[Day 2 of Living with Diabetes] As you may recall, my doctor phoned to inform me that I had diabetes. I did not go in for a consultation, nor was I given a pamphlet about diabetes, nor was I offered any additional support on the disease. All I was told was to pick up my medicine, take 2 tablets a day, and schedule an appointment to come back in 3 months.
One day I will revisit this topic on “how” I was informed about my new condition and the underlying social reasons why I think it was presented to me like this, for now, that’s not the point of today’s blog. After arming myself with some knowledge I picked up from the Internet and from other members of my health care team, I decided to buy a glucose meter. After visiting my local Wal-mart, I bought the Wal-mart brand glucose meter, Reli-on, simply because their meter & strips were the lowest price. I read that as a diabetic I should take my glucose readings several times a day. Since my doctor had not suggested for me to even take my glucose readings, I decided that I would check my glucose every morning after I wake up. The next morning after much trepidation, I hate needles you know, I took and logged my first glucose reading, 137mg/dl.
Taking ownership of your health care means you must constantly & consistently monitor your progress. Fortunately, diabetics can self-monitor their progress. But if you’re dealing with an ailment which requires a professional to perform a test, make sure those tests are performed regularly. If you’re getting lab works done professionally, get a paper copy of YOUR lab results. Keep those results in a notebook, a folder, or something so you can refer back to determine if your results are trending in the right direction. Since January 2008, I’ve had blood work done 4 times, I have copies of the lab results from those 4 tests tucked away in a notebook.
Remember you are the coach, so you must know the score of the game at all times so you can make adjustments if necessary.
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