I am a 29-year-old woman and I was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in early October. Even though I was just recently diagnosed, if I look back on my symptoms, I think it probably has been going on for two years or more. It just took me that long to break down and see a doctor about it.
I think a variety of things contributed to my diabetes. For starters, yes, I am overweight. Second, most of the adults on my father’s side of the family have type 2 diabetes, including my dad. I guess it hit me at a younger age because of my weight. On top of that, the last two years of my life have been very stressful. I have been out of work and spending a lot of time at home thinking, worrying, being sedentary, and eating junk. I recently read that stress can raise blood sugar levels, so all of these things combined just did me in.
When I went to the doctor in October, my blood sugar was 250 (after fasting for twelve hours) and my A1C was 9.7. I am now taking 500 mg of metformin once a day, and I walk at least 30 minutes a day, sometimes more if I can. I have lost 16 pounds since then, and my goal is to lose about 50 more and get down to a good BMI.
Luckily the metformin doesn’t seem to give me any intolerable side effects, at least not so far.
These days, when I get up in the morning, my blood sugar is around 110, sometimes slightly higher. After I eat, it will sometimes spike up to 170 or so, depending on what I eat. I have gone mostly low carb since my diagnosis, so it’s very frustrating to me to see it go up so high after eating. If I walk after eating, then it will go all the way back down to 100. I get so frustrated with the huge fluctuations, but I guess that is what diabetes is all about, and I am still in the process of learning how to control it.
I have sacrificed most of my favorite foods and am trying to get used to a low carb diet. I don’t touch bread, crackers, chips, potatoes, bad starches, and of course, nothing made with sugar. The only sugar I do allow myself is a green apple or pear, once a day. My daily apple has now become what candy used to be to me, such a treat. I eat a lot of eggs and raw nuts for snacks. One problem for me is that I do not like meat. In fact, I was a vegetarian for some time, mostly for ethical reasons. I have had to add meat back into my diet and I struggle with that at times.
Anyway, that’s my story. I am looking forward to talking with everyone here about the ups and downs of the process. I have some concerns at the moment that I will post elsewhere. Nice meeting you all.