momopi said:
I have been put on mandatory diet plan, exercise plan, low-carb plan, and target weight loss 10 lbs in 2 months before I go back for another test.
No pastries, doughnuts, bagels, chocolate chip cookies, freshly baked bread pudding, ice cream, costco pizza, ramen, jajangmyeon...
Oh, dear. I really hope you steer clear of this, Momo. Diabetes is an ugly condition. Trust me, you don't want to live like that. No amount of jajawhatchyamacallit is worth it.
I help take care of a lady at my church who has it so bad, it has really messed up her life.
She is in renal failure because of diabetes. She has to go to dialysis a few times a week since a kidney transplant is out of the question. The waiting list is sooooo long and she's not a prime candidate.
She has to do insulin injections every time she eats. But she can't see the damned thing because the diabetes has affected her eyesight, making her legally blind. So, she guesses on the amount.
Since she's blind, she also can't drive herself to dialysis and is completely dependent upon others. I had to take care of her for 3 days when we were travel companions and roommates at a retreat last spring. It was stressful & exhausting after just one day. I don't know how she lives like this. Well, tbh - she doesn't...
She often administers the wrong dosage of insulin and at the wrong time, or not at all. She binges on sweets and gives herself an extra large dose of insulin to "make up" for it.
Since she can't see the markers on her syringe, she often guesses how much she's drawn up or asks others (me and perfect strangers) to do it. (I wouldn't want a complete stranger or someone not in the medical field managing my healthcare, but hey, that's me.)
She can hardly get around and needs golf cart or car transportation everywhere.
I slept next to her. She woke up in tears in the middle of the night due to leg cramps and aching - diabetic neuropathy. This was every night.
When she travels, she always has to have cold storage for her supplies. If cold storage is not available, that's a problem. I had to go hunt down a mini fridge & have it delivered to our room.
When her blood sugar gets low, she needs instant protein but she's not always prepared for that. Then she has to make someone else -- friend or stranger -- go find her some right away. She asked an elderly woman to walk about a quarter mile to a grocery store in 100 degree heat in an unfamiliar area to go get her some protein while I was in a different part of campus trying to find her some protein at a cafe but I wasn't fast enough for her.
I've seen all of these things and more. It surprised me every time how much it takes out of a person's life. Her doctor says she's on borrowed time.
Btw, I'm no better than you. I'm eating a Ding Dong as I type.
