November is National Diabetes Month.
In the month of November, we are kicking off National Diabetes month!
I wanted to share my diabetes story. I was 24 when I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. When I heard this diagnosis, I was shocked. I had no idea how this happened to me. The only thing I did know, was my family history of T2D. My primary care doctor sent me to a diabetes community class where I leaned about blood sugars, how to test my blood sugars and track them using a meter and logbook. I was the youngest person in this diabetes class, and I felt very out of place. I spent years in denial, ate what I wanted and trying to figure out how diabetes and I could be friends.
If I am honest, I really did not begin to understand how diabetes and my body fought each other until I was diagnosed with gastroparesis in my 40’s. The condition is weakness in the stomach and significantly effects digestion. The gastroenterologist, gave me an outdated piece of paper from the 90’s and told to eat a Low Fodmap diet https://www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/starting-the-low-fodmap-diet/. He said the only way to reduce the symptoms was the diet and he could give me medication for the nausea only. Again, a moment of shock set in.
I found myself hearing once again hearing a diagnosis that was diabetes related with an outdated piece of printed paper about a diet that was dated 1994. Little did I know this diagnosis would change the way I eat, how I look at food and ultimately effect how I manage my diabetes. At this point, I was so miserable from not eating much food and felt so sick because my stomach was not emptying. And the nausea and dry heaving were unbearable. I was fortunate that it was the Christmas season, and I was scheduled to take time off of work. During my time off, I threw myself into Monash University’s Low Fodmap class and downloaded their free app. The Low Fodmap diet was intense and took months to complete the 3-step diet process. The app saved me so much time and it is extremely easy to use. Here is the link if you’re interested in learning more, https://www.monashfodmap.com/ibs-central/i-have-ibs/get-the-app/
After months of eliminating foods and finding out which FODMAPs my body could tolerate, I found myself eating a diet of gluten- free and eliminating garlic, onion, gluten, alcohol, protein powders and most processed foods.
During this time, I also started food prepping every Sunday for my work week ahead because I could not eat out due to the severity of my symptoms. I also advocated with my insurance company that I needed a CGM because I was on insulin, and I wanted to begin to monitor how my body was processing and digesting food. I know it takes 2-3 hours for my body to process a meal. Eventually the insurance company agreed to give me a CGM. I know this may sound like many changes all at once and it was overwhelming, but I felt like I had no choice. I was desperate for relief and to feel “normal” again even with T2D.
I can honestly say the past two years of changing my diet, understanding how my body processes food and gathering data from my CGM has gotten me to a better place mentally and physically. If anything, I learned that I come first when it comes to my health. I advocate constantly with my doctors and when eating out. I order from the gluten-free menu and I make sure to bring my own food when I can. It makes my life easier.
For the rest of November, I am showing support for all people with Diabetes by wearing blue on Fridays. The American Diabetes Association offers many ways to get involved including posting on your social media. Here is the link for resources https://diabetes.org/adm.
If you’re wondering if you may have Type 2 Diabetes the American Diabetes Association has a free risk test available online. https://diabetes.org/diabetes-risk-test. This may be a great way to begin your own health journey or prompt you to ask important questions of your family members who have pre-diabetes or diabetes. It is never too late to begin taking care of you!
