Type 2 Diabetes, Stress, and COVID-19

 REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

March 12, 2020

Image:  CDC

I have always had a sort of high anxiety personality.  I might not show it on the outside – because I am very stoic, but inside my brain is always running, running, and the anxiety builds.  My mind just won't stop, and I obsess over what I am worried about.  

The past three weeks have brought on the stress.  This new COVID-19 (Corona Virus) has been all in the news, with cases in the US growing on a daily basis.  It’s on TV, it’s on the radio, it’s on Google News, it’s ALL on social media.  Everywhere you turn, there’s COVID-19.  There are currently 13 cases in my metro area.

Trying to do my regular grocery shopping, and there’s no toilet paper, no hand soap, no isopropyl alcohol.  I had to go on a scavenger hunt to multiple stores to find alcohol swabs for when I prick my finger to test my glucose.  

This COVID-19 thing has me worried for several reasons.  I have an 85 year old mother who has congestive heart failure and Alzheimer’s.  I worry about another family member with a compromised immune system, and I’m worried about myself being diabetic.  I can’t afford to get sick, because I have to help care for my mother – even though she is in an assisted living community, I still have to take things to her frequently, as well as take her to her doctor appointments and other places.  And I’m also worried about what if they start banning visits to the facility, except for medical personnel.  I’m in Houston (Harris County), Texas – the 4th largest city in the US.  There has already been a state of emergency put into effect for the City of Houston.  The press conference said no visitors are allowed in to skilled nursing centers or rehab facilities.  What if that is extended to my mother’s assisted living?  I think I would really go into high gear stress if that happens.

This stress is keeping me from sleeping well, which I know is also affecting me, and can contribute to insulin resistance and even thyroid issues (which is also a concern for me).  I spoke with my Dario Coach today (I use a Dario meter, and subscribe to one of their plans which gives me access to a diabetes coach – I can get info faster than calling my doctor, and it helps me to decide if I need to call my doctor, as well.)  He confirmed what I have been reading about – that stress raises my glucose levels.  I’ve had recent high (for me) levels of 143 mg, 133 mg, 123 mg, 140 mg, 129 mg, and 121mg.  I’m drinking water like crazy, and I still have high readings.  And just having a high reading is stressful.

I know that the stress can trigger cortisol, which could eventually leave me with more belly fat – the deep visceral fat cells that are difficult to get rid of.  I’ve worked so hard to lose 23 lbs, and I don’t want to gain it back.  I know that stress can also lead to insulin resistance, because the cortisol makes it hard for my pancreas to make insulin.  It contributes to high blood pressure – which, thank goodness, has been under control with my blood pressure medication.  It’s all just a vicious circle that leads back to stress.  

When COVID-19 cases began popping up in my area, I immediately began to determine what I needed to do to protect myself and my family.  I read up on the CDC website, as well as the American Diabetic Association website.  COVID-19 is a serious threat to the US, and I need to to know how I should react and prepare.  You can click HERE to go directly to the link on their page on COVID-19.

Here’s what I did:

• I checked all of my diabetic supplies to make sure that I had everything and had enough – 
  • Glucose meter, lancets, test strips, and alcohol swabs 
• I have all my medical info available for my husband, and have fully filled prescriptions
• We grocery shopped and got all the things that I am allowed to eat – and we stocked up on frozen veggies and such, in case we get quarantined.  (Fresh veggies last only so long, so I wanted to make sure we had veggies in the freezer, too.)
• We pretty much drink only water and coffee.  So we have stocked up on our 5 gallon jugs of water, and lots of k-cups!
• I am a soap hoarder, so I already had many bottles of hand soap in the cabinets for washing our hands
• My doctor’s office sent out protocol on how to contact them should I get sick – different from their regular protocol.  So I have that info handy.
• I did stock up on ibuprofen and  acetaminophen, as well as Benadryl.  

• We are practicing social distancing – mainly staying at home as much as we can and steering clear of sick folks and crowds, trying not to touch our faces — of course, now that they say this, EVERYTHING tickles or itches my face and and makes me want to scratch or touch my face.   
• Common sense stuff like washing our hands frequently, cleaning surfaces that we use a lot (already do these things anyway!), and when in public, always using an antibacterial wipe to clean our hands after touching common surfaces that others have touched.  I am already a germaphobe, so cleaning knobs, faucets, counter tops, etc is second nature. 

