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02/05/10 12:31 AM

"I AM LOOKING FOR HOPE. I read a lot of dLife stuff on the internet that is doom to a diabetic. What should i think? How do I think about Diabetic life"
Asked By: ruby99  
Category: Other

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Expert Answers (1)

02/05/10 12:27 PM

Dear ruby99, It can be disheartening to know you have a chronic disease that won't go away and may get worse even though you do the right things. Many of us have diabetes or another chronic disease such as arthritis, heart disease, etc. as we get older. I find that how we cope with our disease(s) makes a big difference in the quality of our lives. You can look for the worse in everything, or look for the best. I know many people who say, "gee, if I wasn't diagnosed with diabetes, I never would have tried to lose 20 lbs and improve my eating habits." "Diabetes has made me more aware of what the lab tests my doctor takes mean and how I can make the results better." "I bought my dog to help motivate me to exercise." I love my dog." These are just some examples. Most people have the ability to see positives in life if they try. If that seems impossible for you, perhaps you have depression and need to seek help with medication therapy and talk therapy. There is no shame in having depression. It is very under-diagnosed. Especially among people with chronic diseases. Another thing you might consider is joining a support group. Meeting with other people with diabetes might help you find answers to life problems that you are having trouble dealing with. Some other things you might do is volunteer somewhere. It doesn't need to be connected with diabetes. Focusing on someone else helps you think less about your problems. Some people journal and express their frustrations that way. Others listen to music or watch a funny movie to release some stress or tension. Do things that make you happy. As for curing diabetes, I personally am very optomistic that we are finding some promising new medications and learning more about reviving beta cells to produce insulin again. Will we have a cure in 5 years? I don't know. But I really do see some wonderful research being done and I am very hopeful that we can make the treatment of diabetes much simplier.
Answered By: Janice Fisher
Accreditations: RD, LD, PHD, CDE, BC-ADM
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Community Answers (7)

03/15/10 08:00 PM

ruby99: I know how you feel, I felt that way too, but what I found out was: Glucose Control is the key. I was dx'd 2 yrs ago. When I was admitted to the hospital, my BS was 1575. I was in a bad coma. When I awoke, I could only see in black,gray and white. This changed with BS control. I came home on 100 units of Insulin/day AND a sliding scale. Was I angry? Yes! Depressed? Yes! But I have taken control of this disease. There is some reason that this disease is so prevalent in the world--some genetic reason for it to develop and continue. Famine/Fat cycle of our human history? Who knows. I just consider myself to be a descendant of a survivor in my distant past. They survived, so can I. So I followed the rules given me. I had a 1200 calorie diet--lost 50 lbs. Exercised frequently (I found the frequency helped to control the BS better). First I reduced my insulin need, then eliminated it as I obtained better control. Then, I had gall bladder surgery and went off of Metformin. Now I am a diet/exercise controlled diabetic. Who knows what the future will hold concerning this disease. But I have travelled--to Thailand, Peru, Italy and Hawaii--without incident--AND maintaining my routine. My LDL is 109/my BP is 120/72 and my weight is 152 (needs to be lower). I have my trouble spots, but I have changed my lifestyle and try to maintain a positive attitude. Do I still get angry? Yes! Do i still get depressed? Yes! Everyday I argue with myself--do I really want that food, or not exercise OR do I want to be blind, etc--all those horrific problems that get thrown in your face? I definitely want to win this battle, but I am not perfect. My answers are not your answers. Everyone's body is created uniquely. But I can say--the path is difficult, but others have done it before you and you too can do it--keep at it, don't give up--life is different, but not over. Stay positive and stay as healthy as you can. Good Luck!
Answered By: lanni1
FLAG
SourcesShow


03/15/10 04:28 PM

Ruby, I feel so badly thinking you are feeling so hopeless! I understand where you are coming from. I was diagnosed with post transplant diabetes 6 1/2 years ago. I am a nurse, so I knew exactly what this would mean. I came to my clinic appointment with a fasting sugar of 810. I had a kidney transplant, so the increased urination never set off any alarms. I was started on insulin and knew that both my diabetic health and my transplant health were at risk. I am not perfect by a longshot. But my A1C's generally run around 5.7, and I do not feel deprived on my diet. You may not be able to cure diabetes right now, but you can certanly live comfortably with it. Talk to your team, see if you need some help with depression, read everything you can get your hands on and clarify any confusion with your team. Diabetes is not the disease it was in the 60's. Step into the 21st century, and learn how to live well with diabetes! After all, what is now being recommended as a healthy diet for the general populace, is one we've been following for years! You are a trend setter!
Answered By: sa_rose
FLAG
SourcesShow


03/12/10 01:01 PM

Hi ruby99! There is hope! I have had Type 2 diabetes for for 16 years. I can't say it is easy, and I know I am a challenging patient to my doctor at times. He likes that no mattter how bad my control is, I never stop trying. Sometimes I have to take it one meal at a time. Dlife is a great source of information, also the American Diabetes Association. Learn all you can about the type of diabetes you have. Knowledge is power. Don't listen to the doom and gloom and cut yourself some slack. Do the best you can. It doesn't have to be perfect. I was that way. Perfect or nothing. I had to learn to mot be so hard on myself. If you are reading something and you find it gloomy, stop reading it and make a list of the good things you are doing for yourself. I really believe there is hope. I hope you can find your way back to hope as well. Type2withapump
Answered By: DonnaBee
FLAG
SourcesShow


