World Diabetes Day
Today is World Diabetes Day. I have handed the blog over to my Mum, Alison, who has Type 2 Diabetes, to tell her story. Also, head over to Karl’s for his. Normal service resumed tomorrow.
About 11 years ago, during a standard medical for work it was noted that my blood sugar’s were high and there was sugars in my urine. I was advised to go my GP and get a diabetes test. I was very worried because I knew nothing about it.
My fears, however, were lifted when I was advised I could control it just by changing my diet. I watched what I ate, followed the set diet religiously and began to feel a lot better.
Of course, because I started to feel better I assumed I could ‘cheat’ - have a glass of something or that incredibly tempting cream cake - and then I cheated a little more.
The kids tell me that it was genuinely frightening watching me suddenly ‘hypo’ - I would look as if I was going to loose consciousness and the orange juice would come out. A couple of years down the line the doctor finally put me on a pill regime and things improved. I have the occasional problem with cold hands, falling asleep in front of the TV (although I blame that on the rubbish that’s on) and now I have to wear reading glasses which I am constantly putting down and loosing!
A few years ago I was given the choice of a new pill regime, or going onto an injection/pill mix. I opted for the injections, which is a decision I do not regret. I feel a lot better and it has made it all a lot more ‘real’. It is all easier to control now.
Looking back I think I was probably diabetic from when I had my son, who is now 22. I had always felt tired, but with looking after a family and keeping my husband’s long hours, I just ignored it. Diabetes makes you constantly thirsty, and makes you want to wee all the time… this is easy to ignore because you assume it’s a chicken and the egg thing… But, diabetes was never even mentioned as a possibility.
I know I must keep myself healthy, exercise, watch what I eat, and keep an eye on my sugar levels. I do still cheat occasionally but so long as I know when I’ve gone too far as my doctor tells me off! I am lucky in the fact that I get support from the people I work with and my family. Although sometimes the constant questioning about whether I have taken my pills really gets on my nerves. I know it’s just concern but I wish they would back off! I know what will happen if I don’t look after myself. The stories they told me at the classes I went to when I started taking injections were genuinely concerning.
I am so grateful for that medical. Being able to make it through a TV show without having to go to the loo is great. That was the real pain in the arse.
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*snicker* your mum said arse.
Dan - She says many other words too! It’s funny how worried she was about writing this. But I am so proud of her.
The occurrence of diabetes in persons 45 to 64 years of age is 7 percent, but the diagnosis rate significantly increases in persons 65 years of age or older. All over the world, Type-2 diabetes accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes.
Diabetes is an extremely common disease all over the world. Currently nearly 17 million Americans suffer from this disease. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
Ann - Thank you for those statistics. With wisdom comes understanding.
[...] I am just casually going to drop in a World Diabetes Day mention and link back to the post my Mum wrote last year on the subject (mostly becase she couldn’t think of anything for this year!) [...]