What I Am Learning About Myself and Diabetes

In March I will have been diagnose with Type II Diabetes for a year.

I would love to tell you that, watching my diet is a breeze, I have a great support system, having it is no big deal.

That would be a lie.

I know I am not alone, that there are plenty of others out there. My hopes are that by writing this article, I will not only help myself, but someone else.

Will I conquer this? Time will tell.

For the first few weeks after being diagnosed, I was really good. Took my medication, tested my blood, an hour before meals, 1 hour after, and again 2 hours after. I had not been to a dietician at this time, so I looked up a diabetic diet on the internet. I followed the diet religiously, my blood sugars dropped, and were even low.

I started thinking the doctor's office was wrong. I probably didn't fast long enough, or without thinking I had a mint, etc. I decided to stop the medication, convinced I was not a diabetic.

I realize now what I was doing. I was trying to prove to myself, my family, and my doctor, that I did not have diabetes.

I realize this now, but it still has not changed much on my way of thinking.

Diabetes runs in my family. I have grown up with it. So why am I in some form of denial. To be honest, I am not sure.

As far as dieting is concerned, I am good for a day or two. I then start thinking, oh one cookie won't hurt, just a couple of chips, tomorrow I will be good.

Lately, tomorrow doesn't come.

I am now to the point, that I have accepted that I do have diabetes. I test my blood often, and I do take my medication. But the diet....I am still having trouble with this.

I have changed a large amount of my eating habits. I was a meal skipper. I ate one main meal a day, drank lots of coffee, and snacked late at night. Rarely did I have fresh fruit, or low carb vegetables.

I now have started eating my 3 meals a day, but often forget my snacks. I have begun eating fresh fruit, low carb vegetables, and keeping a food journal. I have even been setting my phone alarm to ring when it is time for a snack.

After canceling three appointments, I have finally made it to the dietician.