flash
Diabetes appeared out of nowhere, from one day to the next, and changed
my life enormously. For me as a sales representative who had always had
whatever he wanted to eat and drink, I suddenly had to start each
morning wondering, "What am I going to eat today, and when?"
Because my blood glucose levels were so poor for such a long time, my kidneys are badly damaged and I only have 2% of my eyesight. Every time your glucose jumps, it affects your retina and so my retina bled. I've had seven eye operations over the past few months, and this has resulted in my condition being 'stabilized'. It will never improve, though. I simply have to live with it, and you can live with it.
Because my blood glucose levels were so poor for such a long time, my kidneys are badly damaged and I only have 2% of my eyesight. Every time your glucose jumps, it affects your retina and so my retina bled. I've had seven eye operations over the past few months, and this has resulted in my condition being 'stabilized'. It will never improve, though. I simply have to live with it, and you can live with it.
I've learned that restrictions can also be seen as challenges.
Since I started using the new insulin pump with the continuous glucose
monitoring system (CGM), I haven't had to stay in the hospital yet, or
call the emergency doctor. I live a relatively normal life and so it's
more fun, and that's good for my relationship.
When I go to bed at night, I never know if I'm going to wake up in the morning and be able to see – it's a strange feeling. Why do you keep fighting for your life? Because your life means something… And if you are fortunate enough to have found a partner who is prepared to go through all of this with you, then you're really lucky.
Claus’s wife: We met 16 years ago and we've been married for three years now. Claus already had diabetes back then and his blood glucose levels would jump from extremely low 1,1 mmol/l (20mg/DL) to extremely high 66,6 mmol/l (1.200 mg/DL). His diabetes was really hard to control, but that improved with the pump therapy. He's experiencing many different long-term complications, but we make the most of each day. We've been through so much during our 16 years together, and there were times when I thought he wouldn't be coming home from the hospital. But his positive attitude helps me.
Our advice to you: Learn all you can about diabetes, and help your partner to understand diabetes. Make sure you have a balanced diet and don’t do what you're not supposed to.
When I go to bed at night, I never know if I'm going to wake up in the morning and be able to see – it's a strange feeling. Why do you keep fighting for your life? Because your life means something… And if you are fortunate enough to have found a partner who is prepared to go through all of this with you, then you're really lucky.
Claus’s wife: We met 16 years ago and we've been married for three years now. Claus already had diabetes back then and his blood glucose levels would jump from extremely low 1,1 mmol/l (20mg/DL) to extremely high 66,6 mmol/l (1.200 mg/DL). His diabetes was really hard to control, but that improved with the pump therapy. He's experiencing many different long-term complications, but we make the most of each day. We've been through so much during our 16 years together, and there were times when I thought he wouldn't be coming home from the hospital. But his positive attitude helps me.
Our advice to you: Learn all you can about diabetes, and help your partner to understand diabetes. Make sure you have a balanced diet and don’t do what you're not supposed to.