Rebecca's Story

Rebecca shared with us her story on our social network site mydiabetes.com and I share it with our blog readers this morning.

Rebecca writes;

"My name is Rebecca , I'm 39 and have been type 2 insulin required diabetic since Feb 1988.I have had a lot of up and downs in the past 21 years. But, the most recent is this past year I lost my right leg just below the knee. I had 2 diabetic ulcers caused from a rusty nail I stepped on in 2004. I walked on it for a week before anyone found it. By then it was so black I thought I was going to lose it then. But, with the luck of my doctors the where able to save it for a few years After the infection was out of the sore it healed up. Then December of 2006, I got a little sore on the bottom of the right foot again. We battled with it for 2 years in and out of the hospitals and nursing homes. In May of last year I got down real sick I thought it was the flu here my foot had gangrene in it( I found out later). I went to the doctor and one look he said to the hospital you go. We are removing the foot in the morning. I was so scared I had nobody to talk to except the nurse's on my floor. And of course they where busy. But, one of them did come in after shift and talked to me. After being in the hospital for 2 weeks I went back to the nursing home again for another 4 months for rehab. Now , I am home and I have a prosthetic leg and I can walk again after 2years. And I can even dive into a swimming pool again. They are even getting ready to make me a new leg cause the first one is getting to big."

GMR Heather Stott and www.mydiabetes.com

It was a real pleasure to be interviewed this morning by the ubiquitous Heather Stott about www.mydiabetes.com. 

Prepared to talk about the myths of diabetes, reasons  f0r blood sugar control, the importance of exercise and the challenges of the "healthy diet". I arrived early at the headquarter of the BBC in the center of Manchester. 

The interview lasted all but two minutes and at the very least I managed to explain what diabetes means to most people. Fear, shock, anger, resentment. I also explained that our community has the purpose of letting patients, family members, friends and health care professionals share their stories and provide support and encouragement on the diabetes journey.

 

Be Happy!

Good Morning!

 

One of our members has been in Las Vegas this week. Not on holiday but to look after her parents. Her mother has undergone heart surgery and she has been teaching her dad how to cook meals that will be more suitable for both him and his wife. The last I heard is that between them they had cooked over 65 lo-salt healthy meals and mum is recovering from the operation.  Good for them and the best wishes of the mydiabetes.com community are with you.

 

One of the challenges facing all of us is that of getting over the shock, anger and resentment of diagnosis and being able to move forward and come to terms with the inevitable changes. It’s not easy, there are no simple answers but we know that when we laugh and smile things always seem a little better.

 

 

I was sent this list from the reader’s digest which gives 20 ideas about how to be happy.

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

1. Practice mindfulness. Be in the moment. Instead of worrying about your checkup tomorrow while you have dinner with your family, focus on the here and now -- the food, the company, the conversation. 

2. Laugh out loud. Just anticipating a happy, funny event can raise levels of endorphins and other pleasure-inducing hormones and lower production of stress hormones. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, tested 16 men who all agreed they thought a certain videotape was funny. Half were told three days in advance they would watch it. They started experiencing biological changes right away. When they actually watched the video, their levels of stress hormones dropped significantly, while their endorphin levels rose 27 percent and their growth hormone levels (indicating benefit to the immune system) rose 87 percent. 

3. Go to sleep. We have become a nation of sleep-deprived citizens. Taking a daily nap or getting into bed at 8 p.m. one night with a good book -- and turning the light out an hour later -- can do more for your mood and outlook on life than any number of bubble baths or massages. 

4. Hum along. Music soothes more than the savage beast. Studies find music activates parts of the brain that produce happiness -- the same parts activated by food or sex. It's also relaxing. In one study older adults who listened to their choice of music during outpatient eye surgery had significantly lower heart rates, blood pressure, and cardiac workload (that is, their heart didn't have to work as hard) as those who had silent surgery. 

5. Declutter. It's nearly impossible to meditate, breathe deeply, or simply relax when every surface is covered with papers and bills and magazines, your cabinets bulge, and you haven't balanced your checkbook in six months. Plus, the repetitive nature of certain cleaning tasks -- such as sweeping, wiping, and scrubbing -- can be meditative in and of itself if you focus on what you're doing. 

6. Just say no. Eliminate activities that aren't necessary and that you don't enjoy. If there are enough people already to handle the church bazaar and you're feeling stressed by the thought of running the committee for yet another year, step down and let someone else handle things. 

7. Make a list. There's nothing like writing down your tasks to help you organize your thoughts and calm your anxiety. Checking off each item provides a great sense of fulfillment. 

8. Do one thing at a time. Edward Suarez, Ph.D., associate professor of medical psychology at Duke, found that people who multitask are more likely to have high blood pressure. Take that finding to heart. Instead of talking on the phone while you fold laundry or clean the kitchen, sit down in a comfortable chair and turn your entire attention over to the conversation. Instead of checking e-mail as you work on other projects, turn off your e-mail function until you finish the report you're writing. This is similar to the concept of mindfulness. 