And on the hand washing, just a little side note.  I got tired of singing Happy Birthday twice, so I looked up some other songs that I thought would be fun to sing.   Here are the ones that I came up with: 

Hand washing songs!
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life © 2020

• I already clean my cell phone daily — I spray it with isopropyl alcohol and wipe it down.
• We definitely are not traveling anywhere right now, so flying or going to a city where there are other known COVID-19 cases is not something we will be doing.

As for COVID-19 symptoms, my doctor’s office said if we get any of the following to self-isolate and then call their office:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath

My doctor’s office also said in their message to make sure to stay well hydrated, check my glucose levels often, and if my glucose levels rise too high, to call them.  

So besides the things above, what am I going to do to try and lower my stress levels?  I’m thinking that I need to binge watch something fun, like Gilmore Girls, House Hunters International, or maybe some comedies.  Maybe it’s time for me to go through some closets and clean them out, throw some things out, make some boxes of items for donations.  And fingers crossed, this won’t last too long.  

I’m still working on a different post, but the COVID-19 topic seemed to be timely and important.  

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of this page.  In the meantime, stay well, live well, and be well! 

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way

 REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

March 6, 2020

Have you ever noticed that when you get sick, or there's some kind of drama in your life, people tend to give you all sorts of unsolicited advice or stories about their own experiences?  I'm going to sort of step away from the physical health perspective of diabetes, and slide over to the emotional side for today.  

Image credit: Unknown

For the past several years, I have been making a conscious effort when someone tells me their troubles, to not make the kind of comments that turn the conversation to all about me, and I certainly don’t want to criticize someone who is reaching out for help.  I am focusing on trying to be a better listener and a friend.  

When I was first diagnosed and would ask questions, I got all sorts of advice from people – some were people I knew, and some were even total strangers.  As a natural skeptic, I usually let unsolicited advice go in one ear and out the other.  But that’s just me.  Sometimes, even when you ask for advice, it can be crushing, if it is delivered in the wrong manner.  

In an effort to find out as much information as possible, I followed several diabetic groups on various social media outlets when I was first diagnosed.  (This was in addition to my reading and researching.). I wanted to see real stories by real people.  What I wasn’t expecting was to see adults bullying other adults.  It was shocking, to put it mildly.  Instead of finding a sympathetic ear, people were being put down for anything from the type of medication that they were taking to whether or not they were active, or if they were overweight.  There were so many comments that were critical and even downright cruel.  I quit following multiple social media groups because  of the bullying that I saw.  It was definitely enough to make a person not want to be a part of that community, at best, and I can’t even imagine how someone who had low self esteem might feel.

I even experienced bullying via social media myself when I posted the nutrition information on a recipe that I adjusted to fit my diabetes.  One lady went out of her way to write SIXTY-TWO comments directed at ME, that the nutrition information was incorrect. (yes, I counted them!)  Never mind that the nutrition label was created from a website based on the data gleaned from the  USDA’s Food and Nutrient Databases, which is what food corporations use to create nutrition labels for the foods we see in our grocery.  This lady went out of her way to criticize.  (Even though I knew the nutrition was correct.)  She picked and picked so much, that I finally deleted my post to get her to leave me alone.  She simply went on to the next person and started bullying that person.  It was at that point that I decided that lady must be a very unhappy person, so she makes herself feel better by bullying people.

Yesterday, I was saddened when I read a comment in another online community – one that I really like, by the way – written by a person who was afraid to even tell friends of a diabetic diagnosis out of fear of being criticized and “blamed” for causing the condition.  Maybe that person did contribute to their diabetes by a poor diet and lack of exercise.  But maybe that person has the genetic markers for diabetes, and it may be inevitable that it would develop.  It is a very sad day in that person’s life when they can’t even confide in FRIENDS, in hope of receiving some moral support.

