My Type 2 Diabetic Life – I’ve Got to Keep Control

My diabetic educator explained to me that there were a number of ways to control my diabetes: diet, insulin, other medication, and exercise.

The diet changes have been pretty easy, all things considered, especially after I found some good recipe sites. Reading ingredient labels is now practically a spinal reflex. I miss being able to indulge in homemade bread, but I’ve learned to adapt. Like a lot of other type 2 diabetics, I eat three meals and one snack a day, preferably on a regular schedule so my blood sugar stays pretty steady all day long.

The insulin was harder. As I wrote last week, I hate needles. After my initial diagnosis, I was on two kinds of insulin: long-acting and short-acting. Thanks to a number of factors, I haven’t had to inject myself with long-acting insulin since October 2016. Recently my doctor took me off the short-acting insulin as well. With luck, it’ll be many years before I need it again, and maybe even we’ll get more sensible about insulin prices in this country before that happens.

I’ve been on two different diabetic medications: glipizide in the hospital, when my glucose was wildly out of control; metformin after I was discharged. I didn’t like the glipizide, and I was relieved when my doctor said I could stop taking it. The metformin has a number of side effects, but nothing I can’t live with, and I’ve been able to cut down on that as well.

Exercise was difficult for me at first, thanks to the post-stroke fatigue. I started out simply, just walking up and down the length of our house every day. I gradually added handweights again, then bought an exercise mat so I could do planks and other floor exercises. Last year I got brave and tried pilates and high-impact exercises a few times. High-impact exercises are difficult for me; I still have balance issues, and I’m afraid I’ll fall. But I do what I can every day.

Fortunately, all my efforts are paying off. I’m keeping my A1c comfortably below 7. I manage to keep my blood sugars in a good range on a daily and weekly basis. Everything I do keeps pushing diabetic complications further down the road.

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Rachel

I work in healthcare, so I'm going to be coy about certain aspects of my job.I have a wonderful supportive husband, and four demanding but lovable cats.

I'm a writer, a knitter/spinner/weaver, a young stroke survivor, and a type 2 diabetic.
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