This week marks a not so glorious moment in the life of my family. A year ago I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Treatment, of course, started immediately and I hated it. The meds made me sick, my fingers were always sore from constant poking, it felt like I was always in the doctor’s office and the pharmacy spending money that I didn’t have, and eating was a misery.
Eventually I took myself off of most of my medications (not something that most doctors recommend) and went back to my old life. During all of this I did look into alternative options but none of them were any less expensive than the traditional options and they weren’t covered by insurance so they were in fact more expensive. By August I was completely ignoring my diabetes.
I did make a couple more trips to the doctor and I did honestly try to change my eating habits before I gave up. I became an island in my home, my wife would make dinner for her and the kids and then while they were eating I would make something else for me, and the extra food cost was overdrawing our bank account every month.
My family genetics do not encourage my situation. My father has been diagnosed a diabetic for probably close to thirty years. He’s lost family members to the disease and my maternal grandmother was diagnosed five or six years ago. So I’m aware of the inherent complications that go with the disease.
In January I stepped on the broken corner of a laundry basket while making my way in the dark to the restroom and for days was sure it was going to get infected go gangrene and then be amputated. (My paternal grandmother lost her leg from the knee down in a similar incident involving a walnut shell.) In spite of what I know my health has gotten no help from me in improving since July 2009.
On New Year’s Day I did some testing of recipes. Steamed buns and a sandwich based around pizza dough rolled like a burrito stuffed with yumminess. I did a lot of tasting (eating) of simple carbohydrates that day. Add to the menu a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut, and an ice cream sandwich. It had been a bad food day to say the least. I became extremely fatigued and had the thought to test my blood sugar. 601 was the reading. I took it a second time thinking that the batteries must have been low and the machine wasn’t reading right. It was still 601.
So I’m trying to get back on the wagon. It’s not going any better than before. I still don’t trust doctors because I think they are killing people, telling them their condition is improving while upping their medications. I still hate the food.
You’ll probably hear increasingly more about diabetes as you read this blog. I’m already gearing up for American Diabetes Month in November and World Diabetes Day on 14 November. As I write this I can’t guarantee that I’m going to manage to get back on the wagon or that I’ll even be able to stay there. Honestly it all depends on the food.
Please leave a comment sharing your diabetic life story. I need all the encouragement I can get!
My father has peripheral neurophathy caused by his diabetes.
60%-70% of diabetics have some form of neuropathy. The nerves in his feet are damaged. He said it hurts all the time-especially when he hasn’t been on his feet for a while and then stands up or starts walking.
The best way to prevent neuropathy is to keep your blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible. Maintaining safe blood glucose levels protects nerves throughout your body.
There is NO CURE for neuropathy. Once you have it, pain killers AND maintaining safe blood glucose levels will lessen the pain. BUT, you can’t get rid of it. Ever.
My dad wishes he’d been better about his blood-glucose levels when he was first diagnosed.
Read more about diabetic neuropathy here:
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/pubs/neuropathies/
Oh my goodness! Type 1 and 2 Diabetes is rife through my family and I already have the pre-curser signs i.e reactive hypoglycemia, but I have been having these signs since I was about 10 and otherwise, was a very healthy child. I used to ignore my symptoms a bit, but now I am totally aware that too much sugar will send me spiralling, and not enough will send me into hypo. I think it could be really valuable for you to visit a diabetes nurse. In Ausralia we have programs and regular check ups that you have to attend if you register. The nurse provides you with really great advice, and is someone you know you can contact with your questions.
If you can somehow afford the medication- please go back onto it. Right now it may seem expensive but in the long run, if you have complications caused by not taking the medication it will be comparatively cheap. Additionally, this is your health you are talking about, and you should do anything you can to help yourself. You only get one life.
Perhaps you can consider talking to someone for motivation- and you need to think of the dire consequences i.e. amputation, heart disease, stroke – is this really worth being unmotivated and not taking your medication?
Hi Malik!
I’ve been living with Diabetes for years now, and it’s not easy. I completely understand where you’re coming from. BUT I also understand that the lifestyle change is necessary. Exercise and diet are essential.
What we’ve done in our home to ease my pain and prevention for our kids is that we’ve all changed our diet. No special meals just for me, everyone is involved and eats the same thing. We’ve cut out the normal sugars, like only having milk, bottled water, and juice instead of soda in the fridge. Snacks are all sugar free or reduced sugar. Meals are planned with more veggies and fruits rather than rice, pasta, and potatoes. I’m not saying cut out EVERYTHING with sugar, but cutting down is a great start.
The other key is the dreaded exercise. Going to the gym at 5:00 AM is definitely not for me! But going for walks and hiking with my family have been better choice. We also have the Wii Fit, and that’s a fun way to get moving.
There are so many things we can do to bring the sugars down, we just need to try. Don’t ignore your blood sugar readings no matter what. You may not like what it says, but they don’t lie, it’s there to help you. Talk to your lovely wife about meal planning (it really does save money) for the entire family so that there are no special diets. And try to get out for a walk, even if it’s at the mall.
We love you and we want you around for years to come!
Your favorite Cousin-In-Law,
Melanie
Thanks everyone for the comments. Just a little update I did go back on the meds not long after the 601 reading and I’ve done a little better on the eating side of life. Though not always. I am aware of diabetic related changes in my body and I’m working to better them.
The biggest challenge for me is having to relearn to eat while still cooking the old way at work everyday. Also I’ve always been a starch fiend and usually think about what starch I want to eat and then planning everything else around that.
In the words of the old negro spiritual, “We shall overcome”. I promise to keep y’all updated on how things go.
601 beats the highest of your dad’s readings!!! That is not good-you should have been in the hospital-that is pure sugar running through your veins and coma limits.
They told your dad he would feel worse when his sugar got to normal numbers which he did but now that it is down he is doing much better.
No wonder you haven’t been feeling good!
By the way, when were you going to say something?