“Today, there are 11 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes. Every three minutes, another Canadian is diagnosed. Chances are that diabetes affects you or someone you know.”
The above is taken from the Diabetes Canada website and is, to me, a shocking statistic, and even more shocking to me, is now I am part of those statistics.
Three weeks into a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, I really shouldn’t be shocked. I knew my numbers were in the prediabetes range two years ago and I did the sessions with an excellent dietician at the Thamesview Family Health Team, who helped me to understand that carbs convert to sugar in your system. We went over what were healthier choices that I could fit into my diet, the diabetic food guide and what foods to avoid.
So what happened? I thought there was no diabetes in my family so I couldn’t understand why I was having “sugar issues.” Then I found out I had an uncle who was diabetic and lost his sight. And that the extra weight I carry is in the worst possible spot. And I wasn’t using what I learned and eating properly. And I was stressed out with a busy teen and work and skipping meals or eating fast food.
All that combined pushed my blood sugar way too high and led to symptoms I should have recognized – getting up three or four times a night to pee, desperate thirst, extreme fatigue and blurry vision. Once I actually checked my sugar, it was very high and good friends pushed me to get medical help right away.
With the diabetes diagnosis was dangerously high blood pressure, and I was put on meds right away. What was made very clear to me as well was if I didn’t want to go blind, have a heart attack or stroke, or lose a foot, I needed to take my diagnosis seriously and make lifestyle changes right away.
So three weeks in, I have read more about diabetes, the proper foods to eat and when, and to check each and every label because sugar is everywhere and in just about everything, including foods considered “healthy.”
Too often, we don’t listen to our bodies and what they are trying to tell us. I should have listened, but thankfully I have friends and family who weren’t afraid to read me the riot act. It is up to me now to take my meds, eat properly and lose some weight so my body doesn’t have to work so hard.
What I want to share is to not ignore symptoms, or think you have it handled when obviously you don’t. I’m glad I have a supportive family and friends to help through the mental and physical changes I need to make to keep myself healthy.
I want to be one of those model patients who does everything they are told, and I know it will be a challenge – life doesn’t just change to suit your situation. You have to recognize what is important and put your main focus on it. Sure, it’s going to take some extra planning and avoiding foods I love, but I tell myself every day I am worth it and so is being there for my daughter as she grows up.
Yes! I was diagnosed on Monday with a fasting level of 10.5. For 2 weeks I felt miserable with lots of bathroom trips, a throbbing pain in my liver, deep baroque and overall muscle weakness. Right now on day 3 of taking meds and being careful about what I eat I am at 8.8. It feels like small progress, though I wish I wasn’t so hungry.
Elizabeth: you are doing great. It took me a month to go from a fasting result of 22 down to where it is now from between 6 and 6.8. If you stick to the three small meals and three high-protein snacks a day, it really helps keep the hunger away. Now I rarely feel hungry, and if I do, I have a few raw almonds or greek yougurt or half an apple with peanut butter and I’m good to go. Keep up the good work!
hi are u able to send me some pamphlet on diabetes I lived in Kirkland lake my name is rose black 52 government road west apt 6 Kirkland lake ont p2n-2e4
Rose, Mary is a writer for our publication. She is not part of the health-care field, where such material should come from.