In 2023, I was diagnosed as a Type 2 Diabetic. It was a Wednesday; it was sunny outside and about 10:30am. The nurse on the phone would be the lady who I would see regularly and build a rapport with. Having been for my regular bladder installation appointment I knew my glucose levels were high and they wanted me to have a blood test asap. I booked the appointment, got the results came through and I saw that my glucose levels. When the call came through, I wasn’t surprised about the diagnosis after talking to family my thirst level had increased, passing urine more than normal and feeling rather lethargic. Even for me, this was higher than normal with a bladder condition and fibromyalgia.
She told me that I needed to go to the chemist and get some tablets inside of me. She told me the risks, the facts about being a diabetic and said she would see me at my face-to-face appointment. I ended the call, told my family and my partner, and started to research what this means.
By the end of the weekend, I had started the medication, bought a book the Hairy Bikers wrote, a blood sugar test kit, access to a calorie counting app to show me how much sugar is in food, and the Diabetes forum. I became well knowledgeable, but I knew my lifestyle and my relationship with food would have to change.
In June 2023, I was working and closed my laptop and felt dizzy, and needed to lie down. My partner’s dad has had diabetes for years, so he got me to test my blood and they were low. He fed me two jelly babies and got my sugar level up. It really shook me to say I needed to take control of my diet. If I have something highly sugary, I know that I will feel tired and have a headache, it’s not worth it anymore.
My relationship with food, now being three months diagnosed has meant that I have a whole new book of recipes to try. It has sparked my interest in cooking again and making low-sugar tasty recipes. It has made me determined to make positive changes, be accountable for my actions and to start this blog. Change has not always been my friend, but I feel like I have dealt with this diagnosis in a way to make those around me proud. Yes, I will always want the Haribo and the prosecco… but it’s now in moderation!
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