Where's my motivation gone??

Hi,

How do you all keep up your BG testing and recording every day? Do you really just do it regardless of how you feel, how busy you are, how you slept etc, etc?

I've been TYPE 1 diabetic for most of my life (33 years), a DAFNE Graduate for over 13/14 years, had a pump for 5 years and am a full time working mum. I eat sensibly and don't drink much. I also am not exercising much because I find it really thorws my control around a lot.

I used to be good and contentious at testing and writing it all down and got my HBA1C down to target levels for a few years (particularly for my pregnancies). But over the last year I just can't find a slither of motivation to keep on top of it all and my control is inevitably sliding and the HBA1C is creeping up, although no major hypos or problems.

Anyone got any inspirational thoughts or methods they use to keep motivated and focussed on testing, recording and reviewing? Do you reward your selves, or see it as a routine like taking a shower??

I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts, positive please, I know a lot of the negative impact reasons to keep on top of my health and they don't help, wierdly.

Thanks loads for any advice you can offer.

Hi Jenny and welcome..............

I didn't know DAFNE had been around 13 years ago, in fact I am sure it wasn't as that's when I was diagnosed.......are you referring to MDI/carb counting..........? When did you graduate........?

I think its important to acknowledge that its normal and OK to lose track of your control every now and again, we are only human......

The thing that helps me the most is routine, as soon as the weekend comes my testing goes out the window, at least the lunch and dinner test anyway. I also snack all day and dont bother injecting. But as soon as I am back at work it goes back to regimented testing and strategic injections..........I suppose this must be hard being a mum and working full time.........

You say your on a pump, surely for that to be successful you need to test all the time, especially as your basal rates can change quite often?

Do you find the testing isn't happening and is difficult to do , or the recording and analysis of results.........

you could ease your way back in by just letting the meter record your results and then decanting them on to paper, however your meter usually wont contain, carb portions and insulin doses.........

if you say you have been a DAFNE graduate for 13/14 years, its unlikely you have actually done a course recently, which means you wont be familiar with the approach to testing/dosing DAFNE provides........

Its hard to give you something motivational to help you....................after DAFNE I was motivated by results, the approach they taught you actually worked, and its that success, the good blood sugar reading in front of me that helped me continue, its now as if I dont snack in between meals just so I get a good result, at least during the week anyway........

If I am right and you haven't been to a course I recommend getting on a DAFNE course, it will breathe a new lease of life into your control. You can get a new meter, this will also help in motivating you, you meet other diabetics and you realize your not alone in the struggle.........

I hope my ramblings helped a bit.............

Hi Iam Billie, I have just last Friday graduated DAFNE. I have been type 1 for 4yrs this August and to be honest I have been stummberling around in the dark for most of this time. I was admitted to hospital 3 times last year (the last being 2 days after Xmas). I was put on a sliding scale ect. I was at an all time low ready to give up felt defeated. I began to think things would never get better as each time doc's telling me different things, for example only found out new year's eve that you have to inject on snacks there is no rule that you can only do 3 injections a day plus background I thought this was a strict rule!!!!!! I was fed up with everything about it even begrudged meal times and eating out, not to mention the physical toll on my body and mind. Every day the same tired, constantly weeing and thirst. Sometimes is was a struggle just to get up washed and dressed.( I have 2 children so I do get up but it was extremely a battle).
But lucky enough I got a new consultant and I did end up letting the gates open and out came the last 3 years of agonising he'll I had been living. He was very concerned that I had had no care as in explanations or direction for what I was so posed to be doing, because everything I was told was constantly contradicted . So I got put on DAFNE.
I know it was only last week but I feel in control not the other way round. I feel happy, motivated and overall I understand what I have wrong with me, how to cope with all aspects of it and a fighting chance of having lower BG's.But like yourself I was never that great at keeping a diary of these tedious results, but it did help me to understand any pattern or links. But mainly it is something that I have to do to ensure better control and familiarise myself with the cp's and correction doses. I just wish I had of done DAFNE when first diagnosed, my life would have been a he'll of a lot healthier, happier and overall less stressful.
I hope this helps in some way, I had never spoken to another diabetic until DAFNE but now I know I am not alone and others have been where I was. Good luck
I was very worried about going on the course but it is the best thing mentally and physically

Hello everyone.
I did DAFNE in 2001.
1) If I remembercorrectly, some of the staff who ran the course had been to Germany to study their techniques.

2) As a type1 you can feel as if you're on your own. I did not speak to any other diabetics for over 10 years after diagnosis. A week on DAFNE when I was with other diabetics and I was in my element, but then another ten years or so without any connection. you can get down in the dumps.

3) Remotivation? It came by chance - sitting down with a cuppa and nattering on (without fibbing) to a stranger or group of strangers who share a T1 commonality. I've done this twice this year. A T1 I now know owns a cafe and once a month she holds a T1 evening. Different people there each time. Different stories, all the same problems. Loads of ideas come out. You take what you want/need. You're not on your own.

Jenny Mills-Thomas said:
Hi,

How do you all keep up your BG testing and recording every day? Do you really just do it regardless of how you feel, how busy you are, how you slept etc, etc?

I've been TYPE 1 diabetic for most of my life (33 years), a DAFNE Graduate for over 13/14 years, had a pump for 5 years and am a full time working mum. I eat sensibly and don't drink much. I also am not exercising much because I find it really thorws my control around a lot.

