Yes, I have type 2 Diabetes but I can and do eat sugary snacks and drink alcohol (cocktails and champagne).
I am tired of being shamed for what I eat whether it's for being overweight and judged, or by people who know me and ask "should you be eating that?!" It's exhausting!!
My body either doesn't produce enough insulin or is insulin resistant.
I manage my diabetes through a number of resources and thought I would share them with you if you're curious.
- I manage the blood glucose levels with testing on my accu-chek machine morning and night. This is a blood finger prick test that measures my blood glucose levels and then it sends that information to my phone. It lets me know how I'm going with regards to my sugar levels. The Doctor can also get me to send the report if they need to check in between visits. This level is driven mostly by what I eat but also exercise and stress levels. For me, I need to sit at around 7-8 or less for a morning read, but this has not been happening of late and there is a chance I will move to injections in the future.
- I take medication - one tablet at lunch (Jardiance) and two tablets (Metformin) at night which aim to dispose of the excess sugar - work my pancreas is unable to do for me.
- My diet and exercise is monitored by me. I know how much of each type of food per meal I should eat, and a minimum of 30 mins per day of exercise is recommended - this is where having a dog comes in handy as they always need a walk.
- I also have a blood test every 3 months. A hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures the amount of blood sugar (glucose) attached to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
- I have my feet and eyes checked regularly, as the feet can be affected if they are not receiving enough oxygenated blood - (think Bert Newton). Wounds need to be checked for healing as infections can develop easily and cause complications. A complication of diabetes that affects the eyes is Diabetic retinopathy which is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). Poorly controlled blood sugar is a risk factor.
With all this to manage, looking into my world you can imagine then why it is exhausting and upsetting to be shamed about your choices of eating.
The consequences of having this invisible disease does scare me and the stress that I need to monitor and check everything all the time, but I don't have it so bad at the moment. If I have to go onto insulin then that's a whole world of new controls with being able to know in advance what I will eat and ensuring I eat the right amount so that I don't over or underdose myself. So please think of those with Diabetes Type One who live this everyday.
I have attached this article which is all about this very topic it's an interesting read.
Brenda
