My Battle Plans and Strategy

It’s almost a month now since I was diagnosed with this chronic disease. Honestly, I haven’t fully recovered yet from my initial shock. But as the days go by, everything seems to be gradually simmering down. I have finally accepted the truth that I am inflicted with this disease, and I just have to face and deal with it for the rest of my life. This disease has changed and altered my life in some way, there is no doubt about it. But my life has to go on. I cannot let this illness stifle my life, nor would I let it run my life and become a prisoner of it. Even if I was inflicted with this disease, I still have complete control of myself, my senses, and my activities. I still have the capacity of choice. I can still choose and decide what I want to do with my life. My capacity of choice gives me the power over this sickness. I can choose not to do anything about this illness, and just go on griping and live with an “I don’t care” attitude, or I can actively participate in the fight against this disease. But I chose to be an active player in this battle.

So, what are my battle plans and strategy to conquer this disease?

First of all, I want to get all the necessary information about this illness. I want to know all the essential and important facts about diabetes. What is this sickness all about, what causes it, and what are its effects and complications (short term and long term). I want to know all the treatments and medications(if any), the new researches and current scientific studies being undertaken, the new approaches, all the trials and experimentations being done or still to be done, and anything that are related in the treatment of diabetes. Being informed and knowledgeable about this sickness, as I said earlier, is the first phase of my battle plan. So, in the past few weeks, I had been reading a lot of articles, books, magazines, etc. about diabetes, and anything related to it. I have subscribed to some magazines that are relevant to this illness. I have been browsing the internet regularly searching for any kind of information about this that maybe important for me to know, so I could prepare myself on how to deal with it.

Secondly, I have been religiously following the advice of my doctors in terms of taking my medications regularly. For almost four weeks now, I have been injecting myself with insulin (8 units) once a day, before breakfast. After breakfast, I take in a pill for diabetes called Metformin 1000 mg (once a day). In the evening, after supper, I take in Crestor and Antara, to lower down my cholesterol and triglyceride, respectively. I also check religiously my blood sugar three times a day( before breakfast, before dinner, and two hours after dinner). I watch what I eat – as prescribed by my dietitian, and I started an exercise regimen – to walk at least 30 minutes a day – and this has now become a part of my daily routine.

Thirdly, I have considered taking in some special vitamins, herbs, and other mineral supplements- added to my regular medications. Just today I started taking in the six table pack multivitamins and mineral supplements distributed by Nature Made Nutritional Products. In this packet it contains six (6) basic multivitamin and mineral supplements that include: (1) the Alpha Lipoic Acid with Green Tea. It is an antioxidant that protects against free radicals and helps bridge the nutritional gaps often found among people with diabetes. It may help maintain healthy nerve function as well. (2) Multivitamin/Mineral. A high potency supplement providing essential vitamins and minerals for nutritional support of the body. (3) Chromium. It helps with normal metabolism of glucose. (4) Selenium. It helps fight free radicals (oxidants) thought to be responsible for cellular damage. (5) Folic Acid. It helps achieve normal homocysteine levels in the body which are important in maintaining heart health. (6) Vitamin C. It helps neutralize free radicals and helps iron get absorbed in the body.

Fourthly, as a supplementary to my regular medications and the mineral supplements that I am currently taking – I have also ventured into something new. With the advice of a friend, I started drinking some herbal juice like the juice from bitter melon, the juice from the celery, bitter melon, green pepper, green apple and cucumber – mixed together. It is supposed to be good in lowering down the blood sugar. But I still have to see and evaluate for myself its effect. It is still on a trial basis. Now I also drink bitter melon tea three times a day. Instead of coffee, I now drink tea regularly- which is also good in regulating my sugar.

Fifth, as I already mentioned earlier, dieting and regulating my food intake is an important part of this treatment. I take seriously about the kind of food I eat now. This involves meal planning. I have to know and be aware how much carbohydrates do I need for every meal. As we know, carbohydrates can significantly increase our blood sugar level after we eat. Thus, counting my carbohydrates regularly can help me manage my diabetes, and can reduce possible complications. As explained by the accu-check center, a blood sugar reading of 140 mg/dL or less two hours after I eat is a typical goal. For many adults, eating 3 to 5 servings of carbohydrate foods at each meal and 1 or 2 servings for each snack works well. So, now, I am trying to follow this regimen in order to achieve my goal.

Sixth, exercise is also an important component of this treatment. Since I was diagnosed with diabetes, I have been trying to follow an exercise regimen – to walk at least 30 minutes a day. In a good weather, I go and take a walk in the park. When it is raining, I walk in my treadmill. Aside from walking, I also do some weight lifting exercises. I was told that regular exercise is good – not only to maintain a healthy body, but for us diabetics, exercise is important to help regulate our blood sugar.

Seventh, I try my best to avoid stress ( in any forms). As we know, stress is also one of the causes of diabetes. When you are under stress, your blood sugar goes up. Therefore, for us diabetics, it is incumbent that we try to avoid any kind of stress that may trigger our blood sugar to shoot up.

Eight, the support of family and friends is very important in this whole process of treatment. This I can say – I have been fortunate in some way that I have known so many people who have been very supportive with me during this whole ordeal. I know I cannot face this battle alone by myself. The support and advice of friends, especially at this time, is for me invaluable.

Ninth, a regular and follow-up doctor's visit is very important. I will see to it that I am able to establish a line of communication with all my doctors, in case of emergencies. As a diabetic, I need to see my endocrinologist on a regular basis. An appointment with the other specialists like my cardiologist, foot doctor, eye doctor, my internist, and my dietitian/diabetic educator - on a regular basis - is equally important.

Tenth, I know that when everything else fails, I can always depend on someone who will always be there for me to take care of me no matter what the cost. This someone is my Savior and my God. Therefore, prayer to God is equally an important part of this process of treatment. Everyday I spent a minute or so conversing with God in prayer. I know He knows my needs. I trust that he will take care of me. Sometimes I have to realize that suffering, after all, is not too bad. In fact it can be a blessing in disguise. Because through suffering, I participate fully in the sufferings of Christ, and I am able to share in the sufferings of humanity. Maybe there is a lesson for me to learn here. Isn’t suffering the way to real happiness? According to John Piper, “We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy."