Last year, on September 10th 2009 I was admited to the hospital with a fever of 108, I was 2 1/2 days dehydrated, and I had a UTI that turned into a bladder infection that turned into a kidney infection. By the time the ambulance had gotten me to the hospital my body had gone septic. On the way the to hospital, the paramedic asked me if "I was still with them" (I had closed my eyes). I said "Dude, I'm just resting my eyes." I was unconscious for 3 days.
The Dr's in emergency of course had hooked me up to saline bags that were administered every 1/2 hour, an antibiotic bag and of course an insulin bag; I spent the next week and a 1/2 in the hospital hooked up to a "couple of machines" (more like I was borg'ed out) while my 32 BS went from critical to normal.
When I finally woke up and was ready to eat food, the hospital fed me pancakes with a side of syrup (they didn't even have the decency to offer Canadian maple syrup BARBARIANS! ha ha), orange juice, and a plethora of crappy sugary foods that were sure to kill. Thankfully, I had my husband bringing me chickpeas tomato and cucumber salad, baked zucchini and wild blue berries. Double thankfully, he brought me food every day for all my meals. I'm sure I would have still been in there if it wasn't for him dutifully and lovingly making sure I had proper food.
Being in the hospital (without a good BS and SICK) was the one of scariest thing I had ever experienced.
For the next 5 months I went through 6 rounds of antibiotics for anything from UTI to kidney infection to bronchitis. It wasn't until March (8 months later) that my naturopath figured out that I was suffering from adrenal dysfunction. Which apparently happens after a major physical trauma. She gave me some vitamins and said that it would take 6months to a year to get better better.
Here I am a year later from the original sickness and I am just starting to feel like I am getting my mojo back.
The biggest [frustration] issue I have [from all of this] is the medical community and their inability to know what is really going on with diabetics. I go regularly to my local Diabetes Association for my monthly (3) visit with my diabetes nurse and nutritionist but they don't really know how to handle me or what to tell me. Most of the time I feel like they are just passive to my concerns.
One time in particular comes to mind. I had a nutritionist tell me that I could NOW only eat 3 cookies instead of 5. I remember looking at her and saying that I didn't eat cookies and she looked back at me and said "Well, remember to only eat 3 instead of 5." I tuned her out after that.
A couple of months ago, out of pure frustration I wrote my diabetes nurse and new nutritionist (I got rid of that other one) an email outlying what I expected of them and what they could expect of me. This is that email..,
I have been thinking about our latest meeting between Chris, yourself and me the other day and our miscommunication. I want to make
myself clear about my goals so we can move forward to help me
achieve them.
pertaining to "reversing diabetes," combating diabetic complications
and general overall diabetic knowledge.
I understand that you and others at the diabetes association meet with numerous people (and have over the years) who may not comply with
nutritional basics (necessities) like not drinking alcohol or
eliminating sugar (to name a few) and this process must be frustrating
for you, along with daily deflation. With that said, I do not consider
myself "that" type of person. I don't drink, eat sweets and I look for
alternate healthy food options (although I do feel that there is much
room for improvement). I want you to consider me your champion. A
diabetic poster child.
I am looking for leadership, open-mindedness, determination, and problem solving. Over the next year, I am determined to make and meet personal weight loss goals, improved
nutritional healing, and lifestyle changes so that ultimately I will no
longer need medication. I want to prove that yes,
in
fact a type II diabetic person who is medicated can change their
life where they no longer require the medication. I will revisit my
goals over the course of the year in 3 month increments and will make
appropriate changes to keep focused and get the results I have planned
for. Ultimately my final 1 year goals are:
1. losing 100 pounds
2. no longer requiring any of my medication
These goals of course imply subsequent (other healthy) secondary and tertiary results that go hand in hand with the changes I will be making.I am presently researching and following the dietary manifesto's (if we can call them that) of Dr. Neal Bernard (ran successful low-fat vegan
clinicals on type II diabetics to improve glycemic and lipid control)
and Dr. Gabriel Cousens; who both determine that diabetes can be
changed through a vegan, no fat, high bean, raw food and whole grain
diet.
I have just recently gotten a membership at the YMCA. I have planned to attend aerobics classes from Monday to Friday for one hour. Over the course of a month I will be monitoring my blood sugar, making appropriate changes, and at the end
of the month adding another exercise (to be determined).
I need help and support from both you and Chris to wade through medication changes, investigate possible alternatives and solutions, improve and find alternatives diet/nutrition based on Bernards and Cousens concepts.
I look forward to your input and support while I make this change and follow this new road. I hope this is something both of you can get behind and would appreciate suggestions of alternate resources if you chose not to.
Sadly, I didn't get a response for 5 days. And then when they did respond, it was to let me know they got my email. A week later I got an envelope in the mail with some vegetarian recipes that were HIGH in fat carbs, sodium and sugar.
As I read the recipe over I thought "WHAT! Are these people drunk!?"
I felt deflated. I felt screwed. Was this MY destiny? I must have angered someone somewhere, if this was the crack pot medical nutritional advice I was being offered. I cried. I rolled around in self pity. It wasn't the proudest moment in my life.
I am OVER it now. This has taught me a good hard lesson about MY DIABETES. I am in control. I am the captain of my diabetes ship. And although, I was under the illusion that they were there for support and resources and that they were ACTUALLY on my team to help me do more then band-aid manage, I have come to the real reality, that they can't. They themselves don't know any more then me and if I wanted to get even more honest about the situation, I knew more then they did; I lived with it everyday.
My point, is that I am GRATEFUL, thankful, blessed, humbled, and finally feel like I have the power. I really have the power. Thanks to everyone who has come before me, contributed, shared their story, experience, words... your voice goes on with me. I carry it with me, like a precious magical prophet that is the only saving grace.
In the 5 days that I have been here so far reading, participating, listening I have learned so much.
I am thankful <3