9. Garden. Not only will the fresh air and exercise provide their own stress reduction and feeling of well-being, but the sense of accomplishment that comes from clearing a weedy patch, watching seeds turn into flowers, or pruning out dead wood will last for hours, if not days. 

10. Tune out the news. For one week go without reading the newspaper, watching the news, or scanning the headlines online. Instead, take a vacation from the misery we're exposed to every day via the media and use that time for a walk, a meditation session, or to write in your journal. 

 

 

11. Take a dog for a walk. There are numerous studies that attest to the stress-relieving benefits of pets. In one analysis researchers evaluated the heart health of 240 couples, half of whom owned a pet. Those couples with pets had significantly lower heart rates and blood pressure levels when exposed to stressors than the couples who did not have pets. In fact, the pets worked even better at buffering stress than the spouses did. 

12. Scent the air. Research finds that the benefits of aromatherapy in relieving stress are real. In one study people exposed to rosemary had lower anxiety levels, increased alertness, and performed math computations faster. Adults exposed to lavender showed an increase in the type of brain waves that suggest increased relaxation. Today you have a variety of room-scenting methods, from plug-in air fresheners to essential oil diffusers, potpourri, and scented candles. 

13. Ignore the stock market. Simply getting your quarterly 401(k) statement can be enough to send your blood pressure skyrocketing. In fact, Chinese researchers found a direct link between the daily performance of the stock market and the mental health of those who closely followed it. Astute investors know that time heals most financial wounds, so give your investments time -- and give yourself a break. 

14. Visit a quiet place. Libraries, museums, gardens, and places of worship provide islands of peace and calm in today's frantic world. Find a quiet place near your house and make it your secret getaway. 

15. Volunteer. Helping others enables you to put your own problems into perspective and also provides social interaction. While happy people are more likely to help others, helping others increases your happiness. One study found that volunteer work enhanced all six aspects of well-being: happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and depression. 

16. Spend time alone. Although relationships are one of the best antidotes to stress, sometimes you need time alone to recharge and reflect. Take yourself out to lunch or to a movie, or simply spend an afternoon reading, browsing in a bookstore, or antiquing. 

17. Walk mindfully. You probably already know that exercise is better than tranquilizers for relieving anxiety and stress. But what you do with your mind while you're walking can make your walk even more beneficial. In a study called the Ruth Stricker Mind/Body Study, researchers divided 135 people into five groups of walkers for 16 weeks. Group one walked briskly, group two at a slow pace, and group three at a slow pace while practicing "mindfulness," a mental technique to bring about the relaxation response, a physiological response in which the heart rate slows and blood pressure drops. This group was asked to pay attention to their footsteps, counting one, two, one, two, and to visualize the numbers in their mind. Group four practiced a form of tai chi, and group five served as the control, changing nothing about their lives. The group practicing mindfulness showed significant declines in anxiety and had fewer negative and more positive feelings about themselves. Overall they experienced the same stress-reducing effects of the brisk walkers. Better yet, the effects were evident immediately. 

18. Give priority to close relationships. One study of more than 1,300 men and women of various ages found that those who had a lot of supportive friends were much more likely to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar metabolism, and stress hormone levels than those with two or fewer close friends. Women, and to a lesser extent men, also seemed to benefit from good relationships with their parents and spouses. Studies also find that people who feel lonely, depressed, and isolated are three to five times more likely to get sick and die prematurely than those who have feelings of love, connection, and community. 

19. Take care of the soul. In study after study, actively religious people are happier and cope better with crises, according to David Myers, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. For many people faith provides a support community, a sense of life's meaning, feelings of ultimate acceptance, a reason to focus beyond yourself, and a timeless perspective on life's woes. Even if you're not religious, a strong spirituality may offer similar benefits. 

20. Count your blessings. People who pause each day to reflect on some positive aspect of their lives (their health, friends, family, freedom, education, etc.) experience a heightened sense of well-being. 

 

 

Be happy this week! Good luck and thank you once again for being a member of www.mydiabetes.com

The story of the dog that has learned to save his diabetic owner

A guide dog in County Durham saves her owner's life on a daily basis by detecting whether he is close to a diabetic collapse. Zeta, one of the first "hypo-dogs" in the North East, has been trained by diabetes sufferer Cherry Kearton and his wife Angela. She puts her paws on his stomach to test whether the amount of sugar in his blood is at the correct level. If there is a risk of coma, she warns him and he takes his medication. Angela, who trains guide dogs for a living, taught Zeta the life-saving skills when she was a puppy. 'Saved his bacon' She said: "Zeta was being trained as a guide dog but at the end of her training she went lame and could not carry on, that's when I thought I could use her to help my husband. "Believe me, she has saved his bacon on many an occasion. She is not always 100% accurate but she does seem to err on the side of caution." She trained the Labrador by leaving traces of her husband's sweat, which would either be high or low in blood sugar, on a ball of handkerchiefs. Zeta started to familiarise herself with the smell, and when she detected the difference she was awarded with a treat. Ms Kearton added: "It took just over two weeks, the hardest part was persuading her to jump up and alert my husband as she was used to being an obedient guide dog. She has definitely got the hang of it now though."

