Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brian45 on March 1, 2012 at 10:01am

Thanks again for the sound advice brokenpole; I'm sure this will be one of my many posts to come on my journey to acceptance and dealing!

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on March 1, 2012 at 4:35am

I agree with everybody else. T2, like T1, is genetic in it's cause. If the genes are there, they are there. Re lifestyle stuff, it's better to regret something you have done than something you haven't?

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Permalink Reply by Whirlygig on March 1, 2012 at 8:33am

The article Ann linked to is amazing. I've felt a lot of guilt over the years as to what I did to cause this. I know I have bad genes but lets face it, 34 is not when most people are diagnosed with T2. When I was diagnosed I got really depressed because I thought I had caused it to come on so early. I was in a normal weight range and above average in activity. My diet was pretty good too.

It took me a little time to quit beating myself up and accept that this is the hand I was dealt and I needed to handle it. I am now 13 years after diagnosis and I still have my moments. You need to realize that you are not to blame and no matter what you had done T2 would have appeared in your life. I think of it along the lines of other health conditions. You would never tell someone with a peanut allergy that they had done something wrong and that's why they'll die if they eat peanuts. It's just some anomaly in their body that causes this to happen.

The idea that T2 is a fat people disease is wrong. I wish the media and even the medical community would stop perpetuating this myth. I really wonder how many people don't get diagnosed because they are within normal weight range.

I just found this forum too. It is the most supportive place I have found since many other forums seem to really push the "keep lowering the carbs until your BS is normal" which doesn't always work. Sometimes it takes meds to do it and you shouldn't be made to feel like a failure if that is what your body needs.

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Permalink Reply by Brian45 on March 1, 2012 at 9:57am

Thanks Whirlygig for the positive feedback; every post goes a long way to feeling more comfortable during this stressful time.

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Permalink Reply by LaGuitariste on March 1, 2012 at 10:20am

Regret can be toxic, Brian45. It can keep you wallowing in bad habits. It can keep you stuck. It can keep you circling the drain instead of climbing up and out and doing what you have to do NOW to take care of yourself. It's OK to indulge in a bit of regret, but pretty soon you need to chop it up for kindling and use it to light a fire under yourself to do what needs doing. There's no guarantee that you wouldn't have gotten full-blown diabetes no matter what you did then. However, I can guarantee that if you don't start taking excellent care of yourself NOW, you will regret it in the future.

Learn how to keep your blood glucose as normal and possible NOW and DO it. We're all in the same boat. We'll help. We'll support you. We can't change the past, but we can do our best today for a better tomorrow.

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Permalink Reply by Brian45 on March 1, 2012 at 11:40am

Thanks a lot LaGuitariste for the much needed advice!

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Permalink Reply by BadMoonT2 on March 1, 2012 at 10:54am

The reason you feel the way you do is the constant media drumbeat about diabetics causing their disease, in Jenny Ruhl's words it is indeed a "Toxic Myth"

You did not cause your diabetes, but you are in charge of dealing with it now that you have it. The good news is that you can get your blood sugar under control using changes in diet, exercise and with the addition of medication if needed.

On another page of the bloodsugar101 website Jenny explains the "eat to your meter system". This was the single most important thing I read after diagnosis. The improvement in my blood sugar was dramatic and happened very quickly.

Read every page of the bloodsugar101 website, use it to set your targets and devise a meal and exercise plan. Books I found useful were "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" by Gretchen Becker and "The Diabetes Solution" by Dr. Richard Bernstein.

Dealing with diabetes is a marathon not a sprint. To help with motivation I find frequent testing a real help, as it gives instant feedback concerning the effect of your food choices. The other big help I have found is active participation in tuD.

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Permalink Reply by jims on March 1, 2012 at 11:34am

Welcome aboard.

I would not beat yourself too hard.

As old goat of 64+ and 30 years as type 2, my take is much more succint.

Our day and age today; we have a 24/7 supply of high quality refined foods, carbs, grains, sugars and massive labour saving tools.

On top of that we all have body organized to prevent starvation not worry/cope with over supply of energy. My family, parents - what worry about energy consumption balance and limitation - not a chance. When I was detected 30 years ago - very lttle data or thinking to get on correct path. WHo knew.

Your fault - no dam way.

All you can do is march forward from today, learn all you can about the problem, get a good doctor/diabetes team, good carbs control/diet and hearty exercise to better manage the "problem".

As one who ended up with stroke, body in a mess and in last 4 years getting mess under control and rolling again, there is much one can do to turn mess around even when hour is late. Blame is not one of them nor usefull.

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Permalink Reply by Brian45 on March 1, 2012 at 11:44am

Thanks jims for the encouragement and glad to see you are rolling again! Wish you continued success!

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Permalink Reply by Brian45 on March 1, 2012 at 11:45am

Have been researching the site and lots of good info-thanks for the reply!

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