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Negatives

Hi, Im a 21 year old student and i have had diabetes since i was 7. My blood sugar control has been up and down over the years, it was not so good when i was younger but since i was 15 it has been pretty well under control. I was wondering what some negative side effects of diabetes i may be experiencing or may encounter now that i am older? Thanks for your time.

Willlie
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760248 tn?1234200812
I am 31 and have diabetes since age 11.  I think the most evident side effect of the disease is often overlooked because people are so into preventing other complications.  Mood swings and depression are a big part of diabetes, especially if your bloodsugar is not in good control, but even so it affects us all.  I know for me they can get pretty severe because I take a high among of insulin to control my blood sugars. I didn't take care of myself, mostly because I was never really taught how to, and I have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.  Once I was diagnosed it took 6 months before I was legally blind...so do whatever you have to in order to take care of yourself.  I had a few family members who were type 2's and developed kidney failure and blindness, but even witnessing that doesn't prepare you for when something happens to you.  Even though it was a big blow to me ( I actually thought I wasn't a severe enough diabetic to have things like that happen to me) it actually has helped me to turn my life around. Anyway, enough about me...
I'm guessing the girl in the class is either not used to taking insulin yet(maybe she is a newer diabetic), was running too high and adjusting to a lower bloodsugar, or is constantly up and down a lot with her bloodsugars.  I know when I was younger I hated having to leave class and go see the nurse.  It made me feel like something was wrong with me and I just wanted to be normal.  My first year with diabetes no one knew how to deal with me and I cried and threw fits all the time.  I guess the only thing you can do is to do your best to not single her out anymore than she has to be.
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Avatar universal
Seems like you are seeing a pattern with your student.  Sounds like she is trying to avoid some school work she does not enjoy.  I assume when she tries to leave class she is going to the nurse's office?  I hope she has to make up all of the work that she is missing in the classroom. My son did something very similar last year in school.  In Math class he always got a headache, said he felt low and needed to go to the nurse.  If you see this, I would talk to the nurse and see if she can push her back to class a little quicker.  If this does not work then talk to the parents and see if they will help.  Unfortunately you can not totally dismiss her actions, however if she just came back from the nurse being tested it is unlikely within 10 minutes her BG would severely change.  However when my son goes low he gets severely combative and almost unconsolable, but this is very different from being a angry or what you described.  When you see his low there is no question, have you ever seen her behavior change due to high or low BG?  Maybe the parents can tell you what to expect.  
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Avatar universal
I have a student in my class with diabetes when she arrives to school she goes to the nurse and gets her blood sugar checked out then she goes at 10:30,12:00 and 2:15 she returns back to class if everything is alright when she arrives and does not like what we are doing she will get an attitude and refuse to do anything and try to walk out the class. when we try to stop her she gets very angry and fights and says very mean things to us. Is her attuitude  caused by her diabetes?   please help me to understand
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Avatar universal
I have a student in my class with diabetes when she arrives to school she goes to the nurse and gets her blood sugar checked out then she goes at 10:30,12:00 and 2:15 she returns back to class if everything is alright when she arrives and does not like what we are doing she will get an attitude and refuse to do anything and try to walk out the class. when we try to stop her she gets very angry and fights and says very mean things to us. Is her attuitude  caused by her diabetes?   please help me to understand
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Avatar universal
Diabetes can have some serious complications with kidneys, eyesight, neuropathy, sterility amputation and prolonged wound healing.  But the good news is that you have taken better control for the past few years.  Keep up the good work.  Research has shown that the better control the less problem happen down the road.
If you are not on a pump you might want to consider going on the pump.  This will give you even better control than shots.  You will have a more stable blood levels and the freedom to live a more flexible lifestyle, while easily keeping good levels. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of pump therapy.
no need to thank us for our time it is our pleasure to help others.  Please keep in touch.
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Avatar universal
Hi Willibert,
I'm glad to read you're taking better care of yourself these days.  It's tough on munchkins to understand "in the future there might be damage," but as a young man, it's clear you understand that now.

I have had diabetes since I was a teen and now I'm 48 and -- most of the time, if folks didn't know I have Type 1, they wouldn't know.

I hope you're being followed by an endocrinologist and that periodically you haul yerself off to see a CDE (certified diabetes educator).  There's been so many advances in diabetes treatment over the years and your endo & CDE are likely to be keeping very current.  I have just followed my own advice, after nearly 10 years of not seeing a CDE regularly ... WOW!  how great to learn some new tips 'n ' tricks, especially when I thought I knew it all ;=)

To directly answer your questions, folks with diabetes are at higher risk for a lot of unpleasant things.  Our risks are lower, the better we take care of ourselves ... but here's a list:  eye & kidney damage; heart disease; neuropathy (nerve damage); miscarriages or impotence; and in cases where circulation is impaired, the terrifying possibility of amputations.  

In today's world, there are so many resources available to help educate ourselves on good treatments and ... equally as important ... places like this to come to for encourgement & moral support.

It's hard work and you can do it.  I hope you'll check in and share your progress ... you can have a full full life.  Many of us DMers marry & have full family lives; we travel; we take on challenging careers; and we have fun :-)
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