Janis
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Registered: 05/27/05
Posts: 4,683
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Reply with quote | #1 |
Hi Everyone,
Research shows that people who write letters to their medical issues can dramatically improve how they feel, both physically and mentally. Let's give it a go! I bet we can have a terrific time with this.
Ready? Begin your letter with "Dear Diabetes," and post it now!
Janis 
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Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N |
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sharon
Registered: 06/03/05
Posts: 5,405
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Reply with quote | #2 |
OK, diabetes - I know when I was first on insulin I got so that I had good nos. before meals all the time (didn't test after at all) But now I am really frustrated because my nos. many times are in the 200's (200-300) Sometimes actually under 200 and even good in the 80-115 range. When I went to my counselor and was dx'd as high anxiety to moderate depression, we both realized that I am the one who has to monitor my extra snacks, my bad eating habits that I got into. I stopped going to her because I really knew that, but that knowledge was reinforced. I am the one who has to do it. People can encourage me and Larry can say you shouldn't have that, but when he does that - I DON'T LIKE IT - even though I know it is true. He says he wishes I had never heard the phrase "diabetic police" because I need him to police me. I never thought I would feel this way, but I am sick of this whole thing. He won't even order my mags. subscriptions anymore because according to him, they aren't doing any good. I also know I should exercise - "move" around more and reading the mags. tells me that but then I don't. It hurts to walk (right knee, left hip and now my whole right knee hurts in various places at various times.
Well, I think I have written enough of an EPIC. This is how I feel most of the time and have to FORCE myself to go places. Thanks for "listening"
Sharon
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Sharon from Arizona |
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sharon
Registered: 06/03/05
Posts: 5,405
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Aren't you glad I don't post every day?
Sharon
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Sharon from Arizona |
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richard157
Registered: 12/19/06
Posts: 2,877
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Reply with quote | #4 |
Dear diabetes, we are inseparable and we are at peace now but it was not that way in the beginning. I was five years old and it was early 1945. I had suffered with measles, chicken pox and mumps and my body was weakened and my resistance was low. You invaded my body and damaged my pancreas. Three doctors did not recognize my symptoms and I was not diagnosed for several months. You persisted and caused mr to lose much weight and I stopped eating. A fourth doctor finally diagnosed me in September, five days after my sixth birhtday. I was given animal insulin and stayed in the hospital many days.
When I was in school you made my life miserable. I was very brittle and I had hypos if I exercised too much. I could not play with the other kids on the playground and I could not eat the cookies and cupcakes served in class for birthday parties. The other kids knew I was different and they ignored me. I was shy and I sat back and watched.
At home Mother took care of me and I was healthy even though I had very high blood sugar most of the time. After 40 years of high blood sugar and some hypos at night I finally found out just how high my blood sugar had been. I bought my first glucometer and I saw that I was over 200 most of the day, every day. I then discovered I shoukld have been eating low carb meals all those years and I started counting carbs, keeping thorough records. I started running lower blood sugar and I felt the best I ever had.
Now, a total of 63 years after my diagnosis, I am very healthy and I have no serious complications. I feel I have won this battle. You have actually been rather cooperative though. If I am taking good care of myself you do not bother me and I have wonderful days. If I am careless and stray from my path you remind me you are still there and you are very unkind. You keep me on my path of good control and I eat properly and exercise to stay healthy. I thank you for that. I believe that I am healthier now than I would have been if you had never come into my life. I am very health conscious and I may not have been without you. I was healthier than most of my relatives while growing up. I have had a wonderful life in spite of you. We are no longer enemies. You were my evil twin but now you are my friend. We exist together and you are there to keep me going in the right dieection. Let's continue that friendship for many more years to come, shall we?
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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift."....Eleanor Roosevelt
Age 70. Type 1 for 64 years. Using a Minimed 522 pump. No complications. A1c = 5.8. |
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jonkaitsmom
Registered: 05/27/07
Posts: 539
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Reply with quote | #5 |
Dear Diabetes:
You are totally new to me. Yes I know you have landed on the doorsteps of my mom, grandma and aunt but I'm still trying to figure out why you landed on mine. I've always been a healthy eater with occassional snacking. I always thought that my sister would have gotten visited by you. She's the one that eats sweets, never exercises and is a big girl. The doctor's said I have it because it's in the genes. Well I'd like a new pair of genes buddy!!!!
I have to be honest, I don't like you at all. You wreak havoc on people. You came to visit mom, she hated you to and because of that, she ignored all your warnings and had a heart attack. I keep saying I won't end up like that but lately, I don't know. I've fallen into her path of denial and it scares me.
I know I'm in denial but all the poking of needles, medicine that upsets the tummy and then trying to find a balance with nutrition is so tough. Just when I have it downpact, you decide to throw in a curve. I pray each day that I'll be more like Richard and win the battle but my battle is only beginning and you and I both know it's been quite ugly! LIke Richard says, "you invade the pancreas", and now mine has gone crazy. If I eat too many carbs within 2 hours you decide that my body should break out in a bad episode of sweating and shaking and you tell my bsl's to drop to 50. If I eat like I have sense, you seem like you enjoy that alot better but there are days I do everything to please you and you still give me the blues. What do you what from me?!!!
If I even go for a walk somedays I come in and shake like I've never shook before. I hate that!
