October 18, 2015

Just Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?

When you received your diagnosis, how was it done? Did the doctor just state it as a matter of fact or was there a lot of other meaningless information that you were given. Some doctors do it right, but most can't say the word diabetes. Why – I don't have a clue. These same doctors use technical gibberish to mask the true word for any disease.

When you realized that you had type 2 diabetes, what did you do? Did you leave the panic panel intact, or did you punch holes in it and tear it apart? Some really damage the panic panel and others never even see it. They move from the diagnosis to managing their diabetes. Maybe later they have denial or mild depression, but at the start they are into managing diabetes and learning all they can about this chronic invisible disease. Shock or anger never enters their thoughts.

Other people feel shell-shocked after the diagnosis of diabetes. This is a perfectly normal reaction to news that has just turned your life upside down. Not only do you have this distressing new burden added to your life, you have to figure out how to deal with it.

Most of the newly diagnosed are starting from scratch and lack of knowledge about diabetes. Some writers advise relying on your doctor for information on diet, exercise, and medications. What many doctors refuse to recognize is that the day of diagnosis is not the day to give out a lot of verbal information. Too many doctors use this as the day to abuse their patients and accuse them of causing their diabetes. Then they set unreasonable goals for their patients and tell them not to fail in achieving these goals.

Many patients try and when they can't achieve the doctor's goals, completely give up and let diabetes take over their lives. This is how doctors make diabetes progressive and the complications become a reality.

This is one reason I always say to not accept the goals that a doctor says you must attain. I would urge you to tell the doctor you want to learn about diabetes, but you will discuss goals at the next appointment. Good doctors will accept this and maybe suggest alternate goals that may be attainable. I would urge everyone to learn about goals and how best to meet them. Always make small improvements to your goals that are easy to attain and this will help you be successful. Success always encourages more success,

The important point to remember is this – the diabetes is your diabetes. Learn to accept this and managing diabetes can become much easier. As you learn about diabetes, you need to remember you are unique and what works for someone else may not work for you. In type 2 diabetes, there is definitely not a one-size-fits-all therapy and finding your custom fit for your type 2 diabetes will be your main task over the first several months.

Like anything we do for the first time, we start out as novices. This means that it takes time to get comfortable in our knowledge. Yes, you are trying to learn rapidly and become an expert based on your circumstances. Others may have greater medical knowledge of your condition, but you will have a fine-tuned, hard-won intimate knowledge of your unique version of type 2 diabetes.

No comments: