‘You have to listen to your gut’
Being told she had diabetes wasn’t too much of a surprise for 57-year-old Karen Petrovski, but what happened next was far less expected. It has taught her a lot about looking after herself
“When I was told I had type 2 in mid 2018 after a regular check-up, I wasn’t particularly shocked, even though I felt fine. Type 2 runs in my family, so I’d been warned in the past that for me, it was less a matter of ‘if’ and more a matter of ‘when’. Looking back and knowing what I know now, what did shock me was how blasé my GP at the time was with the advice and care he gave me, or more accurately didn’t give me. After diagnosing my diabetes, he simply prescribed some medication and sent me on my way. So, while I knew what diabetes was, thanks to the way my doctor reacted I didn’t think too much about it or take it too seriously – certainly not as seriously as I should have.
A reality check
“Fast forward to March 2019 and my husband Bob and I took off from our home in Wollongong for another of our full-time caravan adventures, this time heading to country Victoria. Not long into the trip I started experiencing nausea beyond belief and, after a visit to a country hospital, was told I had suspected diabetes-induced gastroparesis.
“Thankfully, after a GP in Mildura ran further tests, I was given the all-clear on that front
but I did have my eyes opened to the fact that I wasn’t looking after myself and my diabetes wasn’t being treated or managed properly. I wasn’t on the right dose of metformin, my HbA1c was unhealthily high and I needed to lose weight – something my own GP had never mentioned.
I’d also never seen an endocrinologist, a podiatrist, a dietitian, nothing. I didn’t even know why seeing those people mattered so much for someone living with diabetes.
“Looking back now, that’s especially worrying, because in 2012 I had an accident and broke both of my heels so badly I had to have two operations. These days, I can’t risk anything else happening to my feet because, as a result of my injuries, my left foot is already compromised. I didn’t understand that when I was first diagnosed, but I do now.
“After realising I needed to make some drastic changes,
Bob and I put our trip on hold, returned home and the first thing I did was find a new GP. He doubled my diabetes medication immediately and started the ball rolling to get appointments with all the doctors, specialists and healthcare professionals I needed to see. A month later, with the help of a dietitian, I started the keto diet and, in six months, I lost 14kg, going from 95kg to 81kg. My cholesterol levels are back within the normal range, my blood [glucose] levels are good and my HbA1c is now 5.5. Apart from anything else, I’m back into size 14 clothes, something I never thought I’d be able to do or say. And I have so much more energy. I feel amazing.
Lessons learned
“If I could turn back time I’d go back to when I was 30. If I’m honest, I knew I was overweight then but I didn’t do anything about it. If I had, my diabetes might not have happened.
“I’ve also learned the importance of always keeping the long-term side effects of living with diabetes in mind. Now, I know that if I don’t keep my diabetes under control I risk going blind or having a stroke or losing a foot. It’s the desire to avoid any of those things happening to me in the future that’s my incentive to lose weight and stay well. It’s where I find the willpower to keep going and to make healthier choices every day.
“But probably the most important thing I’ve learned is how important it is to find a doctor you can relate to and who you feel is taking you and your health seriously. And not being afraid to change doctors and keep searching until you find that ‘fit’. When it comes to your health, sometimes you have to listen to your gut. After my experience, my advice now is if something doesn’t feel right, or you don’t think you’re getting the best care possible, trust your instincts and take action.”
Bob and I put our trip on hold, returned home and I found a new GP