Susie�s 'D' Story
written by Susie
Much of your poetry brought tears to my eyes.
As a type 2, I feel very stigmatized by those who feel that I should have taken better care of myself. Many people with type 1 have also expressed these feelings as well. However, with my genetics, both of my parents are 2s, and my asthma which necessitates me inhaling and ingesting steroidal based meds, I developed D at 45 years of age. I still must take these other meds and my pancreas is just not functioning as well as it should.
I was not new to D at 45. I had gestational D at 34 when I was pregnant with my son. I took a great deal of insulin at that time, spend much of my pregnancy in the hospital, and was warned by my endo that I would most likely develop D down the road.
My D was "under control" for almost 2 years after dx'd, until this summer when I developed a viral infection that wouldn't quit. I was on several series of antibiotics from August through November and my BG was on a roller coaster.
Since then, I am taking considerably more meds to control the D. The illness appears to have "hurt" my pancreas so that it is producing less insulin. I strictly adhere to my diet and do all of the "right things", but the disease has certainly progressed. I know that I will probably need to go on insulin, as my mother has.
Thanks for "listening" Gary and not judging me.
Susie
Gary, It never ceases to amaze me that, although most of us diabetics are type 2s, so few feel that they need the support of other diabetics. Perhaps it is because most of us do not need to inject ourselves....just pop pills. I have had difficulty finding support groups, even in my large city, in which other 2s participate. I have seen the devastation that diabetes can cause within my own family, where type 2 runs rampantly. I have seen loved ones lose their vision, limbs, and use of their kidneys. I fear that many 2s do not take care of themselves as they should because they are "only borderline diabetics" (that's like being kind of pregnant) or don't have the "bad diabetes" (I haven't found the good diabetes yet!). If you feel that it would help someone else to see "my story", please include it amongst the others. Thanks for listening and understanding.
Susie