Living with Diabetes

By Anthony Lopez - Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Diagnosis:

My name is Anthony Lopez and after visiting my Dr. Barbara Kostick for a routine physical I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I never would have imagined that I would be diagnosed with diabetes even though my father died from it and my sister has it.  After finding out that I too had diabetes I was depressed and worried about my health.

Awareness:

Now my health has become my main concern.  Things like my diet, exercise, sleeping, and medication are now very important to me.  At that time I was living at my mother’s house where it was more relaxed and manageable, because I could cook what and when I wanted to.

Life at the shelter:

Now that I am living at OHP which is a homeless shelter, I can no longer cook for myself, because the food is prepared by the cook that works at the shelter. Since I am no longer in a position to cook for myself, I have become more trusting and reliant on the meals prepared by the shelter’s cook. Indeed working there has given her quite a lot of experience in when it comes to meals for homeless shelter.   I really had to adjust to not being able to cook my own meals though.  At first it was down right freighted to think about how much sugar, salt, butter, bread and pastries the cook use to prepare the meals.  I just could not see how I would able to manage a well balanced diet but the shelter does ok.

To insure that no resident especially those with diabetes go without nourishment between meals the cook set out fruits, pastries, bread, peanut butter, popcorn, fruit juices, tea, hot coco, and coffee.  I usually choose fruits, and even though it’s bad sometimes toast or popcorn.

I am usually out of bed at 6: am and breakfast is served around 6:30am and I mostly eat cold grain cereal and milk.  I am not sure if it’s ok for me to drink milk or not I will try to find out from my doctor. If not I may have to switch to drinking orange juice, except that orange juice doesn’t go well with cereal.  So far every morning I have been feeling fairly good even though I am not totally in control of cooking for myself.

Everyday picks up right after I go through the morning usual that is making up my bed, getting dressed, showering, and completing my assigned morning chores.  At 9:30 am the shelter first resident’s group meeting starts.  Group meetings are sometimes fun and interesting, and other times I would rather stay in bed.  The meeting covers a wide range of topics that’s design to help clients cope with having to live in the shelter.

Some of the topics are about recovery for those who had drug and alcohol addictions.  Other topics are about personal planning for those who need away to manage their life.  There are a strengths and resources meeting which help clients find their positive attributes.  The resources part of it shows people where to look for housing, financial, and medical information.  These meetings are so informative that I sometimes find my stay hear an education towards becoming self-sufficient.

I can no longer drink a lot of sodas, which was one of my favorite food soft drinks because of the sugar.  I had to really control my butter intake.  Now that my diet has changed, it is pretty depressing not to be able to eat the same food as the other residents here.

Personal Habits:

Since I am now aware and more knowledgeable about diabetes I no longer smoke or drink.   Since I was a regular drinker at first it was hard to stop drinking alcohol.  I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day but since being diagnosed with diabetes it was cigarettes or risk losing my right leg so I quit smoking.

Diet:

I am still in the process of losing weight, which is another major challenge due to the fact that I like to eat.   As a result of doing research I know that I have to cut-down on eating.  Living here at the shelter requires more discipline than when I lived with my mother, because the shelter is always trying to battle hunger by keeping snacks on hand.  After living here three months I am getting much better at my food selection.

Exercise:

The other thing I plan to do in order to stay healthy is improve my level of exercise.  My goal is start walking more and more often during the week.  The shelter has exercise equipment on site available any time for the residents.  I plan to start using stair master to lose weight.

Progress:

After making dietary and some small physical changes and cut other harmful habits my over all condition has improved.  My doctor has reported that I have a normal blood test which is very encouraging to me.  

Living with diabetes has me more informed about my health to the point that I have done and will continue to do personal research on type 2 diabetes.  Using the computer lab that is provided by the BOSS Oakland Homeless Shelter I am able to find useful information from all kinds of different sources.  By reading information provided by the Internet on diabetes I am able to live a more healthy and meaningful life.  I am also hoping by publishing this informative research, it will help others.

Diabetes – Latest Blog Entry - Need Test Strips for Machine – Diabetes Machine

Adiponectin A Hot Topic In The Field Of Type 2 Diabetes:                         

Feature Article - Diabetes:   

Who Get Diabetes? - Being Latino, Hispanic African American.

Type 2 Diabetes - Having a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (less than 35). The type that affects adults – in all types of people. Having a high (250 or above)

However, there are factors that can put you at a higher risk for developing the condition.

