Getting To The Heart Of The Problem: Part Deux

This is the second, in a two part post. Get caught up here.

After a week of medical tests, I was ready to find out just what the heck was going on. Doctors and nurses had poked and prodded to their hearts content. I hate going to the doctor. I was left feeling violated. This ordeal was totally uncomfortable and making me wish that I had never gone to see my doctor a week earlier. Of course, if I hadn’t, I might be dead. So, I just had to deal with it. Like it or not.

In case you didn’t catch my first post, let me give you the CliffsNotes version.

man = me

• Man looks up.
• Sun is hot.
• 900lb gorilla is standing on mans chest.
• Error in judgment, man goes to doctor, not Emergency Room.
• Doctor tells man he is crazy.
• Irregular heart beat is found.
• Man is lectured about the evils of coffee.
• Man becomes human science experiment.
• Man is told we have good news and we have bad news.
• The good news is, your heart is strong, like bull.
• The bad news is….

And so here we are…waiting to discover the bad news the doctor delivered.

Diabetes Is The Sentence The Doc Gave Me

I say “sentence” because in most respects, that’s what diabetes is. A life sentence consisting of a strict diet and omission of many of my favorite foods. It’s a constant battle to control your blood sugar. Eat to much = feel really bad. Eat the wrong food = feel really bad. Forget to eat = Feel really bad. And these simple actions over time will eventually kill you. Failure to adhere to a life of strict diet and exercise, could eventually lead to loss of limbs, loss of eyesight, kidney damage, heart disease and even death. That’s it in a nutshell. Sound like a sunny trip to the south Caribbean? I think not.

Shock and Awe

I will never forget the morning I found out about my condition. My doctor entered the room. He spoke in a calm, reassuring voice. He said that my blood sugar was high and that it looked like I have diabetes. I’m not sure what else he said. His lips were forming words, but I couldn’t hear a thing. I sat stunned, amazed and in shock. A million thoughts rushed through my head.

“Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy. After a meal, food is broken down into a sugar called glucose, which is carried by the blood to cells throughout the body. Cells use the hormone insulin, made in the pancreas, to help them process blood glucose into energy.”

All Of This Is New To Me

I have never had any kind of medical problem like this. I didn’t know what to make of the situation. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself facing a disease like diabetes in my thirties. The first couple of weeks were rough. I was in disbelief. Emotional. Depressed. Angry. Then the realization set in that this IS very real, very permanent. AND that was hard.

Getting Schooled

Like millions of others, I was faced with an unbelievable learning curve. What to eat. What not to eat. When to eat. Symptoms to look for. AND don’t get me started on the entirely new vocabulary, with words like Hyperglycemia, Hypoglycemia, Hemoglobin A1C, Ketoacidosis, ketones, Polydipsia, Triglycerides…and the list goes on. It’s mind numbing.

A Little Reprieve

The only saving grace in all of this is that I am on “parole”, in a sense. I can strongly determine the outcome of my situation through my actions. My doctor is trying to control my blood sugar through diet and exercise. I am not on any drugs, at this point. One of the reasons I waited to write this second post is that I had my six month checkup last week. I wanted to see how I’m doing before I wrote the second half of the story. AND I have good news. My kidneys, liver, eyes, cholesterol, blood pressure and of course my blood sugar, all look good. No need for any drugs at this point! I am determined to beat this thing through controlling my diet and exercising. I don’t want to go on any drugs unless I absolutely have to. So far, so good!

Strict Diet For All!

I have spent a lot of time over the past six months learning about the disease, it’s affect on my body and what I need to do to control it. One thing I have learned is that all of us should be following a diabetic like diet. Maybe not quite as strict, but in general, everyone should be doing what I’m doing to control my sugar [I will elaborate in future posts]. I had no idea how your blood sugar affected things like weight gain.

My objective is to continue to learn about my condition and write about it. I want to pass on as much as I can to help others.

Diabetes Facts

• About 18.2 million people in United States have diabetes
• 41 million have a condition known as pre-diabetes when their blood sugar is elevated above normal levels
• The International Diabetes Federation estimates that more than 245 million people around the world have diabetes.
• 6th leading cause of death in 1999 and 2000 (CDC)
• 13.8 years – average life years lost due to diabetes
• Diabetes contributed to 213,062 deaths in the US in 2000
• Each year, 7 million additional people develop diabetes.
• By 2030 (20 years) this total is expected to rise to 380 million.
• Most people with diabetes (90-95 percent) have type 2 which is associated with having a family history of diabetes, older age, obesity, and race/ethnicity.
• is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.

Symptoms

• increased thirst
• increased hunger
• fatigue
• increased urination, especially at night
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• sores that do not heal

Steps To Reduce Your Risk

• Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight.
• Make wise food choices most of the time.
• Reduce your use of sodium and alcohol.
• Get physically active every day

That’s it. That’s enough! I plan to post updates from time to time on my progress and to pass on what I’m learning. Do you or anyone you know have diabetes? How has it changed your life?

Sources: Centers for Disease Control, International Diabetes Federation

Tagged as: blood sugar • diabetes