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Don’t let all the information on diabetes scare you. The good news about type 2 diabetes is that there are lots of ways you can reduce or delay your risk of getting it. If you already have diabetes, there are many ways to stay healthy and avoid the serious complications. There are also many organizations and professionals who can give you advice, support and services to help you manage and live well with your diabetes. And while there are millions of people all over the world who are affected by diabetes, that also means that there are many people who share the experience of living with diabetes who can support one another and add to our knowledge about diabetes.
The other piece of good news about diabetes is that active living, healthy eating and not smoking can help you reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes and keep you healthy if you live with diabetes. Healthy living is a way of taking control of your life.
The best news is that the most important factor in managing diabetes is YOU! Use the information in these pages as a jumping off point to make sure that you are doing all you can to take charge of your health and lead a healthy, active life.
Taking Control – Michelle’s Story
Ten years ago, diabetes burst uninvited into my life! I had been hospitalized with a host of other ailments when I developed an insatiable thirst that could not be quenched. I was angry that my health had spiraled out of control, that my muscles were not working, and that I was spending most of my time in a hospital bed.
I vividly remember an enthusiastic diabetes nurse coming into my room to begin teaching me how to live with diabetes. I told her I did not want to have any conversation about managing my diabetes. It is not that I feared taking needles or watching my diet (I watched my diet anyway). It was just that on top of my other medical conditions, diabetes would create further bondage to the health care system. However, when I took some time to thoroughly examine my health situation, I realized that the one area I could have control over was my diabetes!
At first, I was on a pretty consistent diet and took the same amount of insulin each day. I have a mobility disability and at that time was using a wheelchair, so my physical activity didn’t change much. As I became more familiar with diabetes and diet control, I started counting carbohydrates and adjusting the amount of insulin I took to meet my own needs at each meal. Because I often feel nauseous, particularly in the morning, I find the rapid-acting insulin lets me eat first and then calculate the insulin dose I need. This is great if I eat more or less than I intended to first thing in the morning! Like most people with disabilities, I learned to adapt to a body that functions differently, so I just do regular blood sugar checks to manage my diabetes.
I am tremendously successful in managing all aspects of my diabetes. Although I may not accomplish my goals in exactly the same way as others, I firmly believe diabetes is the one health condition I have the most control over. And it is empowering to be in control!
Michelle Murdoch (living with type 1 diabetes)
St John's NL
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