A type 2 diabetes diagnosis usually, but not always, causes a life changing impact. Doctors and healthcare workers are comfortable with diagnosing diabetes and delivering this message multiple times in a day. However, it is the first time for the person receiving the diagnosis and hearing that it is a permanent condition.
A type 2 diabetes diagnosis is not a message that anyone wants to receive. It can cause a psychological shift that can include denial, upset, anger, grief, or loss. Often a period of denial occurs and thoughts such as “this can’t be happening” or “there must be some mistake” occur. Many go through a period of anger and others may go through stages of grief.
Along with the diagnosis the healthcare worker usually suggests attending a diabetes class. A typical diabetes class teaches the exchange system of food, which is difficult to abide and live by. A list of food groups is provided from which to select or exchange. An exchange is an amount of food that is not usually normal for food packagers but is normal for diabetics. Each exchange contains a specific number of carbohydrates and calories, and that is what gets counted.
It is an extensive world of counting and calculating the number of carbs and exchanges which no one else does. For example, a regular sized apple at the grocery store is considered two servings of fruit and one banana is considered two pieces of fruit. It is learning a system of food counting that is not normal for the manufacturing world and not normal to the real world. It is difficult to use and it is not used in any other disease or diet.
In addition to attending the diabetes class most patients schedule 15 minute follow-up appointments once every three months with the endocrinologist to check their hemoglobin A1C. The endocrinologist will also suggest exercise and weight loss. The patient leaves the appointment not knowing how to do either one. This doesn’t feel supportive and creates a very defeating feeling. Many diabetics experience overwhelm and wonder how they are going to get through this.
Many believe it is a deadly disease and that eventually they will die from it. They also think they won’t be able to eat sugar again and this is not true. The pancreas is tired or the cells have become resistant to insulin. The body needs sugar to function and when food is consumed it is broken down into sugar and enters the bloodstream. The pancreas pumps insulin into the bloodstream and carries the sugar into each individual cell. Without insulin, the sugar stays in the veins and blood system and never reaches the cells. If cells are resistant, the body keeps producing more and more insulin, which the body does not react to. The over production of insulin results in a tired pancreas and eventually it produces less and less insulin at each meal because pumping the insulin does not work.
Most food turns to sugar and enters the blood system. For example white bread, quinoa, and table sugar all turns to sugar. The rate at which the sugar enters the blood system is the difference between the carbohydrates. For example, table sugar enters the blood quickly, whereas quinoa enters the blood very slowly causing a longer period of raised blood sugar level, whereas table sugar spikes the blood sugar and then sharply falls down. The difference is fast carbs versus slow carbs, not just carbs or no carbs. To be able to eat sugar, a type 2 diabetic has to monitor when they eat sugar, the kinds of foods they eat it with, and they need to know how to play the diabetes game. I make it into a game so that it’s easy. It’s easy to remember and do.
Watch for future posts about going beyond type 2 diabetes and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter.
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