Re: BG and depression

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005, Marshall wrote:

madlyinluvw/her wrote:

  This is only my second post but I am trying to get a consensus on how
depression affects other diabetics.  I know that everyone from time to
time becomes depressed for one reason or another but I am curious if
those with type one tend to cycle from severe depression to
disorganization to irritability and so on.  I am a relatively healthy
male, 23 - 200lbs - 6',1" with a BMI of under %15, who was diagnosed at
age 12(2 weeks before my 13 birthday).  I work out many times a week
with weights and I also took up swimming which reduces the amount of
insulin I take by about %30. While working out I typically feel fine
but I usually have to negotiate with myself just to make to the gym.

I often have to negotiate the gym as well. I think that even though you can tangibly see the benefits, this may not matter. You need to negotiate because you know you *need* to do it, while others may benefit generally from exercise but they perhaps don't have a *disease* that's forcing them to go.

It's a matter of control. For many years, I felt completely out of control with my dm. Then realized that I needed to take care of myself. I find I still resent it though. And this is why, every now and then, I have to negotiate the gym, negotiate eating the right thing, negotiate taking the blood sugars, etc., etc., etc. I know it's all good for me to do. That doesn't matter.




Soon after I finish I begin to slip into the depression once again.  At
times when I am not depressed I slip into long periods of ADD symptoms.
I'll forget the most basic of things like why I went into the kitchen
and countless other symptoms.  At these times I will check my BG and
find it is great. After all that rambling my question is this I wonder
if all of these symptoms problems are solely BG related or is it me and
do any other seemingly healthy diabetics suffer from severe
deppression, etc.?

I think that a chronic illness is just that. Chronic. You will have good times and bad times. And because it is chronic, sometimes there will be really bad times. But, as others have suggested, you should discuss this with your doctor. I found that talking with the health care folks, reading "Psyching Out Diabetes" and lurking on groups like this really help. It helps because you're not alone. When you get depressed again, pat yourself on the back and tell yourself--"I made it to the gym. That's one victory for me, one small defeat for diabetes." And tell yourself that every time you make the right choice in all of the other areas of life.


JSR
.

Relevant Pages

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    ... depression affects other diabetics. ... Soon after I finish I begin to slip into the depression once again. ... times when I am not depressed I slip into long periods of ADD symptoms. ...
    (misc.health.diabetes)
  • Re: BG and depression
    ... I know that everyone from time to time becomes depressed for one reason or another but I am curious if those with type one tend to cycle from severe depression to disorganization to irritability and so on. ... At times when I am not depressed I slip into long periods of ADD symptoms. ... I'll forget the most basic of things like why I went into the kitchen and countless other symptoms. ... After all that rambling my question is this I wonder if all of these symptoms problems are solely BG related or is it me and do any other seemingly healthy diabetics suffer from severe deppression, ...
    (misc.health.diabetes)
  • Re: BG and depression
    ... > depression affects other diabetics. ... > severe depression to disorganization to irritability and so on. ... > which reduces the amount of insulin I take by about %30. ... getting natural insulin might be as simple as finding a sympathetic ...
    (misc.health.diabetes)