flash
When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was on holiday with my cousin and
he realised that something was wrong. I wasn't eating, but I was
drinking a whole lot, I kept needing to go to the toilet and I was
sleeping all the time. I also lost a lot of weight. I was of course
really scared. Then came the hospital stay and I had to inject insulin.
There used to be a different kind of insulin, but now I inject myself
with insulin about six times a day and I can eat what I want and can
regulate my life better than before.
An important aspect of diabetes is acceptance. From the moment you are diagnosed with it, you have an illness, but you don't necessarily have a problem. And that's a really important distinction to make. Try to deal with it in the most positive way possible.
Doctor's visits are very important in order for you to have good blood glucose levels. But you also need to see ear and eye specialists and have your feet examined regularly too (to avoid long-term complications). A partner is extremely important in life but even more so when you have an illness. That person needs to be able to cope with it, too, because diabetes also has its negative aspects. In my case, my partner is a nurse and even better, a diabetes specialist – pure coincidence! She understands me, supports me and I have no problems with diabetes within my relationship.
An important aspect of diabetes is acceptance. From the moment you are diagnosed with it, you have an illness, but you don't necessarily have a problem. And that's a really important distinction to make. Try to deal with it in the most positive way possible.
Doctor's visits are very important in order for you to have good blood glucose levels. But you also need to see ear and eye specialists and have your feet examined regularly too (to avoid long-term complications). A partner is extremely important in life but even more so when you have an illness. That person needs to be able to cope with it, too, because diabetes also has its negative aspects. In my case, my partner is a nurse and even better, a diabetes specialist – pure coincidence! She understands me, supports me and I have no problems with diabetes within my relationship.
I've never experienced any form of discrimination in my career. But I deal with my illness in a very open kind of way.
Yes, stress can influence my blood glucose levels. But eating habits are the most important thing: I don't eat everything. I have a bar of chocolate if I'm too low, not because I feel like eating it. I try to avoid Chinese food or pasta because of all the complex carbohydrates they contain. But of course you can eat it, you just need to inject a bit more insulin and then you're fine. I'm open about my condition, but I show consideration for other people in certain situations. When I'm eating at a restaurant, I don't just pull out my syringe if someone nearby is eating and could see it.
My advice to you: Just keep on living your life as you did before, but don't forget that you have diabetes.
Yes, stress can influence my blood glucose levels. But eating habits are the most important thing: I don't eat everything. I have a bar of chocolate if I'm too low, not because I feel like eating it. I try to avoid Chinese food or pasta because of all the complex carbohydrates they contain. But of course you can eat it, you just need to inject a bit more insulin and then you're fine. I'm open about my condition, but I show consideration for other people in certain situations. When I'm eating at a restaurant, I don't just pull out my syringe if someone nearby is eating and could see it.
My advice to you: Just keep on living your life as you did before, but don't forget that you have diabetes.