Diabetes, I'm a mom and I'm in school and work full time, do you honestly think it's fair to add more pressure to my life? Lately I can't seem to balance it all and spend alot of time eating higher carb meals just to feel better. Do you remember the other day when I didn't eat on time and when I did it was a bag of chips and then cookies? I was studying for a final and was on my lunch break and was running late from helping Jonathon get ready for his confirmation. It was a busy day and rather than let me be, you threw me the worst curve ever. You decided to really make my sugar drop and I almost passed out at my desk. It's not fair.
I'm crying as I type this because I know you are going to leave me alone. No police can be called in to make you leave me alone, no restraining order, no nothing. I have always conquered every challenge laid before me but this one I can't seem to win. You showed up when I was pregnant and I won the battle but after the baby, I was run down and tired and had alot of problems with hi's and low blood sugar. Doc said it was pre diabetes and I said fine, no problem and did nothing thinking pre meant, no problem.
Now 4 years later my new doctor has told me, you are here to stay. My numbers are higher and I've gained 40 pounds. He says I need to "take charge" and "accept it".
I have 2 kids to raise diabetes and I have to be here for them. They are my life, so all I can do is make you comfy and try and make you my friend as Richard says.
So, I will dry my tears, lay out the welcome mat and try and make you happy. It won't be easy because we will still go to battle some days but maybe we can learn to fight side by side and not on opposing teams?
I don't love you but maybe I can learn to like you.............
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sharon
Registered: 06/03/05
Posts: 5,405
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Reply with quote | #6 |
Well, Diabetes, nos. weren't so bad last night, well, for me. Before bed - tested at 11 at 209. This morning I had 84 so that was good.
Sharon
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Sharon from Arizona |
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sharon
Registered: 06/03/05
Posts: 5,405
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Reply with quote | #7 |
Well, diabetes, I started writing down everything I put in my mouth and it seems to be helping. Still have snacks but cutting down on them. And I am going to continue to do write for another week - SO THERE! 
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Sharon from Arizona |
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sharon
Registered: 06/03/05
Posts: 5,405
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Reply with quote | #8 |
Well, diabetes, I hope you are happy! Over the weekend we had a lot to do with Larry's sister being here from Texas. And I seemed to do fine. Then yesterday I was EXHAUSTED! Kept falling asleep and didn't do much of anything. My problem is that when we go to Virginia in July for our nieces wedding we are having a tour of the White House/Judicial Bldg., then everything for the wedding. I sure hope I am NOT EXHAUSTED while there. Then we hope to do some more sightseeing and stop in Chicago to see a nephew/family and driving around Racine/Kenosha, WI. Sh/from R, L/K and hope I can take that. 
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Sharon from Arizona |
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Janis
Moderator
Registered: 05/27/05
Posts: 4,683
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Reply with quote | #9 |
Writing a letter to a physical problem can often help you see it in a different light. Richard and jonkaitsmom both began their letters with negative comments, but by the end of the note, they both had made peace with their diabetes.
Did any of you find writing helpful? If you haven't written yet, there is plenty of room. Jump on in.
Janis 
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Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N |
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sharon
Registered: 06/03/05
Posts: 5,405
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Reply with quote | #10 |
Don't worry, Janis, I won't post on this thread any more.
Sharon
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Sharon from Arizona |
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NayNay
Registered: 05/03/07
Posts: 198
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Reply with quote | #11 |
WOW, this is the first I've seen this, but it did grab my attention. So I'm going to give it a try, here goes:
Dear Diabetes,
I must start by telling you I have have a great love of all my friends, but you diabetes are not my friend and I do NOT love you, I don't like you, if I were honest I would have to tell you I hate you. You took my father from me, you have latched on to my sister and both my brothers--and me.
You are mean, you have taken most of the joy out of my life. I want to know why? Why me, why my father and my siblings, why? You are so hard to figure out, you give me no peace. You are a mystery to me, yet you are very familiar all the same. You make me sick, tried, FAT, sleepy, you give me leg cramps, you put spots in my eyes. You make me loose my concentration, you cause me to loose sleep, you make me low and shaky then shoot me back up until I'm high as a kite all in an hours' time. I hate you. I want my youth back, before you came to stay. Life was good then. I swore you would not get me, you make me mad, as you did catch me. I want to be free again. I want you to leave and never come back. I don't want to deal with you, so I really have not. You think you will take me too, like my dad? You think you are so smart that you can out-wit me? Today, you might be right, today you have the upper hand, today I'm loosing. You are winning, but I pray not for long. I hate you.
NayNay
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Janis
Moderator
Registered: 05/27/05
Posts: 4,683
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Reply with quote | #12 |
NayNay,
Now that you've put your anger into a letter, how do you feel? Can you think of a way to harness your anger and put it to good use?
Janis
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Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N |
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Janis
Moderator
Registered: 05/27/05
Posts: 4,683
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Reply with quote | #13 |
Sharon,
We do want you to participate in this, so don't go away. Your letter was a great start, but it wasn't written directly to your diabetes. That is what we are trying to do here. Not talk about our diabetes, but talk TO it - let it know what we think about it and then see what comes out.
Janis
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Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N |
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NayNay
Registered: 05/03/07
Posts: 198
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Janis
Moderator
Registered: 05/27/05
Posts: 4,683
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Reply with quote | #15 |
No hurry, Nay-Nay. Take your time.
Janis 
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Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N |
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