A Type 2 Diabetes Story

In April of 2010 when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.  The news floored me because I didn’t think it would happen to me. My sister had been diagnosed with it in October of 09 – and I was aware that I have been dodging a bullet and felt lucky that it wasn’t me.  

My sister’s weight dropped suddenly and the new medication she took was making her feel unwell.  It certainly didn’t look like a disease I would want to share with her.  I thought I’d be safe from getting “IT” because for much of my adult life I have avoided eating sugar on a regular or daily basis.  

I have been overweight most of my life because I ate more calories than my body needed – ah but those calories were good, wholesome foods.  I was healthy and always had good reports from my physicians. So, when the blood work results came back in early April saying my A1C number is 8 – I had no idea what that meant or what to do about it.

I felt shamed immediately after the phone call.  The doctor told me I needed to start taking Metformin a medication for lowering blood glucose – and start immediately.  She also suggested I make appointments with a diabetes educator, and a nutritionist at the local hospital. That done, I learned there is much to learn. The educator gave me my first glucose monitor kit - I learned how to check my blood and was told to do my best to keep the numbers within a certain range to prevent – needing more medications.  I vowed to get this disease in line and be released from the bondage of those frickin’ needles. 

I'm commended for being an excellent patient.  I have kept "good control" of my A1C/blood glucose numbers - which mean the levels of sugar in my blood stream have remained balanced and low enough to help prevent or at least to prolong the onset of complications from the pancreas of a person diagnosed with diabetes - which include some scary stuff.  

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