The Lonely Walk - Type 1 Diabetic

"How cheesy is that!"

Its okay not to be okay, iv heard it said time and time again, iv even delivered this message to certain people through my time.

Iv now had it directed at me from several friends. It hits deep when you have always tried to be the wall or leaning post for everyone else.

This week has been full of different feelings,

Sweating and hot flushes
Nausea
Irregular heart beats
Poor sleep
Feeling restless

As well as panic and fear setting in for no good reason.

Although I have learnt alot of friends and family i can count on to check in and make sure Im doing all the right things. 1 more week down and hopefully one week closer to anwsers or a stabilized life. Next doctors check up this Friday and a specialist appointment booked for May.

Thanks for all the love and support ❤️

At the best of times its hard to reach out and say that your proud of yourself, let alone when your at the bottom of a barrel reaching out for help.

Over the last 20 years i have battled with Type 1 Diabetes and over the last two correcting my bad habits which in turn have casued long term complications for myself.

Kidneys leaking proteins , diabetic eye diesease, high cardiovascular risk. I have also had my gallbladder removed and Appendicitis in this time.I am still battling undiagnosed stomach issues which also could be from diabetes. In this time i have alot of things to be proud of like a HBA1c of 39. My kidneys are no longer leaking protien due to my tight control.

This has all taken its toll on me though and last week was taken to hospital via Ambulance where i was diagnosed with Anxiety causing panic attacks which can lead to severe depression..

I will beat this and over come this hurdle in the road but in the mean time I am on medication which is slowing my brains activity and possibly pulling away some of the happy Troy you once knew. As well as medication to suppress the panic attacks.

I know I will beat this with my supportive wife by my side.Which i am sure is just as hard for her to see her husband with lack of a personality.

Life is one hell of a journey.

Heya Team

If your interested in a Type 1 Diabetic conference.

Friday May 26th - Sunday 28th

Rotorua

Head over to the Type 1 Diabetic New Zealand facebook group and find the event for regular updates on how you can attend

https://fb.me/e/3LXyNPW94

I would have never had the control I do today without the Dexcom G6.

Hi-tech sensor detects diabetes risks - NZ Herald Early warning of low glucose helps control diabetes.

Everyday I try and be strong. 💪

Type 1 will never bring me to my knees. I can fight this I can stay ahead.

October last year I hit my goal of a HBA1C of 45. After living life for years forgetting about my life long illness with a HBA1C of 110+

Today my HBA1C is still at 45 almost a year later and iv never taken my diabetes more seriously. Iv invested in a new lifestyle for me. A insulin pump that's by my side 24/7 and a Dexcom that keeps my pockets light.

As much as I'm happy for making it to the place I am today, I get daily, weekly and monthly reminders that im not as free as I wish I could be.

After 12 months of treatment to my eyes I still am under the care of the DHB getting treatment. 12 months in my vision is great. Tomorrow I go for a check up.

But today I have a reminder of how iv treated my body for years. My left eye today decided it would haze over and blur out.

Today I changed to autosoft 90s because my body has decided to react to the nickle in trusteel sites.

I dont write this for sympathy but for that one person out there who is currently ignoring their Type 1. That one person I hope I can help.

Today I feel sad that I treated my body the way I have. Yesterday I invested in myself.

Lesson learnt-

Make time for your wellness or be forced to make time for your illness.

Easter bunny came early 🐰🥚🍫

Heya guys,

Anyone interested in trimming some weight? Better BS levels? Better HBA1c?

I'm starting low carb / keto tomorrow! Looking for people keen on joining having diabetes isn't a must 🙃

Leave a comment and I am going to start a messenger group for people to chat and share food ideas.

Photos attached of another time I did low carb showing time in range

I read a quote today that another type 1 has out to their page and it really rings home for me

2022 the year we play our cards smarter instead of giving up on the game.

Happy New Year!

2022‼️ 💥💥💥

First site change of 2022 ✔️

Time to set goals and this year for me is to continue on with my health.