I used to be good and contentious at testing and writing it all down and got my HBA1C down to target levels for a few years (particularly for my pregnancies). But over the last year I just can't find a slither of motivation to keep on top of it all and my control is inevitably sliding and the HBA1C is creeping up, although no major hypos or problems.

Anyone got any inspirational thoughts or methods they use to keep motivated and focussed on testing, recording and reviewing? Do you reward your selves, or see it as a routine like taking a shower??

I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts, positive please, I know a lot of the negative impact reasons to keep on top of my health and they don't help, wierdly.

Thanks loads for any advice you can offer.

Hi Jenny
I have had Type 1 for almost 47 years; and been a DAFNE grad for almost three years.
Like any ongoing and chronic condition, my daily routine is just that - routine. I try not to make a big deal out of the blood glucose testing, injections (and other medications I now need to take) etc etc and give thanks and gratitude (to whomever or Spirit you like to choose) that I have what I have and not what someone else has to contend with.
Sometimes far more easily said than practiced I can atest to that! maybe some form of counselling (with a registered and reputable Psychologist) would assist and/or a support group.
Hope this helps

Pamela
Melbourne Austraila

Hi Jenny,

I've been type 1 since 1978 and I'm doing my Dafne course next week, but I have been carb counting and record keeping since I was diagnosed. Being an engineer helped I suspect, as it is in the nature of engineers to keep accurate records and deal with ratios etc. It also helped that during the week I spent in hospital after diagnosis I was in a general medical ward where every night one of my fellow patients died. As I was the only diabetic there it was firmly impressed upon my mind that, if I was going to have anything, diabetes was probably the best thing to have because it can be managed, and that management was largely in my hands.
The trick is definitely routine. You need to be so familiar with your routine that you do it without thinking. If you have to think about it, it becomes a chore. I think that's where you are now. You just need to grit your teeth and do it, but try not to think about doing it. It should be like breathing, you just do it!

Best of luck.

Roger

novorapidboi26 said:
Hi Jenny and welcome..............

I didn't know DAFNE had been around 13 years ago, in fact I am sure it wasn't as that's when I was diagnosed.......are you referring to MDI/carb counting..........? When did you graduate........?

I think its important to acknowledge that its normal and OK to lose track of your control every now and again, we are only human......

The thing that helps me the most is routine, as soon as the weekend comes my testing goes out the window, at least the lunch and dinner test anyway. I also snack all day and dont bother injecting. But as soon as I am back at work it goes back to regimented testing and strategic injections..........I suppose this must be hard being a mum and working full time.........

You say your on a pump, surely for that to be successful you need to test all the time, especially as your basal rates can change quite often?

Do you find the testing isn't happening and is difficult to do , or the recording and analysis of results.........

you could ease your way back in by just letting the meter record your results and then decanting them on to paper, however your meter usually wont contain, carb portions and insulin doses.........

if you say you have been a DAFNE graduate for 13/14 years, its unlikely you have actually done a course recently, which means you wont be familiar with the approach to testing/dosing DAFNE provides........

Its hard to give you something motivational to help you....................after DAFNE I was motivated by results, the approach they taught you actually worked, and its that success, the good blood sugar reading in front of me that helped me continue, its now as if I dont snack in between meals just so I get a good result, at least during the week anyway........

If I am right and you haven't been to a course I recommend getting on a DAFNE course, it will breathe a new lease of life into your control. You can get a new meter, this will also help in motivating you, you meet other diabetics and you realize your not alone in the struggle.........

I hope my ramblings helped a bit.............

Ahmentep said:
Hi Jenny,

I've been type 1 since 1978 and I'm doing my Dafne course next week, but I have been carb counting and record keeping since I was diagnosed. Being an engineer helped I suspect, as it is in the nature of engineers to keep accurate records and deal with ratios etc. It also helped that during the week I spent in hospital after diagnosis I was in a general medical ward where every night one of my fellow patients died. As I was the only diabetic there it was firmly impressed upon my mind that, if I was going to have anything, diabetes was probably the best thing to have because it can be managed, and that management was largely in my hands.
The trick is definitely routine. You need to be so familiar with your routine that you do it without thinking. If you have to think about it, it becomes a chore. I think that's where you are now. You just need to grit your teeth and do it, but try not to think about doing it. It should be like breathing, you just do it!

Best of luck.

Roger

thebatoutofhull said:
Hello everyone.
I did DAFNE in 2001.
1) If I remembercorrectly, some of the staff who ran the course had been to Germany to study their techniques.

2) As a type1 you can feel as if you're on your own. I did not speak to any other diabetics for over 10 years after diagnosis. A week on DAFNE when I was with other diabetics and I was in my element, but then another ten years or so without any connection. you can get down in the dumps.

3) Remotivation? It came by chance - sitting down with a cuppa and nattering on (without fibbing) to a stranger or group of strangers who share a T1 commonality. I've done this twice this year. A T1 I now know owns a cafe and once a month she holds a T1 evening. Different people there each time. Different stories, all the same problems. Loads of ideas come out. You take what you want/need. You're not on your own.

wow, it seems your a celebrity here.......................

i would have loved to be a part of DAFNE in the early stages.....................

I think you need to attend a course today though, as it has most likely evolved to something completely different to what you were taught...............and then hopefully a new, fresh understanding will get you motivated again...............