A happy life with diabetes

When chatting with people with diabetes on the Internet, I have this feeling: When it comes to controlling diabetes, people with diabetes often go from one extreme to the other. They are either eager to lower their blood sugar or let it develop naturally. Consciously managing blood sugar is a difficult task. However, as long as you "taste" the "diabetic temperament", it will not be so difficult to control it, and you will feel much easier! The "diabetic temperament" needs to be savored slowly, not in a hurry. You can’t just lower, lower, lower! You should realize the purpose of lowering blood sugar, that is, you must know the harm that high blood sugar brings to people and the consequences of the development of complications. Therefore, controlling blood sugar cannot be rushed for a while, but must be concentrated on the whole life. We must know that diabetes requires lifelong control, which is a long and arduous process. We must establish the determination to fight a protracted war. For us, diabetes is actually a kind of life.

Now I will tell you about everything that happened in my days with diabetes. Due to limited space, I will focus on some things about the diagnosis of diabetes and the use of insulin for the reference of diabetics. We will continue to communicate on the other forums in the future. Nine years ago, I went to the hospital for a physical check-up. I told the doctor: I have lost a lot of weight very quickly, 10 kilograms less than last year. There are no other obvious abnormalities. My exercise ability is actually stronger than before. I am an old patient and have had heart disease for ten years. The doctor said: Let’s check first. After a check, the fasting blood sugar was 13, and the postprandial blood sugar was as high as 26 (normally below 9). The doctor was shocked and said solemnly: "Go to hospital immediately." Immediately, Lao Tzu's words came to my mind: "Blessings are where misfortune lies; misfortunes are where blessings lie!" Hey! As soon as it comes, take care of it and stay in the hospital. After some examination, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Based on my physical condition, the doctor decided to give me insulin treatment. Although I have been a patient for many years, I can be considered battle-hardened. When I heard that I was asked to take insulin, I couldn't help but feel doubtful. I said: I'd better take medicine! I had this impression in my mind that insulin was in the late stage. How could I take it right after I was diagnosed? This thing is so unfamiliar to me. Besides, getting injections every day is so annoying! The doctor said : Some patients don’t take insulin when they should. When they finally have no choice but to take it, they make up for it. It’s too late! Besides, you suffer from a variety of chronic diseases, are in poor physical condition, and have poor blood sugar. It's very high, you'd better use insulin.

Did I say that insulin has no side effects? The doctor told me that insulin is a hormone secreted by the human body itself. In terms of side effects, the side effects should be the smallest among drug treatments... I was still dubious at the time and had lingering fears, but there was nothing I could do. I had no choice but to accept the doctor's advice. After staying in the hospital for half a month, when I was finally discharged, my insulin was adjusted to twice a day in the morning and evening.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I began to systematically learn some knowledge about diabetes. I had a clear theoretical understanding of insulin and began to accept insulin from my heart. But less than two months after returning home, I had a lot of friction with insulin, which almost made me leave insulin this time. One day, I suddenly discovered that a red envelope the size of a fingernail appeared at the injection site. It felt a little hard and felt a little itchy. I observed it for a few days, and it usually subsided in a day or two. I don’t know why. Is it an allergy? I don’t know how to solve it. I read many relevant articles and read the instructions in detail. I am sure it is an allergy. I thought, what’s the reason? I posted a post on the diabetes forum to inquire about this. After this post was posted, I received enthusiastic advice from doctors and many friends. I went to the hospital to see the doctor again. They confirmed that it was a mild local allergy and said that it was not serious and that I could continue to observe and take medication.

I followed the instructions of my friends and changed the insulin batch number. I sterilized the injection more strictly and followed the instructions. I felt that there should be no mistakes. This way the allergy seems to be milder in the first few days. But after a few days of recovery, the red envelope appeared again. This time I looked carefully and found that the allergy did not appear immediately, but only appeared ten hours after the injection, and it took two days to gradually subside. If I beat more in the morning, the bag will be bigger. If I beat less in the evening, the bag will be smaller.

I checked the instructions for insulin again, and it said: "During insulin treatment, local allergic reactions at the injection site, such as redness, swelling, and itching, may occur. The above reactions are usually temporary and will resolve on their own as treatment continues. Disappear." In this case, I will continue to persist. I think as long as I persist, we will definitely live in harmony. It must be that insulin and I also have a "running-in period"? In short, in those days, I was still a little worried and confused. I saw several small red envelopes on my body every day, and I always felt a little uneasy.

Although I strictly followed the instructions for the injection, the bag got a little bigger on a few days. I thought it was really not possible. I asked Professor Xu Zhangrong again, and Professor Xu said: "Ignore him, maybe it will be fine after a while." Yes." Listen to what this well-known expert said. I took more reassurance. Who cares? My mood slowly calmed down. Sure enough, half a month later, the little red envelope was no longer seen. This guy will never cause trouble to me again!

