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Living with diabetes
continued from page 1
Dealing with diagnosis
Rachel, like many others, has learned to get by with her condition, but the initial 'finding out' can be a distressing and difficult time. Over 50 per cent of those with type 1 are diagnosed under 20 years of age and type 2 can appear as late as the late 40s or 50s.
It wasn't easy for Rachel, even though she knew she was at risk, 'My gynaecologist told me that there was a chance that I would develop diabetes in my 40s as my grandparents were diabetic. But at the beginning of last year the symptoms started. I felt very sick, tired and hot and I thought it was the polycystic ovarian disease that I suffer from, so I went to my gynaecologist. Three weeks later I received a letter telling me I had diabetes. I was terrified. I didn't know what to do because I felt so unwell.'
Professor Barnett says Rachel's reaction was normal, 'Because it is a chronic disease, people often feel unwell for some time before more serious complications set in. There is shock and anxiety, which requires extreme sensitivity and careful handling. A significant number of sufferers will not be surprised as diabetes may be in the family.'
Attitudes to diabetes
Four out of five people in a recent survey by Roche Diagnostics think there is not enough awareness about their actual symptoms. 'People think it is just because you eat the wrong things. People don't see diabetes as a serious illness. I think people underrate it,' agrees Rachel Underhill.
'Diabetes is still often downplayed by many health professionals. You still hear of doctors saying 'mild form of diabetes', which is totally wrong,' says Professor Barnett.
But it is hard to come to terms with when those close to you don't understand what you have to go through. According to the Roche survey, one in five feel diabetes affects their more intimate relationships. The same lack of understanding destroyed Rachel's marriage, 'I split with my husband six months after my diagnosis. He wasn't supportive and he didn't recognise it as a major illness. So I decided to sort my life out and we broke up,' she explains.
Affects on sex drive are also common putting pressure on relationships, 'sexual relationships in women diabetes sufferers are affected because of the quality of life and depression rather than diabetes. Men may suffer erectile dysfunction because of diabetes,' explains Professor Barnett.
And it's inevitable, as with any chronic illness that you may feel low - half of sufferers in the UK in the survey by Roche said they felt depressed because of their condition. Professor Barnett says, 'chronic disease is often associated with depression and a reduction in quality of life and those factors alone will affect life. Diabetes is the most common cause of blindness and kidney failure.' Despite this, Rachel soldiers on, 'I do get really low days but I am independent and positive and battle on with it.'
Dealing with diagnosis
Rachel, like many others, has learned to get by with her condition, but the initial 'finding out' can be a distressing and difficult time. Over 50 per cent of those with type 1 are diagnosed under 20 years of age and type 2 can appear as late as the late 40s or 50s.
It wasn't easy for Rachel, even though she knew she was at risk, 'My gynaecologist told me that there was a chance that I would develop diabetes in my 40s as my grandparents were diabetic. But at the beginning of last year the symptoms started. I felt very sick, tired and hot and I thought it was the polycystic ovarian disease that I suffer from, so I went to my gynaecologist. Three weeks later I received a letter telling me I had diabetes. I was terrified. I didn't know what to do because I felt so unwell.'
Professor Barnett says Rachel's reaction was normal, 'Because it is a chronic disease, people often feel unwell for some time before more serious complications set in. There is shock and anxiety, which requires extreme sensitivity and careful handling. A significant number of sufferers will not be surprised as diabetes may be in the family.'
Attitudes to diabetes
Four out of five people in a recent survey by Roche Diagnostics think there is not enough awareness about their actual symptoms. 'People think it is just because you eat the wrong things. People don't see diabetes as a serious illness. I think people underrate it,' agrees Rachel Underhill.
'Diabetes is still often downplayed by many health professionals. You still hear of doctors saying 'mild form of diabetes', which is totally wrong,' says Professor Barnett.
But it is hard to come to terms with when those close to you don't understand what you have to go through. According to the Roche survey, one in five feel diabetes affects their more intimate relationships. The same lack of understanding destroyed Rachel's marriage, 'I split with my husband six months after my diagnosis. He wasn't supportive and he didn't recognise it as a major illness. So I decided to sort my life out and we broke up,' she explains.
Affects on sex drive are also common putting pressure on relationships, 'sexual relationships in women diabetes sufferers are affected because of the quality of life and depression rather than diabetes. Men may suffer erectile dysfunction because of diabetes,' explains Professor Barnett.
And it's inevitable, as with any chronic illness that you may feel low - half of sufferers in the UK in the survey by Roche said they felt depressed because of their condition. Professor Barnett says, 'chronic disease is often associated with depression and a reduction in quality of life and those factors alone will affect life. Diabetes is the most common cause of blindness and kidney failure.' Despite this, Rachel soldiers on, 'I do get really low days but I am independent and positive and battle on with it.'
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