Guest guest Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 The Blood Sugar Blame Game Meagan Esler Feb 14, 2012 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/media/images/article_images/7448.jpeg> Meagan Esler Wiped out and dejected, that's my state of mind this morning. I had a really low blood <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> sugar, and it's left me feeling like I've been in a fight. My arms and legs feel heavy, and my " low " headache lingers, but I remind myself that it could be worse. I'm fine, I treated it, and my day will go on. A Facebook friend posted a moment ago that she just had her third low <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar /> blood sugar of the morning. I sent her a cyber hug and am full of sympathy. It's no wonder that low blood sugar is so frustrating to us: The feelings associated with it go way beyond the physical. They also hit us emotionally. Here comes the blame game: I know that I should have eaten earlier. I know that I shouldn't have tried to finish that paperwork before breakfast. I even told myself that I was in for a low if I didn't grab something to eat soon. And yet, even after seventeen years of life with type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-1-issues/> diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> , I ignored my own warnings. Now here I am, feeling exhausted and guilty for doing it to myself. For me, the emotional toll of diabetes is far more difficult than the shots and finger sticks. Guilt and diabetes go together like birthday cake and ice cream. We blame ourselves if our blood sugars are too high or low. We beat ourselves up if we don't get enough activity or if our doctor puts us on yet another new medication. I always feel like a failure if my stats are less than perfect, despite my knowledge that with diabetes, perfection is out of reach. The reality is that often our crazy blood sugars aren't our fault at all. It's impossible to flawlessly mimic our own pancreas every day. On top of that, dealing with a chronic illness twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, can break you down and lead to mistakes. I know that this morning's low occurred because of mistakes I made, but I force myself to remember that mistakes happen with diabetes. When I'm beating myself up and feeling bad, I think of what a type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-1-issues/> friend said to me after a recent rough low blood sugar: " Keep your chin up. Just like the last one, and the next one, it'll pass. " He's right. We've got to dust ourselves off, let go of the blame, and get back into the game of life. _____ Categories:Chronic <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/chronic-illness /> Illness, Emotional <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/emotional-toll- of-diabetes/> Toll of Diabetes, Finger <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/finger-sticks/> Sticks, Guilt <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/guilt-and-diabe tes/> and Diabetes, Low <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar /> Blood Sugar, Mistakes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/mistakes/> , Type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/research/type-1-diabetes/> Diabetes _____ <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <https://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2009/02/10/6087/you-can-help-support-di abetes-health/> Donate to Diabetes Health _____ You May Also Be Interested In... _____ Click <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/14/7448/the-blood-sugar-blame-ga me--/?isComment=1#comments> Here To View Or Post Comments Comments <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/media/img/callout.png> 0 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/14/7448/the-blood-sugar-blame-ga me--/?isComment=1#comments> comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 A bit over dramatized, but he/she has it right about the 24/7 chronic nature of diabetes. As I found when researching a grad course paper a number of years back, diabetes (notably type 1) requires the highest level of intervention by the patient, more than any other disease. Dave ~~ Now available: THE ATTACHÉ! -- From Desert Breeze Publishing ~~ Visit: http://www.authordavidbond.com Upcoming releases: A TIME TO BUILD -- June, 2012 SWEET MUSIC -- October, 2012 A TIME TO HEAL -- February, 2013 OUT OF THE DESERT -- July, 2013 A TIME TO DANCE -- November, 2013 The blame game The Blood Sugar Blame Game Meagan Esler Feb 14, 2012 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/media/images/article_images/7448.jpeg> Meagan Esler Wiped out and dejected, that's my state of mind this morning. I had a really low blood <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> sugar, and it's left me feeling like I've been in a fight. My arms and legs feel heavy, and my " low " headache lingers, but I remind myself that it could be worse. I'm fine, I treated it, and my day will go on. A Facebook friend posted a moment ago that she just had her third low <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar /> blood sugar of the morning. I sent her a cyber hug and am full of sympathy. It's no wonder that low blood sugar is so frustrating to us: The feelings associated with it go way beyond the physical. They also hit us emotionally. Here comes the blame game: I know that I should have eaten earlier. I know that I shouldn't have tried to finish that paperwork before breakfast. I even told myself that I was in for a low if I didn't grab something to eat soon. And yet, even after seventeen years of life with type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-1-issues/> diabetes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> , I ignored my own warnings. Now here I am, feeling exhausted and guilty for doing it to myself. For me, the emotional toll of diabetes is far more difficult than the shots and finger sticks. Guilt and diabetes go together like birthday cake and ice cream. We blame ourselves if our blood sugars are too high or low. We beat ourselves up if we don't get enough activity or if our doctor puts us on yet another new medication. I always feel like a failure if my stats are less than perfect, despite my knowledge that with diabetes, perfection is out of reach. The reality is that often our crazy blood sugars aren't our fault at all. It's impossible to flawlessly mimic