Coping with diabetes
Whether you are newly diagnosed with diabetes or have had diabetes for many years, there are many self-care tactics that ordinary people just like you employ to manage their diabetes every day. Read what other people living with diabetes say about what tools they use in their day-to-day lives to meet their goals - or tell us your story about how you cope with diabetes.
My co-pays on my medications are so expensive that I can't afford to have them filled. And, I make too much money to get them for free.
If you’re on a search for healthy coping tips, first explore your options.
High blood sugar in the mornings had been tough for me to deal with in the past...I now feel a whole lot better, and my blood sugar in the mornings and before bed is almost normal.
Taking a positive outlook on diabetes and telling myself that I will beat it and not let it beat me helped me a lot.
I see that so many people just feel like giving up...I hope that all of you diabetics out there--young or old, type 1 or type 2--can find hope in this New Year.
When I found out that I had diabetes, I was scared--but I got over it. Now I'm trying to cope with staying on course.
I guess I can say that I am refusing to realize what could happen to my body by eating what I am not supposed to eat...I just cannot stop the donuts, candy, cake, pudding, etc.
There was a gentleman in the hospital at the same time that I was...He was almost 50 years older than I was, but we both shared the same anxiety about what the future would hold for us.
I have made myself spend at least 30 minutes a day walking or using an exercise machine. I was told if I stick to this, I could go another 10 to 15 years without insulin.
I have had diabetes for over 30 years and am, fortunately, very healthy. However, I go through periods of time when I just don't eat the way I should.
It was devastating to me to find out that I had diabetes. There was something on the inside that would not let me claim this disease...
If you have to have a serious disease, diabetes is the one to have, because we can control it...
I just turned 51 years old, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I had diabetes...I knew there was something wrong--but, I never thought that I'd have to stick myself twice a day and take pills.
I work rotating shifts at the local jail in my town. It is hard at times to even eat regularly. I'm lucky to get to eat. I get off work and am so exhausted I barely make it home. How do I exercise, work, and keep a positive outlook?
It has been an absolutely awesome surprise that I ended up having 4 children, have not gone blind, and have not lost my limbs...but here I am at 54 years old, still going strong!
Together with healthy foods and portion control, I can manage my blood sugar very well.
We all have a choice to make: clean up our act or allow our carelessness to take its toll.
I've dealt with diabetes for over 53 years. I'm here to tell you that you can have a rich and fulfilling life even if you are diabetic.
Insulin resistance from being overweight pretty much makes it impossible to lose weight--even when I am sick and hardly eating anything. It's a vicious cycle.
The hardest thing about having diabetes is not wanting to deal with the changes you need to make.
After my third battle in the hospital and wanting to have children, I went to a nutritionist and diabetes educator, started receiving magazines on diabetes, and decided to get my act together!
I am 79 years old and have had type 1 diabetes since I was 14 years old.
Since 1977, I have been a diabetic. Over the years, I feel I have done better than most with diabetes. I have worked for over 20 years. My body is in good shape from working and keeping myself in shape. Working has kept me in good shape. Treat your body with respect and you will get that respect back from your body.
I was diagnosed with diabetes 4 months ago. So far, I've been controlled by healthy eating, exercise, and blood glucose (sugar) monitoring. It's hard at times, because I have other conditions, such as yeast infections and kidney problems. I really don't want to take medication or get injections.
I remember the first signs suggesting I was a diabetic. I went temporarily blind for about one hour or so.
In just having the disease and dealing with it, I think you find strength deep within you--a determination to keep going.
It is a tough road, and every day has its challenges. However, this is one I am determined to work with--and not against.
I've been diabetic for almost 38 years and have always gone out of my way to take good care of myself.
If you look online, you can find meals with their food values figured out for you.
My father was a diabetic who managed his disease with oral medications. With 3 nurses in the family, you would think it was going to be easy. It was a daily trial.
Financially, I do not qualify for assistance, but I cannot afford the insulin.
I use a pump, and it has been a godsend...For me, insulin pumps have made living with diabetes manageable.
I am lucky to have been raised eating healthy and learning to care for my disease...We all have something to share with each other and are lucky to be alive.
I thought I escaped my family's inheritance of diabetes. But I have been a diabetic for about 2 weeks now, and I'm trying my best to cope with it.
I have type 2 diabetes. My problem is high blood sugar (glucose) in the morning. The rest of the day my blood sugar is in normal range. I would like to know what others have done to control high morning blood sugar.
