Diabetes Type 1 Support Group
Childhood","Childhood diabetes is when the pancreas in a child does not produce enough insulin on its own. In order to survive, insulin injections need to be incorporated as well as diet regulation. If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, find support and share your experiences here. Caring for a child with diabetes is challenging. We're here for you."
Hello...my name is Kate and I have been in a relationship with a man with type 1 diabetes for about 2 years. He is going to be 35 next month and he has never really taken care of himself. We were together from November 2011-October 2012 and I knew NOTHING about diabetes. I learned a lot with him, but I also learned that he sort of liked the fact that I didn't know much about diabetes. He left me in October for reasons I don't know (and he claims he doesn't either) and went to live with his "best friend." While he was there he drank nearly every day and almost died for reasons they're not even sure about. He left his "friends" house after he almost died and went to live with his brother. I started talking to him again there and we wound up getting romantically involved again. When I saw him again, he had wounds on his toes, which he claimed were due to walking into the coffee table. I told him he should go to the doctor again and again and he didn't. Eventually, he wound up in the hospital for 1 1/2 months and had 5 toes amputated (he had already had both big toes amputated.) He finally got out on the 4th of this month and came to stay with me. He wound up getting pneumonia and again was hospitalized for a few days. He didn't call me last night and I knew something was wrong. He finally called me about 10 mins ago and he says he feels sick and is going to go the doctors. I guess I really don't know much about diabetes. People keep telling me that he could be dead in like 2 years. I love this man more than anything (aside from my son) and I am so worried about him. My family keeps telling me that I should break it off. I guess I need some encouragement or maybe some advice. Thanks for reading.
I can see his point though. My BF doesn't know much about my diabetes and like my family, he doesn't interfere and trusts me to manage it myself. To be honest, personally i feel it is better that way - what could he actually do? Nobody can make another person take care of themselves if they are not ready to or cannot for whatever reason.He could only tell me or ask me to do things, which although meant with love and care, would come across as nagging if I was in a negative mindset.
In terms of the diabetes I can't give you much information. I don't want to scare you and say it sounds terrible, but on the other hand I don't want to give any false hope either. I have not had complications myself and don't know anyone who has. I think the best people to speak to are his doctors, go with him to see them.
Just be supportive and loving, tell him you are there for him. He may not be able to fuly appreciate or express how much this means to him right now, but it will mean a lot.
Make sure you take care of yourself first of all, if you are drained and exhausted you won't be able to take care of your son or your partner. If necessary go away for a break and leave your phone at home so you get a total break from everything. And don't hesitate to seek counselling, it can really help to vent to a trained professional or just a one-off call to a helpline.
I do let him take care of himself, but at the same time I can tell he wants me to take care of him. It's a weird situation. I don't want to become the nagging type. That is what I am afraid of, but I do want him to be healthy. I am trying to be supportive and as loving as I can be. He does tell me how much he appreciates me and loves me. He is very outspoken about that actually lol.
I appreciate your honesty about the diabetes. I have been to his doctors with him. Right now his sugars (when he is not sick) are better than they have been so that is a positive (I hope!)
He is in the hospital again. I tried calling him, but he wasn't up to talking. I hope he is okay.
I appreciate your concern for me as well. I have my own issues so I do get really exhausted easily and I do find that I need a break every now and then. I do see a therapist too. So I am trying to take care of us as well as I can. :)
Thank you again for your response! I really appreciate it!
A favorite book I enjoy reading, and maybe you should to? says "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Worked for me many a time. I had my own "strain" of struggles in life.
You are definitely a very caring soul, m'friend. HOWEVER, shouldn't he DESERVE you a little, too? He's badly choosing friends, I'd say.