Paying the Price: The Story of My Struggle with Diabetes, Part III
This three-part article series was written exclusively for InformationAboutDiabetes.com by Michael Kohel. In it he discusses his struggle to accept and control his diabetes, the problems he faced and how he finally began to accept diabetes as a manageable part of his life.
I went through with the surgery, they removed my right adrenal gland and tumor. However, my blood sugar levels did not return to normal after the surgery and my A1c was still over 14. The endocrinologist then determined that my pancreas had stopped producing insulin. It was then that I was put on metformin and started taking two different kinds on insulin, slow acting and fast acting insulin.
Big Changes
After the surgery, my wife and I moved to Pennsylvania and in 2012 I was referred to an endocrinologist in Pittsburgh. After some test from my new doctor it was discovered that my A1c was below 8, the first time that had ever happened since I had begun to struggle with diabetes.
My doctor's goal for me is to have my A1c reading below 7. I've had check ups regular now and I have at least managed to maintain my A1c at no higher than 9. Diabetes can be controlled like any other disease if you listen to what your doctors and health provides have to say.
When I started taking my diabetes seriously, I read every book I could on the subject and it has helped me a lot. Having a good doctor is essential, but you also need to maintain a healthy diet and you have to have a willingness to change your ways. I still eat whatever I want, but I do so in moderation.
Diabetes is Not Your Enemy
I have learned to not fight my diabetes, it’s not my enemy, it is what is it, a disorder, something not to be hated or despised.. At first when I got diagnosed with it I felt sorry for myself a lot and asked God why he had cursed me with this.
I realize now that we all have our own cross to carry and diabetes is mine. Make no mistake I will conquer this like I have conquered other problems in my life, with Gods help. Thanks for letting me share my story.
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