Symptons of diabetes

According to the British Health service the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar. However, type 1 diabetes usually develops suddenly over weeks or even days.Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be vague and may not seem important at the time.It’s important to seek medical advice if you think you might have signs of diabetes. Early diagnosis reduces your risk of developing complications.Symptoms of diabetes can include:feeling thirsty all the time, frequent urination, tiredness, weight loss, muscle wasting, frequent infections or slow-healing sores, itchiness around the vagina or penis, regular episodes of thrush and blurred vision.

These symptoms may be due to other conditions, so it's important you seek medical advice and diagnosis.

Have a great weekend

Saturday 31st of January

Hello Everybody

I hope you are all feeling well today and for the sports fans are looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday and the pictures of the warm Florida sunshine.

Those of us in the more northern latitudes are either snowed in or expecting a brace of cold weather. Wrap up and keep warm!

There have been lots of new members joining our community this week and some very interesting articles have been posted. There are a couple of requests asking for some feedback and it would be great if one or two of us responded. Especially to the post ‘what inspires you about diabetes.’

http://mydiabetessocialnetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/what-inspires-you-about


If there is anything in particular that you want to ask or feel that would be beneficial and you don’t yet feel confident in posting a blog or forum entry yourself then just drop me a note privately and I’ll respond.

Thank you for letting your friends and colleagues know about the group and for those of you with your own blog sites or if you are on facebook please publicise mydiabetes. Let’s see if we can get to 100 members by next weekend.

Best wishes and have a great week!


David

PS – To change your picture from the blue square to one of you or indeed to a picture of your pets just press the “mypage” tab and under the blue box on you own Page there is a note saying change picture. Good Luck

Keep positive about your diabetes!

Diabetes is a disease that is long lasting. Health Care Professionals call diseases like diabetes chronic diseases. Diabetes affects a wide variety of people, young and old, black and white, and many of us know someone who is affected by diabetes.Being diagnosed and learning to live with diabetes can be a difficult thing. Feelings of denial, shock, anger, resentment and sadness are normal. The important thing is that you are not on your own. All over the world millions and millions of people live with diabetes and have normal happy lives. Understanding diabetes and understanding your diabetes takes time however with the right support you’ll be fine.The most important link in managing your diabetes is you and the reason for the existence of http://www.mydiabetes.com/ is to provide a resource for you to share your story and get some support from your fellow travelers on the diabetes journey.Keep positive!

Eamonn Homes, Feelgood Factor and Diabetes

I understand that Eamonn Homes will be very busy indeed according to a report on Diabetes Uk this evening -

Good luck Eamonn from all of us a http://www.mydiabetes.com/





Co-host and contestant of new Saturday night ITV series ‘The Feelgood Factor’, Eamonn Holmes, will be raising funds for Diabetes UK over the coming eight weeks.
The programme is designed to provide people with the perfect way to change their lifestyle, with help, advice and support on how to eat better and exercise more.
Pledge a pound
Aimed at those aged 18 years or over, it encourages people to raise money for charity as they lose weight by signing up to the ‘Pound for Pound’ pledge. For every pound they pledge to lose, their friends and family can each pledge a pound or more in cash for their chosen charity.
For every pound in weight Eamonn loses, a pound or more in cash will be shared between Diabetes UK and Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke.
Invaluable awareness raising
“When I was asked to nominate a charity for ‘The Feelgood Factor’, Diabetes UK was an obvious choice. I have friends who have had Type 2 diabetes creep up on them because of weight problems. I hope by doing this, I will raise awareness of the connection between Type 2 diabetes and being overweight and, of course, I also hope the funds raised help with all the great work Diabetes UK does”, said Eamonn.
“We’re delighted that Eamonn has chosen to support Diabetes UK," said Diabetes UK Chief Executive Douglas Smallwood.
"His public profile and the funds he raises will be invaluable in helping us improve awareness of the benefits of healthy living and physical activity in people with, and at risk of, Type 2 diabetes.”
'The Feelgood Factor' starts this Saturday at 5:50pm on ITV1.

Enid's Story managing mydiabetes

Enid Mutton is in her 70's and tells the story of how she felt when she was diagnosed with diabetes, how she reacted, what her health care team told her and how she manages now on a day to day basis. Her full story and a short film is here on our community site mydiabetes.com
http://mydiabetessocialnetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs/managing-my-diabetes-enids

Enid explains that whilst at first she was very worried and afraid she was able to come to terms with her diagnosis and go on to manage on a daily basis.

Thank you Enid.

Mydiabetes.com

The mydiabetes.com social media community has its first members. The purpose of our group is to provide support for and share our experience of diabetes with other patients, family members, friends and healthcare professionals.

To join us you will need to proceed to this link www.mydiabetes.com