Finding out that I’m diabetic left me with two choices. I can either ignore it or I can embrace it as a new way of life.
I happen to chose the second option. My doctor pulled no punches with me…I either follow his orders or I suffer grave consequences. My choice, pure and simple. When you’re sitting in his office and you’re hit with news like this, suddenly you find yourself hanging on every word the doctor says. Afterall, for the next few minutes he’s in charge of re-directing your life…he has the answers…he is about to give you a blueprint of a life-altering course of attack and you must listen.
The doctor tells me first that my diabetes is what they call Type ll and that the first thing we will do is try and control it with diet and medicine. He writes me a prescription for Glyburide, 2 tablets a day, 250 MG. Ok…I’m cool with this…no shots, no bodily harm…………..yet!! Then comes the prescription for a meter to monitor my sugar at home. Ok…a meter means “to test” and “to test” means to “prick my finger twice a day” and to “prick my finger” means to bleed!!! Mercy!! (Wondering now if the doctor can see my panic)?
I’m not sure but it seemed awful strange how quickly he begins talking to me about my diet, or should I say my new diet. Now any lady knows that if you mention the word “diet” it brings on it’s own panic and you soon forget whatever it was that you were stressing over prior to that.
So, in my case, what’s a little blood shed as long as you have the ice cream to soothe your anxieties? Wrong!!!!! Does the word “Sugar-free” sound familiar? How about “no-carbs”? “Diet coke”? “Veggies, no bread, no milk”? The list is endless….the can’t haves far out-weigh the can haves!!
My doctor is arranging for me to take classes at the hospital which will help me understand my Diabetes and teach me to accept it and live with it. Seems like there are so many things that will help me. Here’s the thing though. Remember earlier I talked about my choices? Well diet changes is not a choice anymore, it’s a necessity for quality of life and for my cataract surgery. The deal is, either the sugar comes down or the surgery doesn’t take place.
According to my doctor when you’re diabetic you don’t heal as quickly and he won’t approve the surgery until he feels my sugar is in a safe range. Each day my eyesight gets a little worse and driving becomes more difficult as the cataract grows. My new surgery date is now April 6th. I have a lot of work to do to get the approval for the surgery. My next primary care doctor visit is this coming Thursday,,,come back and see how I made out.