Getting to grips with a diabetes diagnosis

Posted on 8 January 2015

My name is Amanda Killick. I’m a freelance journalist who writes for Mediclinic Family magazine and I’m currently in my third month of being a type 2 diabetic. It’s been quite a journey so far…

It all started with a routine visit to my GP in October. I wasn’t feeling myself; I had a sore hip that was preventing me from walking comfortably and my weight was skyrocketing for no apparent reason. My doctor, thank goodness, is a top-notch diagnostician and knows my medical history, so she listened to my shopping list of moans and ordered some blood tests. We tested fasting insulin, did a thyroid function and looked for rheumatoid arthritis markers. The results were in pretty quickly – my thyroid was 100% normal and there was no rheumatoid arthritis present, but my blood sugar was off the charts.

My doctor then quizzed me about my lifestyle. But first, a bit of background. I’m in my late 30s, am overweight, lead a sedentary lifestyle and was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in my early 20s. All these factors, plus the fact that my diet consisted of mainly white carbohydrates, takeaways and 2,25 litres of fizzy cold drinks a day – sources of cheap, easy, fast energy – meant that with years of abuse my pancreas (the organ that releases the insulin necessary to deal with sugars in the bloodstream) was effectively exhausted and my body was insulin resistant.

I don’t have to inject insulin every day but have been given Glucophage (metformin) to take twice a day, which will give my liver and pancreas a bit of a break and help regulate my blood sugar back to normal levels. My doctor has given me three months to try to correct the situation, otherwise I may have to be on the Glucophage for a while longer until I lose enough weight and my blood sugar stabilises naturally.

To achieve this, my lifestyle has also had to change – but it’s not a diet per se. It’s about making better choices when it comes to food and drink. And besides, the second I hear the word diet, I don’t stick to it! In this type 2 eating plan, the rule is that I basically need to avoid white carbohydrates and refined sugars – so no more pasta, fizzy cold drinks or baked goods – and choose whole-wheat foods, naturally occurring sugars in some fruits, and more veggies. And it’s been fab! I’ve been eating five mid-sized meals a day, mainly protein-based to keep my energy levels up, and drinking a lot of pure water with a slice of lemon. I don’t miss the sugar-rich food I’d been eating – to the point where, if I cheat and have a sip of cola, it now tastes awful!

As a result, I’ve lost 15 kilos so far and am feeling fantastic. My hip is no longer sore so I can now begin an exercise routine, which will further benefit my health. I’m due to see my doctor in the new year to chart my progress and do more blood tests to see if I’ve had any success in reversing the damage I’ve done. Nevertheless, the lifestyle changes I’m making are incredibly beneficial.

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.