our own pancreas every day. On top of that, dealing with a chronic illness twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, can break you down and lead to mistakes. I know that this morning's low occurred because of mistakes I made, but I force myself to remember that mistakes happen with diabetes. When I'm beating myself up and feeling bad, I think of what a type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-1-issues/> friend said to me after a recent rough low blood sugar: " Keep your chin up. Just like the last one, and the next one, it'll pass. " He's right. We've got to dust ourselves off, let go of the blame, and get back into the game of life. _____ Categories:Chronic <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/chronic-illness /> Illness, Emotional <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/emotional-toll- of-diabetes/> Toll of Diabetes, Finger <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/finger-sticks/> Sticks, Guilt <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/guilt-and-diabe tes/> and Diabetes, Low <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar /> Blood Sugar, Mistakes <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/mistakes/> , Type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/research/type-1-diabetes/> Diabetes _____ <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> <https://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2009/02/10/6087/you-can-help-support-di abetes-health/> Donate to Diabetes Health _____ You May Also Be Interested In... _____ Click <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/14/7448/the-blood-sugar-blame-ga me--/?isComment=1#comments> Here To View Or Post Comments Comments <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/media/img/callout.png> 0 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/14/7448/the-blood-sugar-blame-ga me--/?isComment=1#comments> comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 I appreciate that article. I got a 252 last night and have been nibbling o vegetables like a little girl that got caught with her hand in the cookie jar! LOL. I am going to take another test a little later this morning and see if the medication is working. Lora The blame game > > The Blood Sugar Blame Game > > Meagan Esler > > Feb 14, 2012 > > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/media/images/article_images/7448.jpeg> > > Meagan Esler > > Wiped out and dejected, that's my state of mind this morning. I had a > really > low blood <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> > sugar, and it's left me feeling like I've been in a fight. My arms and > legs > feel heavy, and my " low " headache lingers, but I remind myself that it > could > be worse. I'm fine, I treated it, and my day will go on. > > A Facebook friend posted a moment ago that she just had her third low > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar > /> blood sugar of the morning. I sent her a cyber hug and am full of > sympathy. It's no wonder that low blood sugar is so frustrating to us: The > feelings associated with it go way beyond the physical. They also hit us > emotionally. > > Here comes the blame game: I know that I should have eaten earlier. I know > that I shouldn't have tried to finish that paperwork before breakfast. I > even told myself that I was in for a low if I didn't grab something to eat > soon. And yet, even after seventeen years of life with type 1 > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-1-issues/> diabetes > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/> , I ignored my own warnings. Now here I > am, > feeling exhausted and guilty for doing it to myself. > > For me, the emotional toll of diabetes is far more difficult than the > shots > and finger sticks. Guilt and diabetes go together like birthday cake and > ice > cream. We blame ourselves if our blood sugars are too high or low. We beat > ourselves up if we don't get enough activity or if our doctor puts us on > yet > another new medication. > > I always feel like a failure if my stats are less than perfect, despite my > knowledge that with diabetes, perfection is out of reach. The reality is > that often our crazy blood sugars aren't our fault at all. It's impossible > to flawlessly mimic our own pancreas every day. On top of that, dealing > with > a chronic illness twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, can break > you > down and lead to mistakes. I know that this morning's low occurred because > of mistakes I made, but I force myself to remember that mistakes happen > with > diabetes. > > When I'm beating myself up and feeling bad, I think of what a type 1 > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-1-issues/> friend > said > to me after a recent rough low blood sugar: " Keep your chin up. Just like > the last one, and the next one, it'll pass. " He's right. We've got to dust > ourselves off, let go of the blame, and get back into the game of life. > > _____ > > Categories:Chronic > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/chronic-illness > /> Illness, Emotional > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/emotional-toll- > of-diabetes/> Toll of Diabetes, Finger > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/finger-sticks/> Sticks, > Guilt > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/guilt-and-diabe > tes/> and Diabetes, Low > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar > /> Blood Sugar, Mistakes > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/mistakes/> , > Type 1 <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/research/type-1-diabetes/> > Diabetes > > _____ > > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > <http://w.sharethis.com/images/check-small.png> > > <https://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2009/02/10/6087/you-can-help-support-di > abetes-health/> Donate to Diabetes Health > _____ > > > You May Also Be Interested In... > > _____ > > > Click > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/14/7448/the-blood-sugar-blame-ga > me--/?isComment=1#comments> Here To View Or Post Comments > > > Comments <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/media/img/callout.png> 0 > <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2012/02/14/7448/the-blood-sugar-blame-ga > me--/?isComment=1#comments> comments > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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