02/24/10 11:50 AM

The dLife expert, Janice Fisher, wrote, "It can be disheartening to know you have a chronic disease that won't go away and may get worse even though you do the right things." While there is much helpful information here on dLife, this answer is not. First, diabetes should not be called a disease. It should more accurately be called a disorder. We have no control over diseases. Not true with diabetes (T2). Diabetes is almost 100% man-made. This fact points to the second error in Janice's answer. Man-made disorders can be un-made. Diabetes need not be chronic, or get worse. Thousands of former T2's are living life today with normal blood glucose and no insulin or meds. It is about taking responsibility for your health. Diabetes did not happen "to" you. Diabetes happens because of incorrect nutrition, and only the science of nutrition will cure it. Now, this may be a revelation to you and you may think this negative or depressing. It's not. Diabetes is not incurable. You can have normal blood glucose w/o insulin or meds if you choose to do so. This is the hope. You have a choice. You can have a healthy life. Dietary suggestions for type 2's (and everyone else for that matter): The deadly 4: 1. No soda, diet or otherwise. Ever. 2. No simple sugars: candy, cakes, pie, ice cream, etc., or fruit juices. Ever. This includes honey, maple syrup, molasass. 3. No white, or refined flour or anything made of it. Ever. This includes many breads and cereals, most pasta, and literally all pastry. Replace grains with seed/grains (amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa). 4. No deep-fried food. Ever. Limit whole fruits (no more than 1 small serving/day) until body regains ability to properly process carbohydrates. Eliminate milk. Severely limit grain-based foods and make it only whole grain. Focus on whole vegetables, more raw the better. You can eat most vegetables w/o limit. Include proteins every meal (meats, beans, cheese). Add flax meal or oil every day. Ken
Answered By: kenhampshire
FLAG
SourcesShow


02/24/10 11:50 AM

The dLife expert, Janice Fisher, wrote, "It can be disheartening to know you have a chronic disease that won't go away and may get worse even though you do the right things." While there is much helpful information here on dLife, this answer is not. First, diabetes should not be called a disease. It should more accurately be called a disorder. We have no control over diseases. Not true with diabetes (T2). Diabetes is almost 100% man-made. This fact points to the second error in Janice's answer. Man-made disorders can be un-made. Diabetes need not be chronic, or get worse. Thousands of former T2's are living life today with normal blood glucose and no insulin or meds. It is about taking responsibility for your health. Diabetes did not happen "to" you. Diabetes happens because of incorrect nutrition, and only the science of nutrition will cure it. Now, this may be a revelation to you and you may think this negative or depressing. It's not. Diabetes is not incurable. You can have normal blood glucose w/o insulin or meds if you choose to do so. This is the hope. You have a choice. You can have a healthy life. Dietary suggestions for type 2's (and everyone else for that matter): The deadly 4: 1. No soda, diet or otherwise. Ever. 2. No simple sugars: candy, cakes, pie, ice cream, etc., or fruit juices. Ever. This includes honey, maple syrup, molasass. 3. No white, or refined flour or anything made of it. Ever. This includes many breads and cereals, most pasta, and literally all pastry. Replace grains with seed/grains (amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa). 4. No deep-fried food. Ever. Limit whole fruits (no more than 1 small serving/day) until body regains ability to properly process carbohydrates. Eliminate milk. Severely limit grain-based foods and make it only whole grain. Focus on whole vegetables, more raw the better. You can eat most vegetables w/o limit. Include proteins every meal (meats, beans, cheese). Add flax meal or oil every day. Ken
Answered By: kenhampshire
FLAG
SourcesShow


02/09/10 06:31 PM

i found out i had type 2 4/3/2009. My bs was 524 with a a1c of 12,I was a wreck. I refused treatment and had to drink 2.5 gallons of water just to leave the drs office. After i went back 3 days later with my wife did i finally figure out that i had to change. Since then i was on insuline , janumet, and now metforin. I have lost 67 lbs and my last a1c was 4.9. I feel 1000 times better. I started walking and eating right. Me getting type2 was a blessing. I truely believe it saved my life. The glass is always half full for me. Please remember there are alot of people with stories just like mine. There will be a cure soon. Hang in there. Barry
Answered By: canouse
FLAG
SourcesShow


02/07/10 06:32 AM

Look at your diagnosis as a wake up call. I was diagnosed with T2 this past October, through diet and exercise I've dropped 40 lbs and gained control of my blood sugar and am heading towards prediabetes numbers. If the doctors did not catch it I never would have made those life changes and who knows where that would have lead. We've got a disease, there's no changing it, but we can control it if we choose to do so. DLife has been a great souce of information so has making my disease known, I was surprised at the number of those around me who share the dlife and never talked about it. Making it known and part of the daily conversatio has also been extremely helpful.
Answered By: dbuckley12
FLAG
SourcesShow



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*** All information contained on dLife.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our Expert Q&A is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.

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