Some thoughts for the newly diabetic

I saw my doctor today. She's happy with my progress (that's always nice to hear). Near the end of my visit, she asked me if she might pick my brain sometime for advice to offer her other diabetic patients who might not be doing so well. That got me thinking, so I thought I might offer my tips for the newly diabetic.
   The first thing to realize when you're hit with such a life-changing diagnosis is that it's OK to get emotional about it. It's OK to be angry. Lord knows I was. I was angry because the diagnosis meant that I was going to have to give up a lot of the foods that I love -- things like fried chicken and pasta. I was angry at the perceived loss of control. Becoming diabetic meant that I was going to have to completely change my way of eating. This was not optional. I had no choice. And I was angriest of all because I felt I had done this to myself. I kept asking myself what might have happened if I hadn't waited so long to go see the doctor. Might I have prevented this? I'll likely never know. So it's OK to be angry. It's OK to be sad. Becoming diabetic does represent a loss of sorts, as dealing with it does require a complete lifestyle change. These emotions are normal. The key is being able to move past those emotions and embracing the diagnosis.
   Once you've embraced the diagnosis and dealt with the initial shock, I would simply say to listen to your doctor and do what he or she recommends to the best of your ability. This can be hard. I know it's no fun to deny yourself the foods you like that are on the "forbidden" list. Some days, I get cravings so intense that it's distracting. I crave things like sugar. Or I crave specific things like my favorite forbidden treat -- queso blanco. That's normal. The key is not to give in to those temporary cravings. I know several people who are diabetic who don't really adhere to the prescribed diet plan. They make excuses for themselves, telling me, "well, if I eat this (fill in the blank here), I just don't eat something else, and I let my medicine take care of the rest of it." That's just foolishness. Not taking your doctor's advice about diet is literally playing Russian roulette with your health. It's a gamble not worth taking.
   When it comes to sticking to a healthy eating plan, I would definitely recommend consulting a nutritionist if your insurance plan permits it. I remember the first week after my diagnosis. I was so afraid of food, I pretty much restricted myself to Cheerios and baked chicken with a little bit of oatmeal thrown in. I was starving, and I was grumpy. I was a real bear to be around. Consulting with a nutritionist opened up the world to me again and renewed my love affair with food. For the first time, I realized that I didn't have to starve myself. There was actually a lot I could eat. I could even have some of the things I loved again, with a few minor tweaks. And the best part about it is, if I ever have a question about something I might want, all I have to do is text my nutritionist for advice. It has made all the difference.
   Having diabetes isn't easy. Getting that diagnosis can be devastating. But it CAN be managed if you're willing to embrace the diagnosis and do the work. It doesn't have to be the end of your life. Making the necessary changes can open the door to a new, and healthier, beginning.

Eating healthy is no easy task

One of the things that has become readily apparent since this diagnosis is that eating healthy, the way the doctor tells me I should, is an expensive proposition. Consider the cost of vegetables. A small flat of veggies costs around $4 .Deli meats, when gotten from the store deli, are about $10/lb. And the list goes on. It seems that the healthier the item, no matter what it is, the more expensive it is. My question is, why?
   Why should it cost so much to eat healthy? Now, granted, I am buying a lot of things pre-cut. And it would be cheaper if I bought the vegetables and chopped them myself. But the question remains. Why does it cost so much to buy the healthy food options? For comparison, consider how much food I could buy at Taco Bell for $4. I could buy at least 6 tacos for what it costs to buy one flat of vegetables. This is insane. And it's backwards. It's no wonder that so many people are being diagnosed with diabetes these days. When it's so expensive to buy the healthy food and so much cheaper to buy the things we know aren't good for us, no wonder so many people are choosing the bad foods. One would almost think it was a conspiracy between the food industry, the medical industry and Big Pharmaceuticals. You know, encourage people to buy the bad food so they get sick, and have to go to their doctor, and the doctor can then prescribe them medication. In this case, everyone wins, except consumers.
   Unfortunately, I don't have the answer to this vexing problem. And I don't really have the option of not following my healthy diet. But it seems to me something should be able to be done to make eating right more affordable. This is especially true when the health of so many Americans depends on it.