The year was 1967 and I was 3 years old. At the time I was the youngest of 5 children in a tight knit Catholic family. My mother was pregnant with her 6th, and last, child. All was right with the world for the Newhouse family.
Then, it happened! Both my brother Dan and I had developed the mumps and 6 months after that our lives changed forever.
My parents noticed that we both seemed to be tired all the time and we had no energy. At first they thought it was the flu or some other childhood illness.
Then my brother and I started exhibiting symptoms that weren't so normal. We both were thirsty all the time and we were running to the bathroom constantly. Both of us started losing weight even though we always seemed to be hungry and were eating all the time. My parents learned the hard way that the following symptoms were the classic symptoms of Diabetes.
They took us to the pediatrician with these symptoms.
1. Extreme thirst all the time
2. Running to the bathroom constantly
3. Lethargic, always tired and grumpy
4. Increased appetite and consumption of food
5. Loss of weight
6. Vomiting
7. Slow healing of minor abrasions and cuts
8. Blurred vision and or floaters in the field of vision
2. Running to the bathroom constantly
3. Lethargic, always tired and grumpy
4. Increased appetite and consumption of food
5. Loss of weight
6. Vomiting
7. Slow healing of minor abrasions and cuts
8. Blurred vision and or floaters in the field of vision
Now keep in mind that we had no history of diabetes in our family and at the time diabetes wasn't at the epidemic levels it is now. My parents really had no idea what might be wrong with us. The doctor sent us in for some blood tests and eventually we were both diagnosed with Type 1, insulin dependent, Diabetes. It was a disease that would alter our lives forever.
One of my earliest memories is being in Buffalo Children's Hospital and having to learn how to give myself a shot. They made us practice on an orange.
We were not allowed to leave the hospital until we were able to give ourselves an injection. Imagine being 3 years old and having to stick yourself with a needle. I really can't remember what I was thinking at the time, but I do know it wasn't pleasant.
Over the last 45 years I have seen the treatments and monitoring of the disease change greatly. My brother and I have lived through most, if not all, of the major complications of the disease.
Just through practical applications I have become somewhat of an expert in diabetes and have learned firsthand the hideous nature of the complications that can accompany this disease.
By writing this article I want you to be a benefactor of my life's journey down this Diabetic road and learn from it, so you don't have to suffer from mistakes I have made. My hope is that you will take this knowledge and use it to make your life, or the life of someone you know with the disease, more sustainable and more enjoyable.
The following are tips I have developed that should help you to live gladly with your diagnosis.
1. You have to have the "How can I?" attitude. You need to leave the "I can't!" attitude behind in the dust. A positive attitude is the key to dealing with any chronic illness.
2. Don't panic! You are not alone! You are not the first and you won't be the last to go through this illness. Does it suck, yes! Will self-pity and worry and anxiety help you get better, NO! In fact those things will actually make your condition worse.
3. Research the disease! Today there is so much knowledge and understanding of this disease that wasn't available back in 1967. The research and information is available and only a click or phone call away. Research the disease and don't get scared by the "possible" complications.
Complications are only things that "may" happen. They are not things that "are" going to happen. Don't waste your time worrying about something that may or may not happen. Again I say "It is a waste of your valuable time!"
4. First things first, you need to start seeing an Endocrinologist. This is a doctor who specializes in glandular diseases like diabetes. This is all they deal with and they know the disease and its treatments inside and out.
Continue seeing your Primary Care doctor but I recommend you ask him to send you to the specialist. He may want to just treat you from his office, but if it was me, and it is, I chose the specialist.
5. Follow the specialist's recommendations! For your own good, do what he tells you to do.
6. This process is going to take time and like any new process it is going to take you time to get use to it. Be patient and don't beat yourself up over your numbers being out of control. You will get through this just like the rest of us got through it.
7. Check your blood sugars regularly. In the morning, before and after you eat, and at bedtime. Keep good records of these readings. Don't worry about this because all the new glucose monitoring machines keep track of your readings and give you averages of your blood sugar levels.
8. Stay focused and set goals in your treatment. Work toward those goals and write the goals down and look at them every day.
9. I would recommend getting an insulin pump as opposed to giving yourself shots 3 or 4 times a day. This is my personal preference. The first 35 yrs or so I was on injections and then I switched to the pump and I found it gave me back some of my freedom that I didn't have with shots. Talk to your doctors about this and go with their recommendations.
10. This next one is something I want you to pay attention to closely. After you get yourself under control (all your numbers have been under control and you are feeling better), have the doctor check your kidney function and ask to have your retinas looked at by a retina specialist (Not just a normal optometrist.).
These are two of the areas where complications develop first. It is a good idea to get them checked on a regular (yearly?) basis. This first check acts as a starting point so the doctors know what everything looked like at the start of your disease and they can use this as a comparison to determine if you are experiencing any changes over the coming years.
The other reason you want to do this is that if they catch things early they can actually work to prevent things from getting worse.
11. Remember you are not your disease! You are a loving caring human being handpicked by God to be you. Every day you must count your blessings, proclaim your rarity and live your life to its fullest today! This is the only day you have, you can't change the past and there is no guarantee any of us will be here tomorrow. Do not let what might happen in the future ruin your present. Live gladly today and let tomorrow take care of tomorrow.
Be where you are when you are there! In saying this I give credit to Father Bob Hunt and books by Og Mandino.
Diabetes is a disease you can live with it just takes time and patience and the right mental attitude. Remember it is up to you to get all the patient education and counseling you can get to help you survive this disease. I would recommend googling the disease and finding support groups and join them.
Learn from others experiences and mistakes so you can be ahead of the game. Knowledge is power and it is up to you to get that knowledge so fear cannot rule your life. This is what I mean by patient education and counseling. Be strong and live gladly this is the only day you have.
Don't let any problem dictate how you are going to feel mentally. You alone control your thoughts and therefore your feelings. Be well my friends and God speed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=W._New
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