The one consistent aspect of this disease is the "horror stories" about diabetes. Based on these stories, I should be blind and limbless and on kidney dialysis by now.
This is in response to the
story submitted by John B (age 77 years). You should contact the VA (US Department of Veterans Affairs) or DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to help you with a claim for Agent Orange exposure. They are compensating veterans for having diabetes. My brother is getting 60% for his.
My daughter, 17 years old now, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 6 years...She is not a happy teenager, and I need her to be one.
Diabetes can get you down, but with a positive attitude and loving and caring support, I have been able to keep the "why me syndrome" to a minimum.
I feel so very blessed that I have a disease I can get a handle on.
I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in January of 1970...I am doing very well and, at age 60, I have no plans for retirement.
I have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 33 years, and at 55 years old, I feel fairly healthy.
I read the
story about John C. from Miami, Florida. If he is a veteran and was in Korea or Vietnam, he should check with his VA (US Department of Veterans Affairs) representative, as type 2 diabetes is a service-connected disease.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last year and learned that I need to inject myself once a day. I was quite shocked, but what else could I do?
With dialysis treatments 3 times a week, I have to restrict my travel to cruising. I just completed a 7-day cruise to Alaska and received my dialysis during port stops.
I have trusted and relied upon God to help me and deliver me from a lot of the dreaded symptoms that come along with the disease.
Be an ADVOCATE!! Speak up about the problems we face to your local legislative representatives.
Find something to chuckle about, and laugh out loud. It is good for you.
I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 12 years old. I'm now 44...I write this note today to all those kids that have just been diagnosed, hoping that they realize diabetes will teach you a lot.
The pains, the tingling in my limbs — everything is wrong. Even my memory fails. I could go on and on.
I have experienced "invisibility"...My family doesn't understand, my friends don't get it. I feel as if I am on my own--invisible.
I have found that trying to deal with my diabetes is the hardest thing I have ever done.
As with other things, I have always known only we can change ourselves. The input from other people does work, but you need to filter out what will work for you.
Courtney and I are still trying to cope with diabetes. It is so hard without support groups. She was 7 years old when she was diagnosed 2 years ago. Courtney was placed on the pump 3 months ago. We are still struggling.
The best advice that I can give is to stay positive and stay focused… Never give up on yourself or your potential. See the good in every day and, most importantly, always have hope.
Testing and journaling can improve anyone's numbers. I follow a very strict food plan, energetic exercise plan, and a tightly controlled lifestyle now.
Please, please take all of your meds as prescribed! I know that is what I should have done, but I was in denial and thought that I could do what I wanted.
I have lost my big toe on my left foot and am now working on healing my right foot. I lost part of my foot on the right. It has been 3+ years. It became infected, and I went on a vac (vacuum therapy) system to clean it up. It is now healed, and I am walking with a cane and special shoe.
Don't give up!
I remember crying and crying after I was told I was diabetic. I wasn't going to see my doctor about that (diabetes) on that day, so what just happened?
I have been diagnosed with diabetes for a year now, and I find it very hard to stick with the food plan. It seems like it takes me forever to write the menus down and make sure the counts come out right. I just don't want to take the time to do it. How do you overcome this?
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 6 years old. I'm now 52 and last week finally broke down and started on an insulin pump.
This story is about my daughter...There have been so many people positively affected by her successes and, hopefully, more children will follow their dreams as well.
The room was so dark, I feared that I was going blind.
I have had type 2 diabetes for almost 3 years. The biggest problem I am encountering is I can't seem to lose any weight!
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 16 months, 55 years ago...I have been greatly blessed in coping with the demands of diabetes by being surrounded with caring family and friends.
I have been a diabetic since the age of 7...Being so young, I really didn't have a chance to miss out on anything. I just thought it was normal...
It is very hard for me to keep my diabetes in control, because I cannot afford to buy both insulins.
I am on an insulin pump and would not trade it. The pump allows you to live a more normal way of life, continuing to monitor every aspect of your diabetes...
The best thing I ever did with respect to diabetes was to go on insulin via injections.
My son is 12 years old and has been diabetic for 2-1/2 years now. He has ADHD, also. He still has problems understanding that he cannot hide foods that he eats...
I am a 77-year-old male...having a difficult time finding information on the real causes and just how common it is for people my age to have type 1 diabetes.
