Did you Put off the Inevitable?
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| Mon, 09-20-2004 - 4:31pm |
Hi, I am new to this board, with questions for you all. You don't have to answer all of them, but if you could give me as much information as you know or have had experience for, I'd be really grateful!
It's been about 2 1/2 years since I last had my blood sugar tested (I am 39 now). Three years ago, I found out I had 'impaired glucose tolerance', but a few months later, I made some lifestyle changes, and got out of the impaired range for the next test. But I am one of those people who you just have to look at me funny and I gain weight! I am like 100 pounds overweight (nothing new) and am currently not dieting, although every January, I manage to lose around 25 pounds from Weight Watchers (then manage to gain them back throughout the year!).
So, it's been a struggle. Now, not having gone for a blood sugar test in a while, I am afraid I have diabetes, because I am very tired lately and sometimes I get dizzy. I have not had frequent urination or excessive thirst so I was wondering:
1. How old were you when you were diagnosed? Was it type II?
2. Did you have or know you had Impaired glucose tolerance before you became diabetic? How long did you have this condition? Was the diagnosis of diabetes a total shock to you?
3. Did you experience the classic diabetes symptoms or some of the symptoms (and which ones) before you were diagnosed? Did you kind of know you had diabetes before you got tested?
4. Are any of you really overweight like I am?
5. Was the diagnosis really shocking to you? How did you handle it? Did you miss being able to eat certain foods?
6. How is life with diabetes? Do you still basically feel the same as you did before you were diagnosed?
I know these are a lot of questions, but I know I will have to go get my blood sugar tested soon, so I may be back sooner to this board than I think! I guess I'm just asking for your advice and experiences in case I have diabetes.
Thanks in advance!
Julie


A surpirse?
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Please tune in later for a new signature. :)
~Christie
Oh, what a great dog!
1.
Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)
Hi there Julie!
I was diagnosed at age 5 with Type 1.
2. Did you have or know you had Impaired glucose tolerance before you became diabetic? How long did you have this condition? Was the diagnosis of diabetes a total shock to you?
Impaired glucose tolerance isn't really a part of Type 1; with Type 1 it's more like NO glucose tolerance! It wasn't a shock to me because I'd seen public service ads from the Canadian Diabetes Association listing the symptoms of diabetes. I kept trying to get my mother to watch the ad so that she'd know that was what was wrong with me. Unfortunately she just kept saying, "Don't be ridiculus. There's nothing wrong with you. Stop drinking so much water. That's why you're going to the bathroom all the time."
I've now had diabetes for 31 years.
3. Did you experience the classic diabetes symptoms or some of the symptoms (and which ones) before you were diagnosed? Did you kind of know you had diabetes before you got tested?
I had all the classic symptoms: extreme thirst, frequent trips to the bathroom, sudden and dramatic weight loss, extreme fatigue to the point where I just lay down on the couch and refused to get up again. That's when my father picked me up, put me in the car and drove me to the hospital.
4. Are any of you really overweight like I am?
I'm a bit overweight, maybe by about 20 pounds or so, mainly due to the antidepressants I've been taking for the last few years.
5. Was the diagnosis really shocking to you? How did you handle it? Did you miss being able to eat certain foods?
Well, I was five years old. The diagnosis wasn't shocking, because I knew that I had it. What shocked me was the sudden changes in lifestyle I had to go through: injections, sugar tests, suddenly being denied my favourite foods. I certainly did miss being able to gra ba chocolate bar when I went to the store with my mother, and not being able to eat second helpings or eat the same kinds of sugary cereals that my brother and sister ate.
These days, though, I eat whatever I want, whether it's chocolate or ice cream or cheesecake. One of the advantages of being on insulin. Unfortunately, insulin doesn't stop me from gaining weight if I eat those things!
6. How is life with diabetes? Do you still basically feel the same as you did before you were diagnosed?
I really don't remember what life was like before I was diagnosed. Life with diabetes is inconvenient sometimes, like when I have hypoglycemia when I'm trying to work, or when I start eating and suddenly remember I haven't taken my injection yet, or when my blood sugar is high and I'm suddenly really thirsty and have to run to the ladies' room every few minutes. But I've lived with it for more than 30 years, so nothing it throws at me is much of a problem.