(Image by: SistersForTheJourneyDotcom.com)
Everyone with diabetes don’t always remember the day they were diagnosed. Some were diagnosed when they were very young and some just have had the day become a blur in their mind. I think the reason my Diagnosis Day is so vivid is that its been less than a year!
I woke up one Monday with one of the worst migraines I have experienced. I administered my first dose of migraine medication and went to bed. (I worked Tuesday-Saturday.) Come Tuesday, the headache did not relent, but I had to go to work. I pushed through the day, hoping for relief on Wednesday.
Wednesday, a few compassionate coworkers sat me down and took my blood pressure. The readings were outrageous: 190/115, 175/100, 205/105. As dangerous as those numbers are, we all attributed it to the pain level I was experiencing.
The pain continued until finally Friday, I called my doctor. I have experienced unrelenting migraines, called cluster migraines before and believed this is what it was. Once they heard what my blood pressure numbers were, they sent me to the ER. My boss found coverage for Saturday and I left work early that Friday.
Once in the ER, I was quickly seen due to my blood pressure. The bloodwork came back. Surprisingly, for once in a long time, I was not anemic, kidneys looked good, EKG looked good, but my blood sugar was through the roof. The doctor came in and forever changed my life. I was a diabetic, and my sugar was so high, my blood pressure was high.
The next few months were so difficult. Coping, bargaining, dealing and just finding balance. Once I was put on the proper insulin regimen and the insulin pump, I was able to achieve that balance I needed to gain perspective. As tragic as the diagnosis was, I was determined to not allow it to consume me. I was determined to thrive.
I am lucky. I have the education and resources to equip myself immediately to prevent long term complications and even achieve a non-diabetic A1C with the supervision of my endocrinologist. 8 months after diagnosis, my A1C was 5.5. I was thriving. What I did realize was that thousands and millions of people do not have access to the same information as I do.
My daily goal is to strive to thrive. Thriving is living a fullfilled, happy and contentful life. Daily choices, daily actions and daily thoughts are a part of this road of diabetes. I certainly struggle on some days, lows, highs, crazy numbers, but in the end I strive to thrive. I want to share this message of thriving, and therefore this blog Thrive with Diabetes was born. I want to be an avenue for education for my fellow diabetics.
I hope your Dia-Journey is filled with thriving, if it isn’t, do something to start striving for thriving. I appreciate you joining me on this adventure. I hope I can serve as support, advocacy or a resource.
My Sweet Regards,
❤ SB
Thrive With Diabetes 