I am a 74-year-old male, and have recently had some drastic changes in my blood sugar...Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I know how difficult it is to keep it together, seeing other people eating and drinking without thinking about anything but the fun of it all.
I'm 19 years old and in my first year of college. I've been a diabetic for 6 years.
My philosophy is: KEEP IT SIMPLE. I do very well, but appreciate that my solution may not work for all.
It is hard to be a young adult living with diabetes. The temptation to eat and drink the wrong things is always present. I have learned, however, that with a little patience and care, I can at least control my diabetes. Many people in this world have no control over their diseases or ailments. I am glad that at least my diabetes can be controlled. It has helped me to become a more careful and mature adult.
I don't think people who are not diabetic understand a lot of what we feel and go through.
I've been a diabetic since 1986. I started out trying to control it with diet and exercise, then went to oral medication, then insulin injections and now I'm using an insulin pump.
I was washing dishes one night and thought to myself, I have a child and a husband and family who love me, what are you doing? I decided from that moment to take charge of diabetes and that it wasn't going to get the best of me for now
I didn't get any nutritional information or diabetes education after my diagnosis so I just continued on my merry way. It was the wrong way.
I used to test twice daily, but I found that I had trouble managing my blood sugars (glucose). I asked my doctor if I should test more often. I was told I could test four times daily.
Now I test before and after breakfast and dinner. I now have better control and my blood sugar readings are about normal for me. By the way, Medicare and supplemental insurance will cover my testing supplies.
I've been an insulin-injecting diabetic for over 47 years and have experienced many positive developments in the treatment and control of my condition.
During my pregnancy, I developed gestational diabetes, but unlike most cases, it did not disappear after the birth of my daughter.
Here is my freedom. I "have" diabetes, but it does not have me. I am NOT diabetic, as that would have the disease encompass my whole being, which it does not. I use a blood test machine and two [insulin] pens to control the disease, rather than the reverse, it controlling me.
I was diagnosed in 2000 with type 2 diabetes. I don't know many people so I have used the internet to gain a lot of information and support. Don't ever feel alone, because even if you don't know many people, support is only a click away. Good Luck!
In my life I have always been hard-headed and never settled for doing things the easy way. The same was true when it came to my diabetes. I found out the hard way. I went into a coma with a blood sugar of 2050.
As a child, the worst thing was when Halloween came and my parents had me stay home to hand out the candy to other kids so as to keep an eye on me, so I would not eat the goodies.
I believe you can say that I have learned to cope with diabetes, since I have been a well-controlled diabetic for over 59 years.
A poet's perspective: Reflections from a Diabetic Soul
I manage my diabetes as I do my transplant anti-rejection medications, keeping careful records.
I lived 43 years on insulin. I was given a chance to learn something new February, 2007.
I was diagnosed with diabetes on my 70th birthday. I was in shock and denial for some time.
In 1983 while in the navy reserve and working a high-stress job (plus my father died at age of 53 with Alzheimer's), I came down with diabetes.
On January 30, 1974, I was diagnosed as a diabetic. I had never been sick in my life other than the usual cold and my parents never took us kids to the doctor. Finally, when my mom figured out that I had been sick longer than the general flu, she took me to the doctor. Since I was only 12 years old at the time, I had a lot to learn.
Hello, I am a type 1 diabetic, older male, who is now 10 months into treatment. I have this situation complicated by heart-related issues.
I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 3 in 1949. I was fortunate to have been raised by parents and grandparents who were very aware and accepting of the challenges of a serious disease, and who were willing to make the necessary adjustments to provide the care I needed.
I am glad to see that there is a forum for information on diabetes, and I wish that something like it had been available sooner...I wasn't taught about the disease. What I learned, was by looking at some information from my dad, who had a health plan that covered some diabetes education.
My daughter was diagnosed at age 7 with type 1 Diabetes more than four years ago. Our whole lives changed in an instant.
I am so happy now, with no worries about insulin injections. I now am coping much better with my diabetes.
Knowledge is power—that phrase is certainly true when it comes to managing diabetes. Knowledge can help you make the right decisions about your care, such as adjusting your diabetes medication, choosing a healthy meal at a restaurant, or treating low blood glucose.
Individual results may vary. This information does not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Be sure to consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual diabetes treatment plan.
Novo Nordisk, Inc. makes no claims or representations as to the accuracy of any user submitted story or information.