New here and newly diagnosed

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2007
New here and newly diagnosed
3
Tue, 06-12-2007 - 5:48pm

Hi... My name is Becki and I am a newly diagnosed diabetic. LOL I'm calling myself a "Diabetic Asthmatic with Hypothyroidism and Low estrogen"... a DAHL!! LOL My sense of humor is the only thing keeping me relatively sane at this point... I'm feeling very overwhelmed, angry, distraught, and confused. I've also been crying for 2 days since this latest diagnosis. As of this point, my doctor has started me on Metformin (Glucophage) and sending me to doctor/hospital based education classes. Of course, in my last phone call with her I have neglected to get more info on testing my blood sugar amd other questions I have (my mind was in a fog like haze and I couldn't remember a thing).

I know that this is not a life sentence for me and that it is controllable through diet, exercise and such... and I KNOW that God gives me nothing I can't handle.... I'm just beginning this journey and I'm scared. My DH is wonderfully supportive, as is my family and friends... but as of now, it doesn't seem to help my state of mind much.

Anyway, I hope to be here often for info and stuff.... just wanted to introduce myself!

Thanks for listening!

Becki

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Tue, 06-12-2007 - 8:10pm

Hi if you are a type 2 and you like to read there is a really good book by Gretchen Becker called
The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (First Year, The)

She basically goes over what typically happens in the first year almost in a process that takes you week by week what to expect and explains many things. She also has a sense of humor which helps.

When I was diagnosed, I heard about the book on the Joslin diabetes boards. That and this group helped very very much. I was terrified. My doctor said I was diabetic, go to the diabetic education classe, "yes I am sure they have them at night"(wrong) and they will take it from there. BUT the first one i could get into was almost a month away, and I had no meter, no idea what my numbers were other that the fasting was high. I will also admit to crying a lot in that visit but my doctor was wrong about why!! I know she thought it was the diagnosis, BUT it was 5 months since I lost my wee child as I called her. My granny dog doxie, Twinkie!! Due to mobility and other issues, I knew i needed to join the Y and exercise so my mobility was much better before even considering another senior dog and at that point i really wanted to get a senior dachshund. So I called to get a physical before I started that! Once again my Twinkie helped me since in a way it was due to her loss that I went when I did. I did have medical issues but not any symptoms of the diabetes so I sorta credit her with getting me diagnosed sooner than a lot of people do!!

I will confess to being significantly overweight and I lost something like 20 pounds in about 3 weeks. I also felt like I had really low glucose levels a lot that first month, basically because I was terrified of eating anything. I called the department of the education classes and they said my doctor was supposed to have told me everything, (she didnt). They did get me in in only 3 weeks instead of 4.

Try not to get too overwhelmed. Don't try to change everything all at once. I have had it 4 years now, and am still doing it on diet and exercise. It is also possible that you are now also dealing with depression. One possible caution, if you have insurance, you may want to make sure you find out before getting a meter what the insurance covers for test strips. The meters are NOT what is expensive, its what you use in them and many insurances only cover one or two kinds.

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 06-12-2007 - 8:17pm

Hi Becki and welcome to the board!


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 06-12-2007 - 10:45pm

Hi Becki,


I am the other Community leader for this board. Welcome. I am sorry you needed to join our group (female diabetics) but since you are one of us please pull up a chair and join our converstion. We have all been where you are now. Ask your questions and post your comments. We are here to help in anyway that we can.


Welcome on board!