Delightful Diabetes

Delightful Diabetes.  What kind of fool came up with that? It's an oxymoron - 2 seemingly opposite concepts linked together. Please allow me to explain.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February of this year. (A grand birthday gift that was!) My doctor had been watching blood glucose levels starting to rise, and informed me that I had become diabetic, or was in the prediabetic stage, at least.

Apparently, many people are shocked or go into denial when they are given this verdict. For some reason I wasn't overly surprised. My reasons may not have been valid, but, nevertheless, I took this pronouncement with equanimity.

Since then, my doctor referred me to an endocrinologist, and I have seen her a couple of times now. On my first visit, I commented that, if the doctor is concerned with tracking down "bad" chemical developments in the body, wouldn't that make her an "endocriminologist?" She laughed and said that she'd have to tell her husband, because he'd enjoy the comment.

I don't wish to imply that this experience has always been a joyride - it hasn't. There are certain ups and downs: new diet regimen, finger sticks, and trying to stick to a schedule for both of these. After the first month, when I had some difficulty convincing the diabetes and nutrition education group that my insurance did cover such classes under certain circumstances (which included mine), I began to research, read and study on my own. After all, if I'm going to live with diabetes (or even just the possibilities of diabetes) I should get to know and understand it as well as I can. I've searched the internet for information and resources. I've printed out pages and pages of information, and have ordered more fact sheets and booklets from sources listed. I have purchased several books.
I showed my doctor the thick notebook I have assembled with all this information, and she commented that I was compulsive-obsessive. (It's true, when I get involved in something, I always go all out.)

This blog will be my account of my "journey" and my "discoveries." I do this for two reasons. First is to make sure that I understand as fully and accurately as possible - for a layman, anyway. Second, perhaps these thoughts will help others who find themselves in the same diabetes boat with me.

We may indeed reach the conclusion that there is such a thing as delightful diabetes after all.