Hi, I was recently diagnosed with diabetes discovered after a routine health check. I am now nose diving into total panic and anxiety about the future. Is all I have to look forward to is dementia, blindness, heart failure, kidney failure, amputation, low life expectancy? I'm 56 and feel this is it. From everything my doctor has said my chances of developing everything bad are now high and I can never have a healthy life again or look forward to a long life. Shall I just blow the life savings as I'm obviously never going to enjoy retirement. HELP!! someone throw me a bit of hope.
Those things happen if you don't take care of yourself, if you chose to accept diabetes and take good care of yourself then obviously the chances of them complications are minimal.
I'm going to tag @daisy1 who can provide you with some info that you should have a read of and then ask any questions you may have
Are you controlling with diet only or have you been put on medication?
Then sit down and relax a bit.. you are recently diagnosed so in all probability have not had very high blood sugars for a long time (if you have them now). What was your HbA1c? There are lots of things you can do to help yourself. The first of those being that you can be completely in control of the condition you have. Have a long read around this forum and ask as many question as you want. We have all been in your situation (although may have reacted in many different ways).
@ceearr If it of any comfort just about everyone who posts here experienced what you are going through. It does get easier, you will sort out your priorities, and get a plan of action together.
In short, a component of your body is not functioning as it should. What most of us have done is found a work-around. There is no reason why you should not continue to enjoy a healthy life right to the end so long as YOU take control.
You are among friends here, use us, but dont abuse us
Those things happen if you don't take care of yourself, if you chose to accept diabetes and take good care of yourself then obviously the chances of them complications are minimal.
I'm going to tag @daisy1 who can provide you with some info that you should have a read of and then ask any questions you may have
Are you controlling with diet only or have you been put on medication?
Thanks for your reply. I'm using diet and on Metformin. The doctor wants me to take tablets for cholesterol and blood pressure too, but they aren't exceptionally high levels and I've read that the long term complications of these drugs can give you what they are trying to prevent. I am trying to be positive and have increased my physical activity tenfold and eating low carb. It was all such a shock and as my mum went blind with Glucoma the thought of that being even more of a risk than without the diabetes, some days gets me down.
I had a panic attack in Feb when i was diagnosed, the scare stories from the nurse and with my family history i walked out believing all that i was told, luckily i found this forum, There is fantastic support and advice here, read as much as you can, But don't let your bucket get full. In other words, Take your time and re read anything you are not sure about, ask questions and don't rush into anything. You will have days when you think you are wasting your time, when you think the exercise and diet is a waste of time, Most if not all of us have days like this. I want instant results and get frustrated when i don't get them, when you fall off the horse you have to get back on. If you take control of your diet and life style you will start to feel better. You control diabetes, it doesn't control you.