| Writer at 2015 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Milwaukee |
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Until February 2018, I had taken my health for granted. If a doctor diagnosed my glucose level to be a certain amount, as long as he/she did not express any concern, I would just continue to eat and drink whatever I wanted. At family gatherings, I would eat most of whatever was offered, whether appetizers or desserts. I would alternate between soda, water and beer, whether it was Miller Lite or Mike’s Hard Lemonade (the latter being one of my favorites) to keep from feeling tipsy.
The worst diagnoses I would have would be a cold or flu, with an occasional diagnosis of bronchitis; I was diagnosed once with pink eye. All I would have to do is take the medication/antibiotics as prescribed and follow-up with the doctor. In February 2018, I was hospitalized with deep vein thrombosis; it came back in June. In July 2018, I was diagnosed with sciatica following an MRI and had three epidurals to control the pain.
In mid-March 2019, I had my blood sugar checked following a routine doctor appointment. It turns out my glucose level was higher than it should be following an examination with a specialist the week earlier. Just before I left for my Spiritual Care Screener volunteer job, I received a call from a nurse confirming that I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes; I was informed that my doctor had referred me to a registered nurse/diabetes educator to discuss how to improve my diet and begin an exercise program.
In the meantime, I have been cutting sweets and soda out of my diet and have begun to lose weight. I have been checking out the Internet as to which foods are good for diabetics, and which should be limited. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) found in November 2016 that while certain foods such as fried foods, foods high in sodium, sweets and beverages with added sugar should be limited, these foods can still be eaten in smaller portions or not as often.
According to the American Heart Association in 2015, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to
- vision problems
- nerve damage in hands and feet that can lead to amputation
- heart disease
- metabolic syndrome
- renal (kidney) disease
- unhealthy cholesterol level
When Someone You Love Has a Chronic Illness: Hope and Help for Those Providing Support
