reassurance

On Wednesday Eric and I went to an all-day diabetes education class through a local hospital (that just happens to be where I work).  It actually made me feel better on a few counts. 

First, though, can we talk about hospital registration?  Wouldn't you know that B had a large McCafe iced frappe something or other AND a cupcake calendar at her desk?

I'll get that bitch some sweets.  Bitches love sweets.

Anyway, back to class.

We covered the basics of the disease process, complications, medications, mental health, exercise, and diet. 

We'll call our main instructor "R".  When she was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic, R chose to use insulin therapy over medication.  Number 1 reassurance.  She's been doing this (successfully) for over a decade and lives an active lifestyle.  While insulin is the only treatment option for type 1 diabetics, I think there's a stigma that goes along with insulin, like it's a last resort/end-of-the-road kind of thing.  That someone would choose insulin when others have no choice was incomprehensible to me at first, but actually makes sense: it's able to give the tightest control on your blood sugar and can therefore make you feel like you have more freedom. 

Of the 5 patients in attendance, my A1C was the best-controlled.  Number 2 reassurance.  I've felt like a failure with my diet and exercise choices because that number was high.  Come to find out there are people walking around with an A1C TWICE AS HIGH as mine. 

The number 3 reassurance comes from the support of my husband.  The carb counting exercise was fun (and eye-opening...have you ever measured out a serving size of cereal? do it right now) but it was overwhelming to picture the rest of my life thinking about carbohydrates.  I hated biochem, remember?  But Eric faithfully insists that we'll do this together.  I feel horrible knowing he'll be restricted because of me, but he reminded me that's a two-way street.  I know that if we both make a diligent effort to be healthy, we'll be better off in the long run.  Especially since we plan on being married for like, a hundred more years.

All in all, the class was very informative.  This program offers monthly follow-up classes that focus on specific subjects, and just knowing that the support staff are right in my building and only a phone call away is reassurance #4. 

I've never been one to keep (correction: make) healthy New Years resolutions, but in this case I don't think I have a choice.  BUT I feel more peace of mind right now than I have this past year. 

I got this.