Diabetes Week - My Story by Pip510

We've had a story about the experience of being diagnosed submitted to us by recent member Phil (@pip510 on Twitter).  It's a familiar story for many of us and as such it's very easy to relate to....

 

My name is Phil, I am 44 years old and I have been diagnosed with  type one diabetes since the 16th May 2015.

To say my diagnosis came as a shock would be a really big understatement.

I now know that  I was suffering with all the classic signs, but I had never put the symptoms all  together and to be honest, I had no understanding of them, so wouldn't have known what to look for..

I  had constant thirst, leg cramps during the night, going to the toilet during evening, eating lots and surprisingly losing weight. 

I thought wow going to the gym is really working, even though I was doing less than normal as I was also feeling rather tired and run down.

I had developed thrush and then booked to see my local GP.

Sadly no appointment was available for three weeks and I ended up going to the GUM clinic.
Where after mentioning my other symptoms and a blood glucose test result of 24.

I was then sent to the Local Hospital where I was promptly whisked into a gown and then admitted.

I felt awash with emotions during that first two weeks and it's only a month away now, I'm trying to sort out my levels and the information that I have gleaned from the www.Diabetes.org.uk website has been invaluable.

I am now mostly between 4-8 most days but a friends wedding at the weekend did see them rise.

I've had three hypos since diagnosis and I am getting to grips with recognising the signs, wobbly knees are only good for a Butlins camp.

The level of care that I have received has been second to none from diagnosis to follow up with my diabetes nurse and own GP.

Group events are informative and we made it to see Prof Simon Heller who gave lots of information about it all

Mostly he scared the pants of me and really brought it home just how much emphasis is down to you to manage the treatment.

A really big shock, was that people with type two could go undiagnosed for ten years.

Thankfully it looks like only 4 weeks before I was diagnosed.

My family, friends, work colleagues and medical staff have all been great and with their help and support I'm getting through it all.

For my part I'm going to ensure posters are placed at work so colleagues can recognise the symptoms in themselves and family members.