How do I get back into better diabetes control?
I have had juvenile diabetes since I was 3 years old (I am now 20). Up until I went to college, I was in very good control. My doctors were always very impressed, and it really wasn’t that hard for me to keep my numbers within range. Then, I went to college when I was 18 and everything just fell apart. My A1C’s have skyrocketed, and I try to change but I just can’t. I feel so out of control and overwhelmed. The slightest, easiest things before seem like such a chore. My numbers are all over the place, and I can feel it in my body. This has been going on now, pretty consistently, for the past 2 years. What can I do to motivate myself to change? I don’t want to die this way…
Well, having the desire to change is a first good step. Yes it totally and utterly sucks that you have to worry about your blood sugar, but isn’t it far better to do that then to be in a wheel chair or die? Part of the issue is that you aren’t at home where a parent can help you with your meals and such.
First of all you should be checking your blood multiple times a day whether you want to or not. There is no other way for you to know what is going on with it.
Second of all, if you have not already done so, you might see if you can get an insulin pump. Yes they are expensive, but you have a lot more freedom when you wear one.
Next whether you get a pump or not, you should consider getting a meal plan on campus or begin to eat better foods. If you don’t know how to cook and don’t feel like preparing your own stuff, try eating things such as salads from Mcd’s (with your own salad dressing) or grilled chicken sandwiches or other more balanced meals. Keep fruit or granola bars around your place and eat it when your sugar is low instead of really bad stuff.
Also, try to increase your exercise. You might even consider signing up for extra curricular gym classes just for the added benefits (and a teacher watching you and a grade riding on whether or not you do it).
Also, you might try to see if there are any groups on campus for type 1 diabetics where you could meet other people who also live with this and perhaps get hints from them as to how they handle doing things on there own at school.
You can do this!
What’s the Best Exercise For Type 2 Diabetics?