Thank you for taking the time to reply Charles. You know since I have been diagnosed I have not taken it seriously enough. I'm constantly on and off my medication and I don't control my diet. Obviously, I'm worried that these complications might set in on me at any minute.
Diabetes can be terrifying when you focus on the worst case scenario. The problem is that food has become such a big part of coping with reality. You feel down, you grab a slice of cake to ease the pain. This compounds the problem in the case of diabetes.
So, we have gone over the negatives. Now, let's start breaking the cycle by looking at the positives.
It is never too late to start making changes. Complications do usually take a long time to really take hold. In the majority of cases good control can stop them in their tracks. Managing diabetes takes effort and willpower to begin with, but it gets easier and easier the longer you travel on the success path.
The obvious question is 'How do I change my ways, especially when I am feeling so down?' The first thing to do is to educate yourself. The more you know about something, the better able you will be to deal with it. There are some amazing books out there which can set you on the right track. A lot of people here swear by the book 'Think like a pancreas.' My own personal saviour was Dr Richard Bernstein's 'Complete Diabetes Solution.' Dr Bernstein has been diabetic since childhood, and is now a healthy man in his 80s, so he knows his stuff, and practices what he preaches. It is by no means an easy read, but in my opinion it is so worth it. The book advocates cutting out almost all carbohydrates, focusing instead on a diet based on protein. This means eating eggs, cheese, meat, and nuts in reasonable quantities. I decided to try it, firmly believing I was saying goodbye to any enjoyment of food.
I was wrong. I enjoy food so much more now, because I don't constantly crave it. My meals satisfy me, and I just don't need to snack any more in between meals which are always at least 4 hours apart, often more like 5 or 6.
Whatever way of eating you decide to follow, the best thing you can do is get yourself a blood testing meter if you haven't already. I know this can be difficult for type 2s, and your healthcare team may even tell you it's unnecessary.
They are wrong. Plain and simple. How can you be expected to stick to a healthy regime if you can't see evidence it is working? I would advise you become the squeaky wheel for as long as it takes to get a meter and regular prescriptions of test strips. If they won't budge, it is well worth financing a meter yourself if you can afford to.
It's also best to make lots of notes to monitor your progress. Look at food labels and note down carb and protein amounts, what your blood sugars are when you eat, and a couple of hours afterwards. As you start to see success, you can get a real snowball effect with the benefits. After a couple of months, it can seem like second nature.
Best of luck, and keep posting.