When newly diagnosed with diabetes, most people find themselves in a state of shock. However, being diagnosed with diabetes doesn’t prevent you from leading a ‘normal’ life. Most people receive great care from their GP and healthcare team, although some people report having just been given some tablets and been told to get on with it. If this happens to you, make sure your doctor finds time to discuss your condition with you, or refer you to someone who can answer your questions better than they can.
You will know that diabetes means that your blood has higher amounts of glucose/sugar in than normal.
The diet you have may depend on your diabetes type. If you’ve been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you will need to be aware of how much carbohydrate is in meal times in order to balance your insulin doses. Not everyone with diabetes goes straight onto medication, but it is quite common to.
Diabetes sadly means we have an increased risk of health complications developing. The development of complications is often linked with high blood glucose levels over a number of years in combination with high blood pressure and/or cholesterol. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. It is advisable to understand the part that blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol plays and take note of what the health targets for each of these are.
Having support from others who know what it’s like to have diabetes can be very reassuring through the early stages of diabetes.
Make your time count by volunteering for one or more of the many DATT events. You’ll make a difference through community outreach, advocacy, and inspiration.