After several months of insulin treatment, my blood sugar was under good control, and my glycosylated hemoglobin test dropped from 13.4 at the time of diagnosis to 6.5. My physical condition has improved to a certain extent. Through study, I learned that the biggest side effect of insulin is hypoglycemia. One of my patients with diabetes who was hospitalized in the same ward lost his life due to myocardial infarction caused by hypoglycemia. High awareness of hypoglycemia. When injecting insulin every day, remember to shake the insulin well (I inject the premixed version) and check the dosage carefully. Eat meals in a timely manner as required, check blood sugar in a timely manner, and add meals in a timely manner. Prevent and control the occurrence of hypoglycemia. Every day when I go downstairs for a walk, my wife always reminds me: "Are the candies in the bag still there?" I answer impatiently, "Yes, yes" and go out. My wife would also remind me from behind: "Look, are there any?" I know this is because my granddaughter likes to eat sweets and sometimes takes away the sweets I put in my bag. My wife reminds me like this every time. Every time I go out, I always bring these things in my bag:

1. Candy, biscuits, water, fruit, etc.

2. A card with your identity and condition, and your home phone number. So that others can save you when you are unable to save yourself.

3. There is also a first aid kit for heart disease

4. A small foam cushion for sitting and resting.

As time went on, I almost never ate the candies and biscuits I kept in my bag, because I only go for a walk one hour after meals every day, and the time I spent outside was no more than 2 hours at most. I haven't had any symptoms of hypoglycemia for a while, so I feel a little careless. When I go out, I sometimes just grab my bag and leave. That day, standing on the balcony and looking out, I saw the bright spring scenery outside, the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Several of my favorite white magnolias were in bloom, so I ran downstairs with my camera in hand, hoping to take a photo of the blooming beauty. I wandered among the flowers, admiring them, taking pictures from this angle, taking pictures from that angle, completely intoxicated in the thick spring feeling...Suddenly, I felt something was wrong, and one foot seemed to be stuck in the deep. Damn, I subconsciously looked at my feet. There was no such thing. There was green lawn under my feet. Oh, I seem a little dizzy. What's going on? Is it hypoglycemia? I hurriedly sat down and was about to get something to eat from my bag. Oops! I didn't bring my bag! I took out my mobile phone and called my wife. Fortunately, my wife had already bought groceries from After returning to the morning market, I ran downstairs after hearing the news. At this time, I felt weak, sweating, and very uncomfortable. I immediately ate two pieces of candy and drank some water, and I felt relieved within ten minutes. After going upstairs, I measured my blood sugar, which was 4.5. My wife was shocked by me and complained about me. Fortunately, there was no danger. I'm really scared when I think about it. If I go further, it's not just downstairs, if my wife is not at home, if..., the consequences may be unimaginable. I’m really not afraid of “ten thousand”, I’m just afraid of “what if”! I thought about it for a moment and realized that my morning diet, exercise, and medication dosage had not changed. How could I have hypoglycemia?
I haven't figured out the reason for this hypoglycemia, but there must be a reason, but I just didn't find it for a while. The human body, a precision instrument, still has many secrets that are unknown!

This experience of hypoglycemia made me understand: Preventing and controlling hypoglycemia is a long-term and arduous task for us diabetic patients. We must not take it lightly, be careless, let alone take chances, and must always Always act according to the "rules". As long as we have "it" in our hearts and never forget "it", this hypoglycemic gentleman will definitely treat us with courtesy and will never cause trouble for us. Haha, this is how Insulin and I get along more and more harmoniously, and nothing like this has ever happened again. The little frictions have all been resolved happily... Now I am "dead-hearted" "It coexists peacefully with insulin. Every morning before dinner, my wife shouts: "Did you get the injection? It's time to eat!" and repeats before dinner, "Hurry up and get the injection! It's time to eat!" When traveling to visit friends, I will definitely take it with me. , with the companionship of insulin, everything becomes better. In a flash, we have been living with diabetes for almost ten years... Of course, in addition to insulin injections, we also need the coordination of diet and exercise. Only by working together can we control our diabetes. Let’s talk about it later when we have time!

This year I registered an APP to manage blood sugar, which made my blood sugar management more convenient. I can see my blood sugar and blood pressure management status when I turn on my phone. I am really glad that I caught up with this Internet era in my sixties. Make things that you didn't dare think about in the past become a reality. Remote blood sugar management has given wings to the blood sugar management of our diabetic patients, making it more convenient! It is even more handy! I am very glad that through learning about diabetes, I realized that diabetes is a lifelong disease, learned to live with it, and learned to In order to manage his disease, he completely changed his bad living habits and found a road to fight against sugar that suits him! Now he can enjoy life like a healthy person. I believe that all people with diabetes can change their diabetes and turn their pain into wealth with their healthy mentality, strong will, unchanging pursuit, and unchanging tenacity. Like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, flying freely in the blue sky and white clouds. Live your "diabetes life" in a fun and colorful way!
You can do it! I can do it! Everyone can do it! Work hard! Sugar friends!