© 2007
by Barbara J. Allen
"You are a full-blown diabetic!"
That's what I heard my doctor say to me after not having seen me for a few months. She had just received my latest blood tests taken for drug usage that were required for other health problems, including high cholesterol and an implanted pacemaker. This was the first time she had even mentioned anything about a high blood-glucose reading called HbA1c. This is average blood glucose in the cells of the blood and is registered with a test every two or three months. My blood test reading was 159 at that time and that would be an HbA1c reading of 7.3. That would indicate that a person might be a candidate for diabetes.
I glanced at the doctor just as calmly as I could and said to her, "Well, I dropped all of my statin medication about a month ago and I knew it would cause some fluky thing with the test." I didn't know what it would have done, but I wasn't shocked at the news she had given me in such a curt tone. I waited for her to continue to tell me what I should do about this new health problem. Nothing came forth from her except to give me a prescription for some drug to take once a day in the morning at breakfast time. She also prescribed that I get a blood-glucose meter and keep track of readings done twice a day, a fasting time (in the morning before eating or drinking anything) and in the afternoon after lunch. There were no instructions regarding diet, exercise or losing weight. At this time, I weighed about 200 pounds, and I knew that I was considered somewhat obese. Some people could look at me and see that I was heavy, but the weight was fairly evenly distributed and I probably looked more like a short, stocky football player than a rotund female. I was disappointed in this doctor when I didn't get some kind of "beginning" information. A booklet or fact sheet; menu of food choices; what I should avoid, something to make a life-changing decision to adjust to this "trauma" that I would eventually have to accept. Nothing. Absolutely nothing but to test my blood twice a day and keep a record of it and take my morning medication.
Well, that wasn't good enough for me. I'll take over from here, I thought. First off, I had decided no more food with its main ingredients of sugar and flour. I reasoned that the sugar would make the blood-glucose reading higher. This was my first reasoning, not knowing anything about diabetes. And the flour I knew was a starch that made sugar-laden foods taste good. You know what I mean. All of those delicious pies, cakes and other baked goods. Candy is mostly sugar and I have some really scrumptious favorites. So sugar was out and that included soda pop and other sugar drinks. To the computer I marched to start on a trek of fact-finding and seeing what others say about the horrors of diabetes. My eyes were opened to the enormous amount of information, and I printed articles and tables and lists of everything that even remotely resembled what I should and should not do. I also undertook an exercise regimen that wouldn't be discouraging. Walking. It was slow moving in the beginning, but I was seeing results. With the drug, Metformin, my restriction of sugar-laden goods and my walking regimen, the weight started to come off. Also the blood-glucose readings I had been doing started to come down and appeared more in control. The information from the web sites began to pile up and I printed out the pages and put them in three-ring notebooks.
A year after having been diagnosed for this restricting illness, I went to a class in Diabetes Self-Management. It was a good experience and I picked up a lot of information that is very useful. I would recommend such a class to anyone who is beset with this health hazard as a very informative and prosperous beginning to getting in control of their blood sugar and establishing a diet and exercise routine. I pointed out to my doctor, at the next visit, that I had consulted the web pages for information to help me and she frowned and told me that you can't believe everything you learn from the Internet. I was offended, to say the least, because I don't just "believe" everything I read on the Internet. I get the information and analyze every bit of it to see if it is worth its merit. There are very good web sites that are sound in what they present to help one with this illness. Some of them I
use to assist in some research ideas I am trying to formulate. Three of them I use to find new information and what is going on with the Diabetes scene. Encouragement is there and makes diabetes livable. Complications can happen through neglect in one form or another and often from blood glucose readings that are out of control. No one can get away with anything with this illness and we have to accept that it is going to be with us for quite a while to the end of our time. One thing I have learned....diabetes is now in epidemic proportions in our society. That is unfortunate because it became that way from mismanagement with our daily habits and health care. I know. I was one of them. Now I am paying for it. But I do give God thanks for this opportunity at the same time. It is also a challenge and gives me the opportunity to help others through the trauma of it.
One thing more....I fired this doctor after the second visit concerning this problem. I could not allow someone to be so unconcerned for my health care, particularly with this problem. She doesn't know anything about how to manage this disease and I don't have time for such a "professional". If there were an endocrinologist available for people to go to, that would be preferable. Because that is what the endocrinologist does....study diabetes and the effects it can have on one's health. I do have another primary care physician and she is paying more attention to the blood glucose reports that I give her when I have to see her. I still take the BG tests every three months. I have lost 50 pounds and have kept it off for a year now. It is not impossible to feel good with diabetes. It would take Acknowledgment; Acceptance; and Moving On with perseverance, regardless of the temptations that are present to throw us off the track. AAMO.