Friday 12 June 2009

When the Dr says 'I have bad news'

This morning I went to see my gp for the results of my recent blood tests.




As soon as I walked in she said ..........I am afraid I have to tell you something that I don't want to tell you.



Tests show that I am Diabetic




sniff sniff sob sob................my life has ended







Not really!!



My Dr didn't want to tell me this bad news but I am taking it in my stride just as I did the news that I had cancer. Maybe I am just odd but these things don't reduce me to a heap of tears. My attitude is ok so this is what I have now lets get on with dealing with it. It isn't something I can just pretend isn't there. It isn't something that will go away if I shut my eyes. It isn't a death sentence. I am trying to think of it as a new opportunity.


Being diagnose diabetic means that I now have a reason why I get tired so easily, I have a reason for all the trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I now have my medication which will help my body to cope with the symptoms that had previously gone untreated. Taking my medication, watching what I eat and increasing my exercise should help me to regain a slimmer figure. Plus it means I get free prescriptions and eye tests.


My Dr although worried about giving me the news is quite positive because as she says I am still young, I don't smoke, I am a 'trivial drinker', my blood pressure is good and I am willing to do what I can to keep this under control. My blood test results were also good apart from the glucose. My Cholesterol level is good (that surprised me) but there was one odd result. My thyroid instead of showing a tendency to be underactive was actually slightly overactive. I have to have another thyroid test in two months.


I have collected my tablets from the pharmacy Metformin hydrochloride 500mg once a day for 4 weeks then twice a day. The instructions say 'swallow whole: do not chew' fine I can manage that except I thought that before I saw how flippin big they are..........monster tablets how big do they think my mouth is? Apparently these will give me the runs so I have been advised to have them after rather than with food. As if I didn't have enough problems in that area.


So anyway instead of thinking of this as being the end of my life as I know it I am taking the attitude that this is the start of a new improved life.




I am feeling quite ok about it at the moment.

12 comments:

Dark Side said...

Sorry to hear that, but good to hear how positive you are about it too...xx

Unknown said...
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Lady in red said...

thanks DS.....no point in getting upset about it just have to live with it so may as well look on the bright side

Fire Byrd said...

Your attitude does you credit here lady.It won't beat you, you will beat it,more power to you.
xx

Anonymous said...

The Metformin causes low TSH (0.20) among the people with elevated thyroid antibodies; therefore TSH is not very reliable method of checking thyroid level; you need to check T4 for accurate results. You may still have low normal T4 and low TSH.
I have similar case in my family.

Anonymous said...

Atta girl! I like your positive attitude. I would have whined, whinged and bury my head in the sand for days on end... until someone shakes me out of denial and gets me on the right course. Anyway, thank God it's not the type of diabetes where you have to inject yourself with insulin everyday.

Mel said...

That attitude will serve you well. Already is!

Perspective--and yours is good.

nitebyrd said...

Sometimes, it's better to have the answer than not to know. Your whole attitude about this is going to make management so much easier. You're really amazing, LIR!

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am a silent reader. Had to comment on the diabetes. I got diagnosis 11/08 of insulin resistant (pre-diabetes). I take 1/2 of 500 mg metformin w/ morning and evening meals. Have lost 20 lbs already, did not get gastro issues. The early diagnosis is hidden blessing so you get to tackle it now not when it is so advanced.
Get your own glucose meter and figure out what elevates your sugars.
Once I figured it out (diet (types of foods), exercise, meds), my head is so much clearer - I was previously kind of foggy. Good luck and best wishes.

DJ Kirkby said...

Oh I do not understand where my comments go! I left a commetn for you yesterday about this, honest I did! xo

Fat Controller said...

I like your attitude, but you do need to make some changes to your lifestyle - like putting your needs first for a change!!!!

You might experience some transient changes in your eyesight (i.e. specs might not feel strong enough, or too strong) until the blood sugar is stabilised. This is quite common and nothing to be alarmed about, but you should attend for regular eye-examinations if only to have the retinas looked at (I'm not sure, but I think this is free on the NHS if you have diabetes).

Look after yourself.

F.C.

Glitterstim said...

Oh! I'm diabetic, too! Okay, so not the best thing to have in common, but sounds like it's manageable. I started with gestational diabetes, when I was pregnant with Daughter. Hit full-blown diabetes by 10 weeks, and they didn't test until 27 weeks. No wonder she was a big baby.... Three years later, as predicted by the doctor, I was diabetic on my own. I'm currently seeing the doctor every 3 weeks, to try to get it under control again. It's gone haywire lately....

Your attitude will help you tackle a lot. You can do this! I'm with you :o)

BJ