“I found out I had diabetes in July 2018, as part of a routine blood test I was having every three months to keep an eye on a thyroid condition I’d been diagnosed with the year before. In the same doctor’s appointment, I was also told I had an abnormal pap smear result that required treatment, so it was a lot to take in.
“To be honest, I was more devastated about the diabetes diagnosis than anything else. While I knew cervical cancer could be dealt with, I also knew that if I didn’t look after myself, diabetes could mean I’d be facing some serious complications, like going blind or losing a limb, further down the track.
“But I also struggled to accept I had diabetes at all. There was no family history and I was otherwise pretty fit and healthy.
“I asked my doctor for a blood glucose test kit so I could keep an eye on my levels, but he said I didn’t need to worry about doing that, and that I’d be able to manage my diabetes simply by watching what I ate. I left with a simple instruction to steer clear of sugar, so that’s what I did.”
TAKING A TURN FOR THE WORSE
“A year later the flu was going around work and I caught it. I didn’t suffer too much, but at the tail end of it I started to lose weight quite rapidly. I was also struggling with my vision and had a constant need to go to the bathroom, but I didn’t link anything together or think too much about it.
Denne historien er fra July - August 2020-utgaven av Diabetic Living Australia.
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Denne historien er fra July - August 2020-utgaven av Diabetic Living Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A whole new world
Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an adult can be a challenging and confusing time. In this extract from the JDRF's new book, Straight to the Point, they explain what's going on and what to say to people who make uninformed comments about your condition
5 Days 5 Dinners
Weeknights are sorted with these fresh, flavoursome mains, packed with veg!
Fantastic Feta
This soft, white cheese with Greek origins is versatile and packs a flavour punch, with only a small amount needed to jazz up a dish
My story: "I'm proud of the fact that I've gotten hold of my health"
When Natalie Rixon, now 33, discovered she had prediabetes soon after she'd turned 20, it was a shock and a relief all rolled into one. What she did next changed her future.
INTERPRETING YOUR cgm DATA
A continuous glucose monitor is a wonderful source of information but do you really know what you're looking at?
7 NEED-TO-KNOW FACTS ABOUT...diabetes & kidney disease
Diabetes is the most common cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. Learn more about this condition and how to protect yourself from developing it.
GET OFF THE diet ROLLERCOASTER
Dietitian Lyndi Cohen wants you to take a deep breath and think about your weight, and health, in a whole new way.
WHAT IS Wegovy?
Meet Wegovy, the new once-weekly weightloss injection that research shows helps people lose significantly more body weight than those using diet and exercise alone.
MEDICATION & CONSUMABLES
Insulin is available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
DOLLARS AND DIABETES
When you have type 1 diabetes, it's important to see a variety of health professionals regularly to keep your health on track.
