This weekend KineticShift.com shares a very personal story – one that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. Stuart Bates is one person who recently learned he has diabetes mellitus type 2, formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. At present there are approximately 285 million people with the disease worldwide, up from just 30 million in 1985. This shocking increase has seen a rise in parallel with obesity rates, which is thought to be the primary cause of type 2 diabetes in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.
This metabolic disorder is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90 percent of cases of diabetes with the other 10 percent due primarily to diabetes mellitus type 1 and gestational diabetes. Classic symptoms are excess thirst, frequently having to urinate, and constant hunger. Long-term complications from high blood sugar can include heart attacks, strokes, diabetic retinopathy (where eye sight is affected), kidney failure (which may require dialysis), and poor circulation of limbs leading to amputations.
However, type 2 diabetes is initially managed by increasing exercise and dietary modification. If blood glucose levels are not adequately lowered by these measures, medications such as metformin or insulin may be needed. For those on insulin there is typically the requirement to routinely check blood sugar levels.
Stuart Bates in his own words:
“You will have to make an appointment,” the surgery receptionist said when I rang to get my test results. Now I knew that something had to be wrong. I was worried and it got worse until the time of my appointment.
Further tests followed, then the big moment came with my doctor for me to receive my sentence. “It’s diabetes type II,” he told me. I was rocked. Why? When I half-expected that it was going to be cirrhosis or, worse, prostate cancer. Because I had visions of sticking needles into myself several times a day, losing my eyesight, and the odd foot or two! A life or, perhaps worse, a death sentence.
After a short discussion, and the handing over of several pamphlets, an appointment was made for me to see a registered diabetes nurse in a few days’ time. Time enough for me to get angry, sad, and move into and out of denial. Time enough for me to get really worried.
I read the pamphlets furiously and marked down the contradictions in what one could and could not eat and the proportions of these foods. I trawled the net and found a copious amount of information, some of that contradictory, as well, but one simply cannot stop when in a state of some shock.
The session with the diabetes nurse lasted two hours, during which I was laden with further pamphlets, further information, and shown how to use the blood glucose monitor that I was given free of charge thanks to Diabetes Victoria and the state government.
I left in a confused daze and wandered over to the pharmacy to buy additional lancets and test strips, where a rather portly gentleman said, “Diabetes, eh?” We exchanged a few words and to my question as to how he was going with his control regime, his wife said, “Not very well.” I drove home rather depressed by it all.
Well, it is the end of the first week now and I am slowly moving away from the obsession with my diabetes. Obsession? Oh yes! But is it not natural to obsess at such a time? I read an article in the Guardian about a 600-calorie diet that had “cured” some peoples’ type 2, so naturally I tried to emulate that. I test my glucose level four times a day and record it in a booklet for the diabetes nurse’s next appointment. I set up a table/graph in Microsoft Word to record my readings, what I had for breakfast, lunch, dinner, any snacks, and anything else that I feel is relevant. I gave up alcohol and started exercise by way of brisk walking (quite boring I must say) and have ordered a recumbent exercise bike that I am hanging out for.
The obsession extends to clock-watching as one gets anxious to do the next reading to see how, or if, the new regime is working. It also includes talking a lot about the situation to friends, who have given tremendous support, but here care must be exercised as one man’s condition can easily turn into another man’s trial by boredom. This obsession is a competition and it must be so, at least initially, as I want to beat this thing!
How am I doing after one week? Well, I have lost 3 kgs (nearly 7 lbs) in weight, brought my stomach measurement down to 96 cm (38 inches) from 104 cm (41 inches), and generally feel healthier and rather more motivated. Apart from two “scares” my blood glucose readings are within acceptable limits. All in all I am not displeased with the progress to date.
Nearly time for my next reading. The story continues…
Stuart Bates lives near Victoria, Australia