I am 24 and I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes less than a year ago. It’s funny how you get this feeling deep inside that you know something isn’t right. You find away to tell yourself that everything will be okay. You finally receive the letter from your GP telling you that they want you to make an appointment to talk about your recent blood test results but not to worry because it’s routine. When you finally walk into your GP’s office and you ask him ” So, do I have diabetes?” and then he says “yes, type 2 but with the proper diet and exercise it is reversible” the first thing I asked him was ” do I need too take insulin”? I was on medication but it was stopped because my blood test results indicate non-diabetic but I am a diabetic. I’m still on the fence about whether being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is a good thing or not?
My life before my diagnosis was just as bad, I had no direction and health problems left and right. I never really took good care of myself and I enjoyed life by eating out. Diabetes is the type of disease where you need to love yourself because if you don’t, then you might as well have that ice-cream and doughnut that you know you can’t have. I have been very lucky to have easy access to free diabetic services and extra support. Being a type 2 diabetic is like an emotional roller coaster ride that can be unpredictable. I think about my diabetes 24/7, it’s like a dark cloud that is always there and sometimes it’s like a downpour of negative emotions. Sometimes you say to yourself ” I’m going to die anyway” and I end up eating everything I shouldn’t. I already have a history of diseases from both sides of my family and especially the heart. I have a strong family history of diabetes, heart disease and kidney. Sometimes I think that being the only one diagnosed with diabetes in my family was some cruel joke. I am still having the hardest battle of my life with nutrition and exercise because maybe it’s just easier to push away the people who want to help you.
My battle has just begun but I know that it’s just the beginning and like every good story there are always up’s and down’s but I know I’m in charge of my ending.
