Express & Star

Learning to cope with diabetes bombshell

Alison Norton discusses living with diabetes for today's Talking Point column

Published
A shock diagnosis

Something happened to me recently which has changed my life.

I was diagnosed as being a Type 2 diabetic.

This came as a complete and utter shock.

No-one in my family has diabetes, I didn’t really have any symptoms until two or three days before the prognosis, I take regular exercise and for my 56 years am pretty fit, albeit overweight, but happy.

But, the late night eating out, swigging of Prosecco, burning the candle at both ends and generally having fun has obviously taken its toll.

It’s still early days and it hasn’t been easy.

From the dramatic phone call asking me to contact the surgery, to my doctor’s unsympathetic delivery of news, which somehow implied that it was a symptom of my age and being overweight which was entirely my own fault, to the not being able to eat too much fruit which is my favourite, go to snack mid-morning, to feeling nauseous, but not wanting to eat because of the need to lose weight. It’s pants.

I am still trying to get my head around complex carbs, low fat this that and the other, sugar free whatever, but I know it will get easier.

I guess the shocking thing is that I simply had no idea I was poorly, so how many others are innocently walking around eating sugar who are also suffering?

The symptoms are minimal, but the long-term consequences are frightening.

Diabetics may suffer from heart disease, strokes, foot problems, nerve damage and probably the thing that terrifies me the most – blindness.

I paid a visit to the dentist recently too, only to be told that another symptom of this horrible condition is gum disease.

The need to increase the care you spend on your teeth is essential to prevent abscesses, loose teeth, bleeding gums and horror or horrors, bad breath!

It’s not a pretty picture I can tell you, but I am determined to get my diabetes under control.

Healthy eating, less alcohol (nightmare!), regular exercise and going for regular check-ups should help me on my way.

Simply changing from white bread to brown, drinking more water, limiting the amount of fat in my diet, choosing sugar free alternatives and switching from wine to a G&T have already improved my condition.

The weight loss is slow but steady, and now I am taking regular medication I do feel better in myself.

I don’t like have to rely on tablets every day but hey, ho. My son, who is of course a fit as a flea 21-year-old, joked that I would soon have to buy one of those pill boxes with the days of the week on it!

God, I am old! How has it come to this?

But seriously, the point I want to make is look after yourself.

Diabetes can strike anyone at any age. You might not think you are vulnerable, but believe me, you are.

Live life and enjoy yourself, but think healthy!