Did your diagnosis scare you?

Question

I found out recently that I have type II diabetes and find that I am scared to death. I had gestational diabetes and it was difficult, but knowing that it would end at the baby's birth really helped me face it. Now I don't really know what to do. Did anyone else experience this with their diagnosis?

Answer 1

i found out that i was a type 1 diabetes at 4 years old. i was not really scared because my dad is a diabetic too. i thought i was just like him. i grew up watching him take shots and checking his urine. i only got scared when i was 16 or so and started having problems. i am now 37 and i have had a double transplant due from kidney failure. so now i am nt a diabetic anymore but i lost my left leg because of diabetes also. i learned that if you are scared you loss focus. now i am just scared for my dad he is 63 and has heart problems. if you ever get the news that you are a diabetic all you can do it eat right ,exercise and follow what your doctor says. it is not a death sentence just a bump i the road.

Answer 2

I was diagnosed with Type 1 when I was 15. I don't really remember being scared. I was actually kind of relieved. I had been feeling really bad and I was so happy that something was going to make me feel better. My bs was almost 600 mg/dL when I was diagnosed. My parents probably wished it scared me a little more in my late teens. It probably would have made me take better care of myself. 11 years later and using the pump I have gotten back on track before I really hurt myself though. My mother told me when I was first diagnosed that I might feel out of place watching what I eat when I am young but by the time you get a little older everyone is watching what they eat for one reason or another. She was so right. Now I feel like being conscious of what I eat because I have diabetes is better than if it was for heart problems. At least with diabetes I can take my number and be assured that I am doing what is best for my body.

Answer 3

FYI: Type 2 diabetes CANNOT "turn into" Type 1 diabetes. They are 2 different diseases with different causes. A Type 2 who uses insulin is still a Type 2 diabetic. Their treatment has changed, but their disease has not.

I find that for some reason, many Type 2 diabetics get this confused.

Type 1 diabetes is a non-preventable severe form of diabetes that usually first appears in childhood. Insulin is always needed.

Type 2 diabetes is the common form linked to obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise. It is often (but not always) preventable. Insulin may or may not be needed. Usually diet, exercise, weight loss, and oral medications are tried first.

Two totally different diseases.

Answer 4

Yes, I was also afraid but I knew all my life from my family history that I would probably get it. If you want to stave it off as long as possible get lots of healthy exercise, maintain a good weight and eat properly. My grandmother was about 4'11" tall and weighed around 90 lbs. She had 4 children out on the farm without assistance. The smallest weighed 13 Lbs. on the feed scale. It wasn't until I was born almost 30 years later that she was diagnosed with diabetes. I was born right after Xmas and my grandmother was in a diabetic coma in the same hospital after eating all that good Holiday food. I always felt it was a premonition but it was really just genetics.

Answer 5

I can't honestly say that my diagnosis scared me. I do remember feeling surprised and angry...I felt like I had been betrayed by my own body.

However, I have always faced things head-on. The diabetes was just one more thing to add to the list. I attacked it and got control of it...before it could get control of me.

Diabetes is a shock to many people. Even those who know they are at risk for developing it often feel scared and unsure of what's going to happen to them. We always hear about so many terrible things that can happen to diabetics. At the same time, we also hear about people who live long and healthy lives because they accepted it and made it a part of their lives.

People ask me if I'm afraid to die. I'm not. I've been asked if I will die from diabetes. Who knows? We all die someday. I just live my life for as long as I have it.

One thing I learned about diabetes from early on really struck home...there are a lot of diseases that can take your life. Diabetes can take OVER your life. Whether or not you let it is entirely up to you.

EMT
Type 1, pump user

Answer 6

I have had type II for almost 20 years. It can be easy to deal with IF you follow the rules and eat the things you should and NOT the things you should not. My last 3 hb a1 c test have been 5.2 4.9 and 5.2 so if you are doing it right you should not be scared. I just means you should eat right and exercise and do the things you should be doing if you were diabetes free. NOW if you don't want to follow the rules, well then good luck. I plan to live for years and be happy. It's the prostate trouble that bugs me the most.

Answer 7

I was scared to death to begin with. Then found out that modern medicine can help me stay healthy even with diabetes. Just remember to exercise, eat healthy, count carbs and calories. The rest will fall into place. Go to dlife.com and get more info. It is a site dedicated to diabetes. I use it all the time.

Answer 8

Well Type II diabetes is still well within your means to be able to reverse/fight the disease before its too late (Meaning before you get to Type I, which means you will be Insulin dependant or have to depend on the needle to inject yourself). with eating the right types of foods and staying away from things like high fats/choloesterol/red meats, and excersice you will see that your numbers(Blood/Sugar Levels) will slowly but surely decrease. Remember that there is a food Pyramid for Diabetic Patients. Be sure to research this and other information pertaining to diabetes as much as possible. Knowledge is power!!!! and lacking it may make you scared, its like being in a dark room and not seeing the light. well that light is a metaphor for KNOWLEDGE.
Take care of yourself, your eye sight, your feet, and your overall well being because you are or can be as healthy as you maintaining a positive degree of confidence together with your Doctor's prescriptions and your excercise you can beat this!!!!!

Good Luck!!

Answer 9

I was diagnosed with Type 1 when I was 7 years old. I didn't really understand what it all meant, but my mom was crying in the doctor's office, and so I started crying, too. I wasn't really scared though - just confused by what was going on.

Answer 10

I spilled sugar during my pregnancy,but after inital fears realized the doc was very on top of my condition. My baby was 9lbs, so babies can be larger with that condition. I encouage you to trust your medical supporters and follow dietary guidelines.