In February last year I had to make some drastic changes to my life when I suddenly found myself in a A&E bed for a few nights. My Gallbladder decided it wanted out.

To get it out I needed a change in lifestyle first on the hit list was my HBA1C of 113 putting myself at great risk of every complication that a type 1 has ever seen .

In 2021 I worked hard on my diabetes and the complications I have no doubt helped cause.

Christmas eve instead of helping my wife enjoy putting together food and presents for our foster boys I enjoyed a 6 hour wait in Hastings Hospital waiting as my left eye became blurry and my sight continued to fill with black spots and hazing.

Diabetic retinopathy
De Quervain's tendinosis
Vitreous hemorrhage
Mental health

To name a few things that have had its swing at me this year.

2022 is all about continuing this journey towards a happier life and getting myself back into a body I'm happy with.

Setting goals for a healthier me 😃

Been living life and learning and teaching myself a new addiction.

Diabetes doesn't get in the way when you have the help of a pump and G6.

Come follow the diabetic baker and learn good food with me.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzHF4epJgl/?utm_medium=copy_link

Do it for Freedom and New Zealand.

Some exciting news!

My journey has had its ups and downs but for all of you that feel like giving up DONT.

YOU HAVE GOT THIS.

February 2021 - Hba1c 114

May 2021 - Hba1c 58

October- Hba1c 45

In light of New Zealand lockdowns iv decided to share some light hearted humor at my expense.

As most of you will be aware I had my Gallbladder removed towards the start of the year.

While in my hospital bed my nurses and surgeon had decided who better to look after my pain and Diabetes but myself...

I woke the day after the surgery knowing it was home time. While waiting for breakfast I decided I should get ready for my departure as I was off home this day

Throwing back the covers I was careful to stand as I didn't want to upset any wound.

I slid my self out of bed and turned back to grab my towel. As I turned I could only but describe what I saw as a well used speedway track. We are talking brown skids from one side to the next.

Awfully confused I looked down to my un**es to confirm the worst. I decided I needed my hot shower to clean myself up and my head. I threw the covers back over the skid pile and took foe the bathroom.

On my return breakfast was served. I decided I'd need to deal to this mess and inform someone of how drugged I must have been to create such a scene.

I pulled back my covers, on closer inspection I couldn't believe the lumps through the mess I had created.

On closer inspection and thoughts of the night been I quickly worked out my stresses were over and what I had created was a whole lot of melted scorched almonds from my low blood sugar over night.

Diabetes is a complex disease due to several factors that affect blood sugar. Stable blood sugar levels are related to much more than just what and when someone eats. A person with diabetes that is trying to take care of the diabetes cannot always control factors such as stress or illness.

Noone beyond the Type 1 community quite understands the management in having Type 1 Diabetes.

Great time to check up on friends and family

Lockdown level 3 or 4 is a tough time for all. Reach out, message, ring or video call someone you haven't spoken to in awhile you could make the difference to them.

CGM PETITION UPDATE:
Kia ora koutou, we have received the Health Select Committee's report on our petition.

We will continue to put pressure on and champion the cause of everyone with diabetes in New Zealand.

Read it, and all of the progress of our petition, here:
https://www.diabetes.org.nz/petition-to-parliament-2019

PHARMAC

I have done the Keto diet as a Type 1 and I have visited low carb diets more than once.

Low carb helps you hit goals and stay healthy. I understand the diets not for everyone living a active lifestyle but it has helped me alot.

The change is amazing - a friend has recommended watching The Magic Pill and I did.

Highly recommend helpful information and facts to match.

https://www.documentarymania.com/player.php?title=The%20Magic%20Pill

This is exactly the game I felt I was playing when I first entered the world of a insulin pump.

Anyone else have a Tamagotchi as a child and upgraded to a pump? 🤣😂

While I have been away busy with life the page has continued to grow and have people viewing it which is amazing.

I have been away getting my final laser and syringe treatments for my eyes, 🤞now we wait for my eyes to be retested again.

I have been along with my wife taking on our foster children on a permanent basis so putting more time into that part of my life. So rewarding.

