How am I doing week three of Covid19ireland? Well, I’m doing my best to stay occupied but the motivation to even put a 10% effort into doing my “best” wains in our third week of relaxed restrictions and week 1 of full on Lockdown, more or less. It’s good that laundry remains a necessity and I suppose, feeding myself. Thankfully limiting my exercise to within two kilometres from my house is not a problem. And, I have found my blogging mojo again so yay!
I’ve been reading some of my old posts looking for inspiration for new ones and came across this one below which I first published in April 2011 about some of the stuff I went through in my early days of being a newly diagnosed person with diabetes. I was struck by how I wrote about trying to heed advice on being able to live a “normal life” after being diagnosed and how I just did not want to talk about it with my friends. I’m glad things have changed for me.
It’s also fitting that I publish this on my 27th Diaversary also a very happy birthday to Teen1 who turns 16 today ❤️ and ensures that there is always cake on my Diaversary.
I started blogging about life with diabetes in May 2010; it’s really hard to believe that was almost ten years ago. ! If you’re interested in going through my blog archives, this was my very first post published using blogger on the 24th May 2010
Happy Birthday to my Sweet Sixteen Teen :-)
Diagnosed with Diabetes, what’s next?
On the 2nd April 1993 I was diagnosed with diabetes. This year (2011) marks 18 years of living well with D. Coincidently, the 2nd April is my daughter’s birthday, so for the last seven years I don’t actually remember that I’ve clocked up another year until afterwards.
But I do remember most of those first days. I spent 10 days in hospital. I remember the confusion and my complete and utter ignorance about what was happening to me and my inability to comprehend it all.
Normal Life
I was told that I could live a normal healthy life so I figured I wouldn’t worry about it all.
Thanks Twitter Gifs for image.
But then, I returned to the world to live my “normal healthy life” and it wasn’t as easy as it was before. I had hypos all over the place, and if it wasn’t low blood sugar it was high blood sugars. Back then I was on twice daily injections and having to eat meals and snacks at specific times during the day. It was hard and I was only just able to keep my head above water.
I didn’t think anyone out there could help me so I didn’t talk to anyone about my diabetes. People would ask “how is your diabetes?” and I would say “fine” and change the subject. I cried myself to sleep almost every night for a couple of months because I couldn’t figure out what I had done to cause this diabetes.
But I got over it and I turned it all around. I learned about my diabetes and I realised that I needed to take care of it and it would take care of me.
It was hard and I was only just able to keep my head above water.
When I think of the many people who are being catapulted into the Diabetes Community these days I feel those early days again and I do everything I can to let them know that they are not alone.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a 12 step plan that tells newly diagnosed people with diabetes what they need to do next after diagnosis. However, I did come across something reassuring in a borrowed copy of Outsmart Diabetes, Rodale Publications. The section was titled “Taking on Diabetes”.
“Taking on Diabetes” Outline
Get Confirmation of whether you have it or not.
Go to the doctor or healthcare professional and ask to be tested for diabetes. If the test is positive, make sure you have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol checked also and a foot and eye examination.
Take time to fully digest what you have been told.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, take the time to fully absorb what you are being told. Don’t make assumptions or hasty decisions. The only way you will take control of your situation is with a clear head.
Find out the facts for yourself.
Look to the internet, your local library or contact one of the many organizations for more information. In this case it’s true that knowledge really is power.
Work out how those facts apply to you.
Once you’ve gained a good all round understanding of diabetes, focus on the particular type that you have, and with this knowledge work out how you can make your life easier.
Prepare yourself for your next conversation with your doctor.
Arrived armed with information and you will know if you are being sold short or misdiagnosed. There is no reason why your doctor shouldn’t welcome your contributions. Also, if you know what you want to talk about you will probably get a much better service.
Accentuate the Positives.
If it might not, at first, seem that there are too many. But if having diabetes means you can no longer carry on making excuses for not eating healthily or doing exercise, then that has to be a bonus.
Start making lifestyle changes
Go forward with whatever adjustments you have to make to your life with gusto and as if they were your idea. Think they are only being made to improve your quality of life.
Don’t Worry.
Stress can only make your condition worse, as it can trigger surges in blood sugar. And besides, worrying never changed anything!"
And that goes from me too. It is what it is and all you can do is your best.
