Today I took my first class at the Diabetes Center. I have to say, it was really hard to wait for this because while I had the knowledge of my diagnosis, and I had started medication, I had NO IDEA what was going on in my body and it was all a bit crazy-making. I also was having these weird grief reactions while walking through the grocery store this weekend: omg CRACKERS (never again!!), ICE CREAM (never again!!!!!!!!) etc etc and just sort of flipping out but not really knowing why.
So finally I got to get some reality which I was sorely needing.
First, though: I got to the place and I was BY FAR the youngest person in the room. Most of the other attendees were 20 or 30 years older than me and looked pretty much a lot worse for wear. One woman came in, in a wheelchair, and was a double above-the-knee amputee. That was… sobering. I have no idea if this was diabetes related but I have been having nightmares about this for a week.
So we went around the room and were supposed to say our names, what kind of D we had, and when we got diagnosed. I was also the newest “newbie” at less than one week. It was interesting to me how many people got diagnosed 3-6 weeks ago and have not come in until now. (believe me, I took the FIRST POSSIBLE OPENING) Some people have had diabetes for 15+ years. One had had it for 40. I was really agog, like WTH? Really?
One guy sitting next to me said he’d gotten diagnosed 5 years ago, tested for a year or so, but never got a good result on his blood meter, so just gave up on it. Then he had a heart attack, and here he is trying to get back on the wagon again. That pretty much boggled me.
Then there was this woman who was sitting there chugging a bottle of GRAPE JUICE (ahem? and none of the nurses or dieticians said a word!!!) and she was saying how she couldn’t give up fried food because she grew up on it and it was all she was used to. And when the nurse was discussing that the range of blood sugar should be 70-120 she let out this hoot like, “That’s normal people!” and the nurse goes, yes, that’s the range we are aiming for and the woman was like, she aint’ NEVER seen those numbers EVER.
I do not think I could have that job. (teaching the class)
So there was a whole bunch of talk about what is diabetes, blah blah, which I’ve pretty much figured out, and then the all -important WHAT DO WE EAT question, and the diet they were discussing seems to be a lot more food than I am currently eating, and she said it all depends on what your Meter says. And I’m jiggling my knee going, when are we going to get the damn meters?
Two hours later. FINALLY. The meter people come and give out tote bags and a sales pitch for test strips and what-all and I’m like, LET ME TEST MY BLOOD!!!! I was so antsy at this point I was about to start shrieking and stabbing at myself with a plastic fork. They showed us our cute little meters, and we all plugged in the needles and learned how to lock and load the stabbers, then we DID IT (yeah, I felt it and yeah it hurt for a millisecond) and I closed my eyes when I heard the beep just praying for something good, and it was…. 85!
EIGHTY-FIVE!!! WHICH IS WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE GET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was like, woo hoo, under my breath. Because everyone else was getting 106, 127, 135, 178, etc etc and I was SO HAPPY and relieved because that means that my Metformin is working! I haven’t had a reading of less than 100 EVER. So I was very, very happy. And the nurse went around collecting our numbers and I said ’85’ and she had to look at my meter to be sure I wasn’t making it up. Ya the hoo!!
Then I went home and had lunch. (whole wheat English muffin with cheddar cheese, in case you’re interested) I came to work. After about an hour, I tested again and it was…. 109!!!!!! Which is freaking fa-bu-los-a!!
Thank you Metformin. Thank you exercise. Thank you blood glucose meter for letting me know that I’m not at death’s door, or on the verge of losing my feet, after all.
I am officially in love with my blood glucose meter now. Because now I feel like I can check it anytime I have a question about ANYTHING, and I can just… see what happens. I’m going to learn stuff. I am actually very, very excited.
foodfoodbodybody 
April 7, 2009 at 8:34 pm
So glad it went well today. See, you ARE on the right path already! You know what you need to do and have clearly accepted the Diabetes. But more important, you have taken action! And you took action before you even knew for sure if you had it.
So give yourself a big pat on the back, and a big hug, and be proud of yourself, your outlook and the good things you are doing to your body. Trust me, love your body and it will love you back.
Looks like it already is 🙂
April 7, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Great news!!!
April 7, 2009 at 8:37 pm
You know what?? More than anything your wonderful, positive attitude will do wonders for you. I am so glad it went well!
April 7, 2009 at 8:37 pm
First off I’m not a diabetes educator. I do have a type 1 diabetic brother.
I’m assuming you’re type 2?
Forget about what you cant eat. It is crap anyway. Give your body real food!
Stay out of the middle of the grocery store (unless your buying tea)! ADA and American Heart are in food industries pockets and endorse tons of crap that’s terrible for you, so go logo blind.
Once you make the choice to give up the products that say:
(Insert name) flour
Corn syrup
You’ll never look back. There is life after bread. Trust me on this.
April 7, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I’m so glad it went well, Foody. When I had GD, the info classes really were invaluable. I learned so much. I learned a lot about what I could eat and what I couldn’t ever eat (all based on my numbers) and generally how to manage. There’s a lot of information (and misinformation) out there but the diabetes center was able to give me some clear guidelines, which helped a lot. They were also able to dispell some of the fears and myths I was dealing with and that also helped a lot. I have a huge rant about a particular dietitian who had no experience with pregnancy or Gestational Diabetes, but that’s for another day.
Anyway, you’re doing great and I’m proud of you for facing this head on and doing everything you can to be well. I know it’s scary but you’re going to be all right.
April 7, 2009 at 9:25 pm
SO glad to hear it went well. good for you 😉
April 8, 2009 at 1:58 am
You’d be surprised at how powerful denial can be! Sooo glad it went well for you. 🙂
April 8, 2009 at 12:51 pm
You’re bringing me back to when I was so excited when I was dianosed 5 years ago! You have a great attitude. Keep it up! I watch my carb intake and take my BGL to monitor how MY body processes food. You’re going to get a lot of advice as to what you should and shouldn’t eat. Definately take it and try it out but the determining factor is what’s best for YOUR body. How you feel and your meter will guide you! 🙂 You’re in the learning stage now…how fun, experiement with times and different foods. Also VERY important to know what your BGL is before and after exercise so you can figure out what and when you should eat something.
April 8, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I am so so so proud of you. You’re a Diabetes Warrior for sure!
April 8, 2009 at 2:16 pm
So glad that you got to the diabetes class – and being a Type 2 who turned into a Type 1, I personally know that diabetes is not a death sentence, but it does take time to manage.
I love http://www.calorieking.com because I weigh all my food, type it in the night before (I am a total food planner) and then I know exactly how much insulin to take.
But believe me, this was a work in progress, and everyone is different. My doctor and I spent MONTHS trying to come up with the perfect ratio of units of insulin to carbs, and it turns out that I take 1 unit of insulin for every 5 carbs. I am happy to say that my 30 day average is 122!!
I plan to check on you every day!! Hang it! 😀
April 8, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Thanks EVERYONE for the great supportive comments. I especially am grateful to the other diabetics- biz, Someday, heide- for the tips and welcome. I’m ready for this!
April 9, 2009 at 1:59 am
Good for you! I knew you’d be successful at this… You are going to end up so much healthier because of this, I just know it.
Oh, and by the way, I have taken metformin before. It’s a good drug. My gyno thought/thinks that I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which actually has many similar symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes.
April 9, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I’ve been on Metformin for about 8 years now due to PCOS. I was on it for about 3 years before crossing over the line into Diabetes. My doc told me that Metformin is good for insulin resistance. She also said they really don’t know if PCOS casuses insulin resistance or if insulin resistance casues PCOS but they definately go hand in hand….