I wonder what would have happened if I'd been diagnosed earlier sometimes. I figure the insulin resistance really kicked in when I was in university, in the late 90's. That's when the PCOS symptoms really began to show up - though I didn't realize it, of course.
It was masked during my marriage as I was on the pill. When I got off the pill after my marriage broke up and found I was still irregular, I didn't worry about it. Then I moved and didn't see a doctor for a good year or more. Then I go from 'I really should get a checkup' to 'Diabetic-but-not' in a few short months.
I remember reading a billboard about diabetes, back in the day on the way to class. One of those checklist ones. Sedentary lifestyle? Yes. Overweight. Yes. But I didn't have any history of diabetes in my family (I know differently now), I was young - far under 40, and I'm Caucasian. So I had two out of five, and those two were really just being out of shape. I never seriously considered I might have diabetes! And I certainly wasn't going to ask my doctor about it - I'm no hypochondriac!
Of course, I'd never heard of PCOS, or it's connection to diabetes. I figured at worst my irregular cycle meant I might have some fertility problems - and as I've always planned on adopting if I have kids, that wasn't a concern. I had one doctor mention that if it continued, I should get it checked out because it could mean 'something serious', but I assumed that was a reproductive 'serious' not a overall health one.
Hindsight is always clearer of course. And I enjoyed a lot of fine carbs in those undiagnosed years. If I'd taken my first trip to Georgia and not been able to enjoy the fabulous biscuits and creamed potatoes... And I had a lot going on in those years too - having to adjust my diet and test my blood sugar would have been an emotional and financial blow.
Instead, I was diagnosed at a time when I was in a good position to change my diet, I could afford to pay out of pocket for meter supplies, and I wasn't in any big emotional upheavals. I doubt I could have picked a better time to get diagnosed if I'd tried. And as I'm still at a pre-diabetic stage with good numbers, not too much damage was done in those years of minute rice and pizza pops.
I guess, looking back, things worked themselves out pretty well after all.
Showing posts with label diagnosis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diagnosis. Show all posts
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Diabetes Alert Day
Today is Diabetes Alert Day. I didn't know this until I saw it someone's blog, but then I'm generally unaware of diabetes-related awareness events.
I'm really not sure what you're supposed to do on them. I'm fairly open about my diabetes at work. More in a 'I really shouldn't be eating this chocolate bunny you brought in, but I have no willpower' sort of way, but I'm not in the closet over it. I'll answer questions if they come up, or include diabetes related stuff in my daily ramblings and rantings.
But to me it seems the height of rudeness to say to someone 'Hey, have you been tested?'. I mean, to me ones medical issues (or lack thereof) are a personal topic. If you wish to share, fine, but I'm not one for seeking them out.
At the same time, I do understand the need for testing. I wish I'd gotten my diagnosis ten years ago. I remember reading one of those 'these symptoms could mean diabetes' billboards years before I'd gotten tested. I never asked for a couple of reasons - I didn't know at that point that there was a history of diabetes in my family. I was overweight and sendtary, but I was young and didn't smoke, so I felt I wasn't really at risk. Also, I didn't want to seem like a hypochondriac asking my doctor if I maybe had a disease when I felt healthy for the most part, and did have some real medical issues.
It's very uncomfortable to me to go to a doctor and start suggesting what could be wrong. Especially if there are no "symptoms". I notice now that post-carb icky feeling, but I had to learn to pay attention to it, and to associate it with food.
So, in the interest of promoting awareness, here's my advice. If there is a history of diabetes in your family, make sure everyone knows. Your siblings, your kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, aunts.. everyone.
Second, talk to your doctor, especially if you're in Canada and there isn't a barrier to getting tests done if you do have some risk factors. There's value in knowing you DON'T have it, and if you do, the sooner you know, the better.
I'm really not sure what you're supposed to do on them. I'm fairly open about my diabetes at work. More in a 'I really shouldn't be eating this chocolate bunny you brought in, but I have no willpower' sort of way, but I'm not in the closet over it. I'll answer questions if they come up, or include diabetes related stuff in my daily ramblings and rantings.
But to me it seems the height of rudeness to say to someone 'Hey, have you been tested?'. I mean, to me ones medical issues (or lack thereof) are a personal topic. If you wish to share, fine, but I'm not one for seeking them out.
At the same time, I do understand the need for testing. I wish I'd gotten my diagnosis ten years ago. I remember reading one of those 'these symptoms could mean diabetes' billboards years before I'd gotten tested. I never asked for a couple of reasons - I didn't know at that point that there was a history of diabetes in my family. I was overweight and sendtary, but I was young and didn't smoke, so I felt I wasn't really at risk. Also, I didn't want to seem like a hypochondriac asking my doctor if I maybe had a disease when I felt healthy for the most part, and did have some real medical issues.
It's very uncomfortable to me to go to a doctor and start suggesting what could be wrong. Especially if there are no "symptoms". I notice now that post-carb icky feeling, but I had to learn to pay attention to it, and to associate it with food.
So, in the interest of promoting awareness, here's my advice. If there is a history of diabetes in your family, make sure everyone knows. Your siblings, your kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, aunts.. everyone.
Second, talk to your doctor, especially if you're in Canada and there isn't a barrier to getting tests done if you do have some risk factors. There's value in knowing you DON'T have it, and if you do, the sooner you know, the better.
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