The Dreaded Diagnosis

My story begins with having type 2 diabetes. It began 25 years ago. It was so ironic, because I always believed that what you fear the most shows up in your experience. I always knew that I had a high risk of being a diabetic. Why? Because my mother was a diabetic and had succumb to it by going into a diabetic coma in 1978. I believe her blood sugar had risen to a fatal 1,000. I was always conscious, even as a teenager, to watch my sugar.

After having my second child, I was walking down the stairs, when all of a sudden my eyes went blank for a moment and I totally missed the steps and landed at the bottom of the steps. I got busted up pretty badly. I was sore for a while. This is when I went to the hospital and got the bad report that my blood sugar was too high. They did the A1C test as well. I was put on Metformin. The only problem I had with this medication was that I had a problem swallowing large pills. I had to force myself in swallowing it daily.

At this time I weighed 165 and I was 5 ft. I was overweight and was determined to lose the weight. I had no idea that I would have a surgery that would later paralyze my intestines. This forced me to lose 40 to 50 lbs. I was not able to keep a lot of food down.

I began really exercising on a regular basis. I began watching for any type of sores on my feet. I was looking at anything that could become affected. I developed a foot ulcer on my left foot. I didn't want it to become out of control. I was fearful. I didn't want to lose my foot. This is one disease that put fear in me. I knew that there was a history of it in my family. There were ones who had legs amputated, become legally blind and even confined to a wheelchair because of diabetic complications. I did not want this to happen to me.

I enrolled in diabetic classes. I wanted to learn everything I could about type 2 diabetics. Pricking my finger was not fun at the beginning of the day nor at the end. My day would start off getting my strips together and sticking my finger to get my daily blood reading. My finger would be so sore from the lancet, even though I changed fingers. I would eat my protein and vegetables. Eating sweets was my weakness. I loved cakes, pies, candy, ice cream. I had to give this up. It was pretty easy, when I looked at the flip side if my blood sugar stayed high. It could affect my kidneys, blood pressure, and eye sight. I would rather give up the sweets. I did it with no problems. I turned in the sugar for Splenda. I know they say sugar sweeteners are no good for you. I'd rather use Splenda than have high blood sugar.

My mother died of diabetic complications at 37 years old. I really needed to make changes. This was too young to die. I was glad that I found out I was type 2 at a young age. I've learned to live with it. I have it under control and changing was a lifestyle change for me. I am in my 50s now still living with type 2 diabetes.

When I think of the seriousness of being a diabetic, I take my health very seriously. I was devastated at the beginning, but have learned that I am in control. I eat right and exercise and for it I have a healthy blood sugar A1C. Continue to let people know that even though you're a diabetic, you can keep it in control. It only takes right choices and a made-up mind that I want to live and not die. I came to this conclusion 25 years ago. Although I dreaded this disease, I now realize I'm healthier because of it. I am living well with type 2 diabetes.