Managing Type II Diabetes: A Guide for Twentysomethings

I guess I thought I could go on for years without having been struck with this disease. I was only 26 years old when the doctor told me, I had it – Type 2 diabetes. I was overweight, had family history, signs were all there that if I didn’t take care of myself, it would eventually happen to me. I ignored the symptoms – extreme exhaustion, severe thirst, frequent urination. I guess I had it in my head that this only happened to people in their 50’s..not a young woman like myself. By the time I went to the doctor for a regular checkup, I didn’t even have it in my mind that I might be diabetic. He took a blood sample and was astonished to find that my blood sugar level was 350. A normal blood sugar level reading is between 70-120.

Basically what happens when you have Type II diabetes is that your body is producing alot of insulin, however, it is not utilizing it properly.�¯�¿�½ You are insulin resistant and need the aid of either insulin injections or a cocktail of diabetic drugs to keep it under control.

The doctor will typically prescribe Metformin, a generic version of Glucophage, two to three times a day. I started taking it 3 times a day.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Oh the diarhhea! If you are on this drug and have to take it 3 times a day, you will almost always have diarhhea – -DAILY, sometimes 3 to 4 times daily. It is a nightmare and is of the upmost inconvenience.

I couldn’t take this so my doctor changed the dose to once a day and added Glyburide (generic). You can take up to 20 mg a day of this and in combination with 500 mg of Metformin (1 pill) this should do the trick.

Well, that wasn’t enough for me, I also was prescribed 8 ml of Avandia.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ So I am currently taking 3 medications to control my blood sugar. My readings are now in the low 100 range (within normal levels).

Of course you can get yourself off all these meds if you lose weight and exercise. Just adding a 30 minute walk everyday can do wonders. You also don’t have to give up eating, you just have to give up eating a lot. Ask your doctor to refer you to a diabetes specialist.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ They can help you with food portions and give you the guidelines you need to keep yourself healthy.

Rules To Live By:

Make sure to check your blood sugar readings two to three times a day and keep a log of them. Bring to your doctor/specialist for your next�¯�¿�½ check up. Check ups should happen every three months.

Always keep your feet dry and clean. Have your doctor check them regularly. Take care of your feet!

Avoid Alcohol. I know, it’s hard when you are in your 20’s and 30’s,Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ you want to go out with your friends and drink like a fish, but, basically, alcohol is a no-no for type II diabetics. You can get around this if you don’t go overboard. My doctor advised me to simply not take my meds close to the time I plan to drink. Alcohol affects the potency of the drug and the sugar will send your blood sugar levels in a frenzy. I simply avoid wine and drink very sporadically.

Keep active, and don’t get depressed. So you are diabetic, don’t let this depress you. You can still lead a normal life if you probably manage and care for your health. Support from your family and friends is a vital part of your maintenance and success at fighting this serious disease.

Last but not least….

If you experience extreme exhaustion, severe thirst, frequent urination, and light headedness, see your doctor immediately. These are�¯�¿�½ common symptoms that you might have type II diabetes.

Prevention is key. Make sure to keep active, eat right and see your doctor regularly. You can prevent this.