Although this being said my diabetes is at its best.

With support from a loving wife, family and good friends we are hitting above 95% in range daily.

Site change night.

Yesterday I sat in a waiting room waiting for my Diabetic Retinal screening.

Having poorly controlled Diabetes and taking it to great control can cause alot of damage to your eyes and here I was in Villa 3 to find out.

My left eye being the worst, I found out we would soon by having laser treatment and a syringe placed through the white part of the eye to remove fluid.

1500 zaps of a laser and a syringe in the left eye I join the waiting list to head back for the right eye.

3 months of this treatment should hopefully bring my sight back to where it should be. With the hope of no complications.

Hearing the complications in the flesh hurt my heart and brought a tear to my eye. Thanks to my loving wife who was there for support. Who sat in the back of the room with some flash glasses and watches the green flashes of the laser.

Diabetes is no joke and you don't get a day off.

Do you follow any diet to help you control your Type 1 Diabetes?

Low carb?

No sugar?

Keto?

You guys have been truly amazing in your support sharing this near and far we have reached over 8000 people.

Let's.give it one last push so we know it's been seen by the right people.

Much Aroha ❤❤❤

Dear Jacinda Ardern and the New Zealand Goverment.

13th December 2004. 15 years old and in the crucial years of my college life, getting an education, making friends and working out where I fit in the world.

143856 Hours
Or
5994 Days
Or
197 Months
Or
16.42 Years

This is how long I have lived with Type 1 Diabetes mellitus. To say my life was turned on its head would be a understatement . 12 days from Christmas, a Christmas I will remember for the rest of my life. I could no longer be a "normal" teenager. No treats, low carbs, pricking my fingers, injecting my body ( a minimum of 5 times per day).

My favorite foods out the window!

To say I have struggled with acceptance of Type 1 would be a understatement. To say I have had a lack of care from DHB and doctors would be a understatement.
I would say I have got a life long illness that I don't want. I work full time and pay my taxes, therefore putting money into our Healthcare system. I am a active part of my community and foster children for the goverment (Oranga Tamariki). I have always tried to look at the bright side of life.
15 years iv had poor control of a life long illness which is now going to contribute to debt in our health sector, I have small blood vessels in my body already leaking blood. The complications mean I could lose my eye sight, lose limbs and cost our health system alot of money.

I dont want to see other children, teenagers, young adults or adults go through what I have been through when there are the tools available to make their lives alot easier.

I recently had a scare of a Gallbladder attack. (Now removed thanks to health insurance ) but to perform such surgery my HBA1C had to be shifted from 114 to under 70 to cut down the risks on the table.

This scare happened in January and I am still waiting on Hawkes bay DHB to contact me for my Gallbladder and my poor diabetes control. (Wonder how long it will take)

For me to be placed on track iv have taken on private health insurance (through my employer(Hastings Pak n save)) , made contact with a Diabetic specialist (GPSI Diabetes) and had to invest in a Continuous Glucose Monotoring system. (Dexcom G6).
Not including doctors costs and prescription costs that my health insurance is thankfully covering for me, I am out of pocket $5500 a year to be able to get the care and control I once dreamed of and felt I deserved as a human. I do not get any help from my government in terms of benefits as my wife and I earn to much.

This needs to end, noone can afford a long term illness they didn't ask for, the complications of the goverment not paying for such care and tools means it will cop the bill eventually in Laser surgery for my blood vessels, costs of removing limbs, without limbs i wont be working therefore I would be on a sickness benefit.

Awareness to our goverment needs to start NOW. As a Type 1 Diabetic I want to be heard. I want to see action.

It's as simple as funding and approving a CGM for all Type 1 Diabetic.

Help me , share my post and let's get attention.

Written on my personal page.

Truly amazing!

Overnight our post to our Prime Minister has reached over 4000 people, although we can't stop until we know she is one of them.

Meanwhile The Lonely Walk page has reached over 500 followers.

Thank you for the support and awareness you lovely people are helping to create.

Much love ❤❤❤