Diabetes a Personal Perspective

I'm 46 years old, married for 24 years, have two grown boys, have a career and I also have Diabetes. I've had this disease for approximately 13 years. I say approximately because the doctors aren't really sure how long I had it before I was diagnosed at age 33. Of course, I couldn't just have type 1 or type 2, but I have symptoms of both types. I have learned that having this disease isn't as straightforward as people think.

Most people think that if you are diabetic that you can't eat sweets, that just because you are overweight that this is the reason you are diabetic. You must have eaten crappy all your life, that you don't exercise, and that you are not healthy. Well, I'm here to tell you that in some respect most of these ideas are not true.

As a teen and a young adult, I was very active, ate things in moderation, walked everywhere with my kids and cooked most meals at home. I developed diabetes because of a Gallbladder attack that shut down my liver and pancreas. It left me with debilitating pancreatitis and this disease. I began insulin right away to control my blood sugars, there was no waiting to try other meds, 5 needles a day until 2011 when I began using the insulin pump.
Diabetes is a difficult disease to have, always having to watch what I eat. Food needs to be planned, I can't go anywhere without thinking ahead. The low blood sugars are physically exhausting and scary. The highs are just as exhausting. You are forever trying to keep a balance in your body.  I can, however, eat whatever I want, just in moderation, as long as I take my insulin. Carbohydrates are my worst enemy, too many of these and my blood sugars will spike. Who doesn't like, bread, pasta, potatoes, cake, pie and cookies. Yep all of those are a big no, no when it comes to diabetes. It all turns into sugar in everyone's body, however, mine can't handle the process.

Being diabetic has taught me a lot about what I put in my body. I know what a struggle it is for people with this disease to control it. To be told that you shouldn't eat certain foods is frustrating, and like others I've caved to cravings. I know what to do and how to do it but its always there hovering like a dark cloud waiting to rain on your parties, outings, and anything that involves food.

So to those who say they know what it's like to have the disease and how easy it must be to control its symptoms, I say wait until it happens to you or someone you love. To those who are struggling every day with this disease, I get it, hang in there, try your best and keep your chin up. Take it one day at a time.



https://www.diabetes.ca/