Living with diabetes

I AM a nurse living with diabetes mellitus for over two years. I was made aware of my condition after a routine urine test during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and four years after with diabetes mellitus.

Being a nurse and being diagnosed with a chronic illness is not easier than that of a nonhealthcare personnel. In fact, I would say it is more traumatic because you know so much; your mind goes on marathons, thinking about the complications, or what if? Or how did this happen? You play it out a thousand times in your mind: how did I get here? How did I come to this? I cried a lot, but then, with the help of co-workers and friends I was able to get up, brush myself off and start all over.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is not a death sentence, it is a chronic medical condition: it is a metabolic disease of the pancreas which causes high blood sugar, because either the pancreas isn’t making enough insulin or the insulin made is not being used up by the cells properly. It cannot be cured but it can definitely be controlled and treated. This leads me to say, you can live a long life with diabetes mellitus; we just have to be in CONTROL. We have to control what we eat; eat small frequent meals; instead of eating two large meals in the da,y split one meal into two or three and eat at different intervals - the recommended time span is four hours apart. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits for snacks, avoid sodas and sweetened drinks; make fruit and vegetable juices at home without adding sugar; ensure that we drink water daily, at least 1.5 litre per day; maintain your doctor/clinic appointments; and take the medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Exercise: daily exercise plays a major role in the management of diabetes mellitus or high blood sugar levels. Put GOD first in all that we do and live according to the principles and teachings of the Bible. Diabetes mellitus is not a death sentence.

We have to be in control to get control.

MS ELAINE WEBBER Enrolled Assistant Nurse