I thought I would share my story along with my cat Smokey's story as we are both diabetic.
Smokey is about 12 years old about 5 years ago he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Many people have asked me how I knew or how I was able to tell he was diabetic. At first I was clueless, I really didn't know anything about diabetes and the fact that my cat was diabetic was a very new and foreign concept. The main symptom was drinking copious amounts of water. The water bowl holds around a quart of water after I would fill it up and come home from work it would be empty and licked clean. The flip side was that the litter box was a lake of urine that the clumping litter could not contain. After a couple days of this I made an appointment for him at the vet. Smokey was very sick and had to spend several days at the vet to get his blood glucose under control. After he recovered I had to learn to give injections, he currently gets two shot a day to keep his blood glucose under control. Many people think I am crazy to give my cat injections but I am a true believer that when you get a pet you agree to take care of them and that is what I am doing for Smokey.
Here is my story. I was going into see my doctor for a pre-op physical. About 2 weeks before the appointment I began drinking a lot of water but the weird part was that I had made a conscious effort to drink more water anyway. I had been doing a lot of rock climbing and biking so I was trying to be good and keep well hydrated. At the same time I developed thrush in my mouth, this is yet another symptom of diabetes. I thought that it was being caused by the fact that I breathe a lot through my mouth because I had deviated septum and my nasal passages were blocked. Then the most crazy thing happened to me my vision improved. Why is this crazy because? I have been wearing contacts or glasses for 20 years. My head was spinning and I felt like I was losing my mind, I guess this is what happens when your vision is over corrected for a long period of time.
I went to the doctor (pcp) and showed here my symptoms and told her everything that was going on. The water consumption, thrush, and vision all signs of diabetes. I was in total denial, because I did not have any family history of diabetes. I was 32 years young and had an athletic build. There was no way I had diabetes, or so I thought!! My doctor proceeded to give me a blood test and a urine test. I went back to see her several days later and received the worst news I could have possibly received. She told me I was diabetic, and that my blood glucose was 453. My triglycerides were over a 1000 and my A1c was 12. At the time I had no idea what the significance of these numbers were. I was prescribed Lantus and Glipizide and had to start giving myself injections at the same time I was in total disbelief. Shortly after taking insulin I stopped consuming so much water, with antibiotics the thrush in my mouth went away. I went to my eye doctor and she said everything was fine even though my eyes were 20/20. There was the proof after diagnosis and treatment I was getting better physically which was great but certainly not mentally.
Fast Forward……………………1 year later
I was finally starting to come around with the acceptance of having diabetes. My first endocrinologist that I saw after being diagnosed by my primary care physician was horrible, then I went to see a nutritionist. She probably had an eating disorder because in her mind fat was bad (she was as thin as a rail) and people with diabetes shouldn’t have too much. That went over like load of bricks with me because I had gone to the Culinary Institute of America after receiving my undergraduate degree and I had been working with food for 13 years. Basically, butter makes it better!!!
Finally I found a wonderful endocrinologist in the Northern Virginia area. She has her own practice and is an Assistant Professor at George Town University. I finally found out that I am a Type 1.5 diabetic, currently working towards a full Type 1!!!! I still produce some insulin basically. My first appointment with here was on a Saturday and it was an hour long. She actually spends the whole hour with you which I found very surprising. Along with the regular blood tests she also checked my thyroid function and several other things, too many to remember. The one thing she mentioned to me that was the greatest help to date was that I might want to consider using an insulin pump.
I took her idea and ran with it. My insulin pump coupled with my great endocrinologist and time has changed my mind set. Now that I don’t have to stick myself with needles everyday 6-8 times and as long as I count my carbs I feel as though I am not a diabetic. I can eat almost anything I want, within reason of course. Fats and sugar are not as much of a concern anymore and my BG is under control like never before. For those of you who may be considering an insulin pump—go for it!! I use a Minimed 522 which I love. If you want to get one make sure your endocrinologist is on board and call Medtronic. They will do everything for you and even set up a payment plan if your insurance does not cover the entire cost of the pump.
That is my story in a nut shell. If there is anyone who has questions or wants some advice I would be more than happy to help.
Until about 2 weeks ago I had never owned a scale. I decided that after a visit to my endocrinologist it was time to purchase one. I do not have a weight problem but since I became an insulin pumper I have had what I would call weight creep.