Negative opinions of others can weigh heavily on your shoulders, but that’s not going to help. Focus on yourself and what you need to do to be healthy and happy. Surround yourself with people who are supportive. I don’t mind telling most people that I am diabetic, but there are some that I don’t mention it to at all.  You only have to share your life with folks that you feel comfortable with.  (I can’t believe I’m going to end that sentence with a preposition, but I just did, so there! 😜)

Image: WordArt created by My Type 2 Diabetic Life © 2020

Now I’ll get off my soapbox.  What’s the purpose of my post today?  

Kindness is an art, and it comes in many forms — a listening ear, a hug, a smile, buying a stranger a cup of coffee, holding the door open for someone, doing a favor for someone, saying thank you, a compliment, an encouraging note, liking a post, inclusion, courtesy, compassion, friendship, acceptance, moral support, empathy, and so much more.  Kindness goes a long way.  We should all strive to be the friend that listens to and supports others.  And we should all practice a little more kindness, and a little less judgement.  

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope you’ll subscribe (on the bottom of the page), so that you can follow my blog.   I’m working on a post about diabetic remission for next time.  So until the next post, be well, and BE KIND.  ❤️  

My need for a good support system — Where do I find one?

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Image created on WordArt.com

February 9, 2020

As soon as I found out about this new diagnosis, the very first thing I did was to say a prayer to God to help me through this thing.  Then I told my sweet husband. I needed to start building a support system to get through this. 

I love this man SO MUCH.  He is my Rock of Gibraltar whenever things get tough.  We have so much fun just being together.  It doesn’t have to be anything special – it can just be hanging out at the house, out shopping, or whatever.  I still feel butterflies in my tummy when I think about how much I love this guy.  

We met at the Galleria Mall here in Houston.  I was watching him ice skate and thought he was cute.  I asked a friend who he was, and the guy’s response was “That’s Danny.  He’s got abs of steel.  Want to meet him?”  We laugh about that now.  It was instant attraction for both of us, and didn’t take us long to realize that this was the real deal.  Sorry for going off on a rabbit trail.  Back to my main point — my husband is my main supporter in this journey.  He has helped me to figure out what we can eat that is healthy, as well as going with me to the gym and working out hard, and by cheering me on the day that I realized I have lost 20 pounds since my diagnosis.  

I also have a greater than fabulous cousin who’s also a T2 diabetic.  Wendy has answered lots of questions that I’ve had, pointed me in the direction of finding information that I needed, and in general, soothed the fears that I have.  Not only is this gal a T2, but she is a breast cancer SURVIVOR!  I just love her to pieces!

Image:  ClipartStation.com

Of course, my new endocrinologist and her team are fantastic!  She spent well over an hour, going on two hours with me at my first appointment.  I go back in about 6 weeks, and then will set up an appointment with their nutritionist.  I’m looking forward to adding the nutritionist as part of my support system!  

Image:  ClipartStation.com

I also went searching on social media for support groups.  I am here to tell you, that was an eye opener.  Yes, I have found a couple of groups and communities that have been helpful, but there are also some weird and crazy groups on social media claiming to be supportive.  I joined a couple of groups that were supposed to be “recipe” groups for Type 2 Diabetics.  Well let’s just say many of them were full of people who just complained constantly and bickered among themselves. No thanks.  

Another thing that concerned me about those groups was that people were giving medical advice to each other – about medication dosages and such.  That was scary.  No doctors or nurses among them – just doling out medical advice and the crazy thing was that people were accepting the advice and acting on it.  I got out of those groups as fast as I could.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you need to be careful when using social media as part of a support system!    

I did find a couple of good groups on social media – one is a local diabetic support group that has some very kind and positive members, and the other one is a recipe group that follows low carb and low sugar.  Some of the members are on the KETO diet, some are diabetics, and some who just want to keep weight off. 

I’ve not mentioned my parents in my support system. My father passed away when I was in college, and my mother now lives in an assisted living center with an assortment of health issues, so I don’t want to burden her. I just try to be positive about things when I am with her or talking to her. 

Image:  ClipartStation.com

So today’s post is going to be short.  I really wanted to take a chance to write about my support system — I think it’s very important to have a good one.  

What’s your support system like?  If you’ve got any suggestions for me, please feel free to share in the comments below.  

Thanks for stopping by to read the blog.  I would love for you to subscribe and follow along, as I document my journey. If you have questions or comments, please post them in the comments section below.