Diabetic nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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I found out a few years ago I was a diabetic. I had one blood sugar in the md office that was 203. That is what started my journey through this disease. I have to say I have been lucky in all that time my disease has been diet controled. My biggest problem until lately has be hypoglycemia.

Well now my sugars are creeping up. I checked it tonight it was 226. I can't talk to my family about this because they do not understand. My biggest problem is I am allergic to nutrasweet. I do not want to whine. Ok, maybe I do. Everything sugar free has nutrasweet. I found one Ice tea company with sweet and low instead of nutra-sweet (aka aspertame, asperflume anything with asper in it basically).

I should know how to handle this and what to; I do it for my patients. Problem is now it is me and I just want to sit and cry.

I have nightmares of sliding scales and insulin injections I do not want that!!!!!!!

Like I said my family does not understand. My mom told me it was easy I could do it. Imagine never drinking a soda again, or eating a candy bar just because you feel like it.

My husband tells me you just do what you have to do to get better all the while munching on chips-a-hoy cookies.

I did do something positive I made an appointment with the diabetes educator at work. I have an appt on July 3. I need help to change my life style I guess. I know what I have to do I guess now if I can only do it that is the question.

Thank you for allowing me this forum to vent my feelings! :o

susanmary

656 Posts

Becky, I think it's a great idea to meet with a diabetic educator. I would also recommend making an appointment(s) with a registered dietician -- he/she should be able to help you find acceptable foods (and take account your allergies.) The BIG picture is your good health. The LITTLE picture is what you have to do to maintain your good health -- diet, exercise, etc. You need to put yourself first -- it doesn't matter who is eating what --they don't have diabetes. Meet with the diabetic educator, consider the dietician recommendation -- then keep a journal, write down everything you eat, your blood sugars, exercise, etc --you should be able to see trends. You will also become more aware of your eating habits.

Find the BEST endocrinologist and schedule regular appointments. As a vascular nurse who deals with multiple diabetic patients on a daily basis, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to see an endocrinologist that you have good repore with. And then follow his/her advice. When the time comes that your diet and exercise don't keep your blood sugars within acceptable ranges -- then you may need to start oral agents or insulin. Insulin is not the enemy -- it's what you may need to do to keep yourself healthy. How healthy can you feel right now with hyperglycemia? You know the long-term effects of uncontrolled blood sugars -- I think it's great that you are taking control and taking action.

You are not alone in this. You need to find your support -- you may not find it in your family -- "you look fine" -- therefore you are not really "sick." They own their actions/behaviors -- you own yours and need to focus on your well-being. Finding a support group might help. You need to continue to make small steps towards your goal of "normal blood sugars" -- one step at a time. When you are having a "boo-hoo" moment -- take a walk & focus on the positive things in your life. Diabetes is something you have -- it is not who you are -- it does not own or define you ... By making YOURSELF and your health top priority, you will ultimately feel much better -- both physically & mentally. You can and will do it. So be kind to yourself, do not get hung up on the moments you fall behind a bit -- just pick yourself up and keep going. You will do just fine ... hang in there.

Keep us posted. There are many hugs and prayers being sent your way....

beckymcrn

145 Posts

Thank you for the vote of support. I do have a great doctor I can talk to and who moniters my diabetes. I found out the diabetes educator I am seeing is also a nutritionist.

Today was a better day than yesterday and tomorrow is another day.

I very much appriciate your support and I will keep you posted.:)

Rockchick

2 Posts

I feel for you, and good luck try and keep smiling i know it can be hard through difficuit times.

das

30 Posts

Excellent replies!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so proud to hear all the support and appropriate information given. I am married to a diabetic and have 2 close friends(both nurses) who are diabetics. I also have a 2 yo nephew newly dx in Feb. All are insulind dependent and none of them look on it as a negative. Just learn to adjust and go with the flow. There are so many resources and specialists out there. My husband and one friend wear insulin pumps and they have found flexability in life and food. Hang in there and it will work out. Good luck!!

Louie18

176 Posts

meet pockets

Noney

564 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

Becky

Diabetes runs in my faimly so I worry that I'll also be your position some day. Can you use splenda? I have a feeling it's going to be appearing in more products. And actually you can have an occasionally small serving of pop provided you plan the rest of your diet around it. Perhaps 2 or 3 ounces with supper once a week. Mention it to the diabetic educator or dietician if its important to you.

We're all good at knowing what the other person should do. It's hard when it's you.

Best of luck

avigail

25 Posts

Becky,

C'mon, it's not that bad. I am a nurse with Type I diabetes (34 years without complications and counting!). Nutrasweet is bad for you, anyway. There's Splenda (a reconfigured, indigestible sugar molecule) and stevia (a plant so sweet it hurts to eat- okay, I'm no poet but stevia is also said to be good for diabetics). There are tons of recipes for fat and sugar free eating. As for diet, I'm a vegan. I eat no animal products whatsoever. I know you are concerned about fitting dietary changes into your lifestyle, but the infamous "they" say that it's easiest to make major changes in one fell swoop than to try to do it piecemeal.

You might miss candy bars, it's true, but consider that most chocolate products are produced by slave labour! Yes, it's true. Little African children locked into factories (I kid you not) make most of the cocoa used in chocolate products the world over. There exist sugar-free chocolate syrups, but I do not partake of any chocolate.

I recommend reading a book such as John Robbin's Diet for a New America or The Food Revolution. There's also Eat More, Weigh Less by Dean Ornish. The latter book is written to help people reverse (yes, reverse!) heart disease, but it's great for diabetics as well. Since heart disease is what usually does diabetics in (well, I'd prefer to pop off with a massive MI before I end up blind and on dialysis- sorry, sick Type I humour), there is value in following this diet. Unfortunately, diabetic educators do not seem to include stringent regulation of fat consumption alongside carbohydrate counting. The fact is that no matter how well blood sugars are controlled, fat metabolism is altered in all diabetics. I try to eat less than 10 Gms of fat daily. I do occasionally indulge in candy like gummi bears or jelly beans, but this is rare.

Anyway, do a little consciousness raising about the politics of food and you may find it much easier to make dietary changes from that perspective, rather than feeling forced to comply. There is also alot of dietary research coming out that indicates that certain food products engender endorphin release. Those foods you think you can't live without are usually in this category. The good news is that once you cease consuming them, the cravings go away (yes, even for chocolate).

Finally, I cannot overstate the importance of exercise. This is the best regulator of blood sugar there is. It also helps relieve stress, which may be why your blood sugar went up.

Best of luck!

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