How was it to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 27?
The diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes definitely got me off guard. I am this person from South India who is a big foodie and loves eating biryani. I don’t like sweets much when compared with spicy food. Likewise, I would die for mutton or lamb biryani. Food has always been a big part of me.
At the time of my diagnosis, I was not a higher weight person, and none of my immediate family members had diabetes. So in fact I had no clue I had diabetes apart from the symptoms I was experiencing, as mentioned in my Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.
I was in total shock for a few days after my diagnosis. Doctors called it adult-onset of diabetes, or Type 1.5 diabetes. I had no idea such a type even existed. So, I had to educate myself about my diagnosis type. Internet forums and research really helped me get grounded again.
Sometimes, I felt depressed to see people around me who were overweight, could eat loads of sweets and carbohydrates, and were just doing fine. On the other hand, I had to watch my portion of carbs and measure my blood sugar to make sure I was not overshooting. It was a stressful process until I accepted my condition.
What Lifestyle changes helped me manage my diabetes?
- Walking
I walked at least 5 kilometers a day to naturally reduce my morning blood sugar. This helped me get my HBA1C reading to a normal level.
- Mindful Eating
I started to be mindful of what I ate and how many carbohydrates my body could handle. This helped me get rid of most of my symptoms, such as tingling feet, difficult breathing, etc
- Acceptance
Accepting your diagnosis is one of the key factors that will help you move forward. At least, that is what helped me move forward with my lifestyle changes. We at least know that diabetes can be managed and controlled effectively with lifestyle changes rather than other aggressive diagnoses such as cancer, etc
- Practicing Meditation
Practicing Meditation will help you focus on the things that really matter rather than on all the things that could go wrong. This helped me to live at the moment now and here rather than worry about what would happen after 10 years.
To be continued….
Related Articles
Life with type 1.5 diabetes – Chapter 1
Life with Type 1.5 Diabetes – Chapter 2
