radishes, cucumbers), mushrooms.  Your meats, cheese and eggs are good sources of protein.  You can get a good substitute for noodles by peeling down strips of the zucchini squash and sauteing them in a pan with a sauce (not made with flour).  I do this a couple of times a week and eat them as a vegetable or with a meat sauce.  In fact, this week I made lasagne for the rest of the family and I made my zucchini noodles and added the meat sauce with cheese.  When eating fruit, try to eat some protein along with it like cheese or nuts or peanut butter.  The fruit can cause blood sugar spikes but the protein/fat will help keep the blood sugar from going too high - you have to test to see if this works for you or not.  Oranges may be a problem though.  If you can give this a try even for a couple of days, you should see some lower blood sugar readings.  Remember to test a couple of hours after you eat to see how the food you chose affects the blood sugar.  Finally, please eat regularly.  I know that's hard with little kids running around but this is very important for you.  Good luck.  You know that only you control what you eat, so your health depends on you! 

yeah


Posted 11/25/2008 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
welcome here to hw. my wife is also insulin dependent and has been scince 97 it has been hard but if you keep on top of it you can persevere. happy holidays and great luck , you can be happy and in control.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply