Please share any thing you wish you had known, or that someone had told you when you first were diagnosed with diabetes. Perhaps we can make it easier for someone by sharing what we maybe had to learn the hard way!
My advice is to read. Read read read! The more you are armed with information, and understanding of the disease, and your options, the better care you will be able to get. There are plenty of resources on the internet, as well as books in the library or availble from places like Amazon. There is a list of recommended books on here as well.
After reading, the next most important advice I have to share is to exercise. Test your glucose before and after walking for 30 minutes, and you will be amazed. Especially if you are newly diagnosed and just in the process of getting your glucose levels down to normal. A 30 minute walk when I first was diagnosed might reduce my sugar levels 60 points or more. It was a powerful motivator! Even if you are one of the unusual ones who don't see such a reduction, keep in mind that exercise does help the cells be more sensitive to insulin, tones up your heart which can help protect you from one of the major complications of diabetes, heart disease. You also just FEEL better...so give it a go!
Hi evryone.. my advice is to take a class in diabetic info and nutrition..i thought i knew all i needed and my dr persrcibed this 4 day class offered by our local hospital..it was 2 hrs every day for 4 days and my insurance paid for it..this was 2 yrs after i had been diagnosed and i sure dragged my feet about it.. boy was i surprized at how much i learned..they covered everything and i was so glad i went..i learned about carbs and sl and exercise and special needs for a diabetic and nutrition and recipes and the whys and what nots.. well worth the time and expence.. rosey
I am so glad you mentioned this. I am newly diagnosed just on the 15th of this month. I see the doc this Friday after controlling my diet and exercise for 2 weeks. I will ask him about classes. I have been haunting nearly every site I could find for information. Diabetes is a daunting and depressing thing to deal with. I am trying to find out everything I can.
I was diagnosed with a mixture of diabetes 1 and 2, just at the end of Feb. I've had a month and a half to get used to things and better eating habits, fighting the depressed feelings and all. After helping my twin who was diagnosed over 10 years ago, I felt like I knew what I needed to as well. I went to the diabetic class and I agree that was a really good thing. They even served us food so we could see first hand about serving sizes and that you can get full by not eating so many starchy foods. Replacing the bulk of starches on your plate with a green salad, sugar free jello, another veggie, but still being able to eat carbs! The class was wonderful and I recommend it fully. I think along with the class, and reading about ALL the info on the internet (reliable sources of info, that is) has really helped me feel more in control. AND, when I do well, for the past 2 weeks my BG levels have been pretty much where they are suppossed to be and it makes me feel that much better!
Location: somewhere over the rainbow!!! in georgia
Posts: 37
S/C/G: 235/135
Height: 5'4"
Hello, I'm experiencing increased unrination, increased appetite, & blurry vision...I'm a good 100 lbs overweight, so odds are it all finally caught up with me. I'm pretty mad at myself right now, but I'll go to the doctor. Meanwhile, I better get serious about this diet & exercise thing.
Oh . . . sorry to hear your symptoms, chickie . . . they are classic. Blurry vision was the symptom that finally got me diagnosed (better than 16 years ago now). Get to the doctor as soon as you can. Diabetes is nothing to fool around with, but it is controllable. You are on the right track with the diet and exercise. Even a 10% weight loss can make a lot of difference. Good Luck . . .
Tips for the Newly Diagnosed
