Carla's story
"My story started at 36, by not feeling well. I lost a lot of weight very quickly and I was extremely tired all the time. The thirst was unbelievable, which then meant needing the toilet a lot and through the night! So off to the doctors I went, where they did their usual blood tests, but within a few days I quickly became more ill. I went back to the doctors, where they tested my blood sugar. It was 24 and I had ketones. They told me to go straight to hospital.
I arrived at the hospital, where they took more bloods and because of my age and no family history of diabetes, they put me as type 2 and sent me home with tablets. I was very shocked, as I didn’t have a clue what was going on and what it meant to have diabetes. My head was swimming! There was no advice given. I was told to take the tablets and felt I was kicked out the door.
I still felt very unwell, physically looked ill and my weight was still dropping. I kept going back to the doctors, where I was given more tablets to try and bring down my blood sugars. I ended up taking about 8 tablets a day and still my blood sugars where high.
This went on for 8 months, until I saw a locum doctor and finally was told something wasn’t right. I was referred to the diabetic clinic.
Turning point
The consultant took one look at me and said no way did I have type 2 diabetes. He did the special blood test and surprise surprise my blood test came back clearly that I was type 1. Within one week of taking insulin, my blood sugars came down and within 4 weeks, I started to feel like me again.
When I found out that I was type 1 (before the feeling better bit) and that I had to inject myself- I have to admit was a bit overwhelmed. The hospital where fantastic though, how they taught me to do it, the information, the help, it did take me a few attempts before I could do the injections, going very hot and sweaty too a few times! But I did it I was so proud of myself.
I am now 41 and yes it was a shock to find out I was type 1 at the age of 36, but really once I learnt to inject and manage my diabetes, it wasn’t a massive life changing thing.
Positives
Before I was diagnosed, I ate a fairly healthy diet so that wasn’t an issue for me and even now if I fancy a bit of chocolate or something sweet, I will have a little and inject accordingly.
You don’t have to miss out.
My everyday life hasn’t changed, not really - I just have to add a few finger prick tests and injections into the mix each day. Jelly Babies are my new favourite friend. Oh and yes - a bigger handbag to carry everything around in!!
There is so much help and advice out there and this website is brilliant, you can find everything out that you need.
Last but not least my advice is simple, DON'T LET DIABETES CONTROL YOU, YOU CONTROL YOUR DIABETES."
Carla
Carla's words. Case study sourced by Diabetes UK.
