"I'm not claiming diabetes. I don’t like to stick my fingers. I don’t like insulin. I can’t eat more than 1 time a day. I don’t have time for exercise. I went to a diabetes class 10 years ago and I have that information at home, I just need to find it and read it. Everybody in my family has diabetes so it’s no big deal. I’ve been on a cruise last week and I ate too much, that is the reason why my A1C is too high. My BS are 200 and that's good for me; they used to be higher than that. I take too many pills already. When my blood sugars are less than 180 I feel bad so I try to keep them above 200. Just give me 3 more months to change my diet and lose weight; yeah, I know I said that 3 months ago, I just need some extra time. My medicines are too expensive. It costs too much to buy healthy foods. The medicine makes me feel worse when I take it. I take my medicine once a day and that is enough for me. I don’t want to start insulin because I will never get off of it and I don't want to make my body dependent on insulin. What happened to pancreatic transplants?, I want one. When I don’t eat my blood sugars are still too high anyway so what's the point? I don’t know why my blood sugars are high because I don’t eat a lot of meat. I just need to cut down on what I drink. I promise you my labs will be better the next time. I’m too busy to take my medication. I can’t get a day off of work to come to the doctor. I’m too stressed out. I don’t want any more pills for my diabetes, I only want you to give me some Viagra and Penicillin. I hate cooking for me and then a different meal for my family, it's just too much! I'm not taking any medicine for my diabetes, I'm going to a herbal doctor. I don't want that medicine, I'm going to to cleanse my blood. I just need a colon cleanser to clean my colon and then my blood sugars will go down; it worked for me 5 years ago and it will work again. I'm too depressed to make any changes. I don't know what to do. No, I can't do that because it won't work for me."
Can you relate to any of the above excuses? Some excuses are legitimate, some are real challenges, and some are just that - excuses. However, what is inexcusable is not taking control of your diabetes before it takes control of you. Research and large studies have established without a doubt that uncontrolled diabetes cause major, irreversible long-term complications. Diabetes is a silent sneaky disease. If you has a tooth abscess you will go to the doctor or dentist and ask for medication and you will take it because a tooth abscess hurts. Diabetes does not hurt so it is easy to ignore it and sweep it under the rug. As a person living with type 2 diabetes and a Certified Diabetes Educator I challenge you to find the motivation to take control of your diabetes and overcome your excuses and challenges. Ask yourself the following questions: What do I want my life to look like 10, 20, 30 years down the road? Who will care for me when diabetes cause a complication such as kidney disease and blindness and I can no longer care for myself? How will I pay my bills if I have to stop working; who will support me?
Unfortunately, we can't put an ointment on our diabetes then cover it up with a band-aid until it heals like we can with a boo-boo. However, we can thrive and live long, healthy lives with type 2 diabetes. Yes, it does require effort and planning. Yes, it can be discouraging sometimes. Yes, sometimes we do have to take medications, maybe even insulin. Yes, we do have to LEARN about carbs and healthy meal planning. Yes, we really do need to attend that diabetes education class sometimes. Yes, we can take a day off of work if we plan in advance. Yes, we really do need to check our blood sugar. We must stop looking at all of the "no's" of diabetes and find some "yes's" of diabetes. Yes, we can ... yes, we can ... yes, we can. After all, what is the price tag for quality of life? Life is beautiful. Take control. Peace!
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