• Having high blood pressure (140/90 mm / HG or higher)

• Carrying Fat around the Waist and Stomach

• Being Sedentary Being more than 45 years old.

• Having a Family History of type 2 diabetes.

Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes Include:

• Frequent Urination

• Always Being Thirsty Or hungry

• Often Feeling Tired

• Blurred Vision

• Slow Wound healing

• Recurring Urinary Tract Infections

• Obesity

• A Family History of Diabetes Also Increases a Person’s Risk.

There is a type 1 – insulin – diabetes.

There is a type 2 – Glucophage Medication for diabetes.

Diabetes Neuropathy Often causes symptoms of:

1. Stinging

2. Burning

3. Tingling

4. Pain and numbness

American Diabetes Association:

1. Cure

2. Care

3. Commitment:

Diabetes Type 2

65% of people have heart attack and stroke with diabetes die of these two conditions.

Cardiovascular Disease:

Managing your blood sugar level and blood pressure, controlling blood fats (such as cholesterol) and perhaps medication. Diabetes can damage your blood vessels including the arteries that supply blood to your brain and heart.  This damage makes it easier for fatty deposits ( plaques) to form in the arteries.  The buildup of arterial plaque a condition called atherosclerosis,  can choke off blood supply and drive up your blood pressure. That’s why diabetes is called a heart disease equivalent.

Possible Heart Attack or Stroke - Amputation:

Nearly 70% of people with diabetes aren’t aware that they’re at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.  Rather, many people with diabetes believe that foot or leg amputation and blindness are their threats.  In fact, amputation, heart attack and stroke all stem from the same artery – damaging process, which promotes the buildup of fatty plaques.  When the damage affects the major arteries, the result may be a heart attack or stroke.  But when plaques form in the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet – a condition known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD) those parts of the body bear the brunt of the injury.  Unchecked, PAD can cut off blood supply to the extent that tissue in your toes and feet dies. When this happens, you may require amputation.  Various tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Part 3 Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 4:07pm

Can help assess your heart function, the best way to assess your blood sugar level overtime is the hemoglobin A1C test.  It reflects your average blood sugar control over the last three months.

Your goal:

• A blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm of mercury.

• A hemoglobin A1c level of less than seven.  If your is seven or higher, your doctor will need to adjust your diabetes treatment.

Insulin, Diet and Exercise for type 2 Diabetes

In fact, some people with type 2 diabetes manage their diabetes through diet and exercise alone. Improves blood sugar control if you have type 2 diabetes, exercise can improve your blood sugar control.  The duration and intensity of each activity determines how much your blood glucose is reduced.  Exercise can also increase your insulin sensitivity if you have type 2 diabetes.  Exercise might also be the key to shedding intra – abdominal fat – the fat lies deep within your belly, around your (abdominal organs).  This type of fat has been linked to type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, a condition in which your body doesn’t respond as well to insulin.   Reducing intra – Abdominal fat will help restore better insulin response.

Before Exercising for Diabetes type 2:

Before you start: Assess your limits with your doctor. Heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, blood supply to your legs and feet.  Nervous system, blood pressure

Exercising:

1. Walking

2. Bicycle riding

3. Rowing

4. Dancing

Or cholesterol also may help prevent type 2 diabetes.  Who is at risk for type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is most common in people.  Over age forty.  People who develop type 2 diabetes are often overweight and physically active.  Preventing complications:  Taking and angiotensin – converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin 2 receptor blocker (ARB) medication at the first sign of diabetic nephropathy, even if you do not have high blood pressure.

(ACE inhibitors and ARB’s are blood pressure medications ).  Type two diabetes can develop at any age, although it usually develops in adults.  It used to be called adult – onset diabetes.  It also was called non insulin – dependent diabetes mellitus (niddm) because it can often be treated without using insulin.

The Causes of Type 2 Diabetes:

Milder form of the disease than type 1 diabetes, but it can cause the same harmful effects as type1.  What causes type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, which occurs when the body’s cells and tissues do not respond properly to insulin.  Your weight, level of physical activity, and family history affect how your body responds to insulin.  People who are overweight, get little or no exercise, or have diabetes in their family have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  What are the symptoms?

Hallmark symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, frequent urination, and increased hunger.   Unplanned weight loss, extreme fatigue, and irritability also are common.  About 18.2 million people in the United States have diabetes; of those, an estimated 17 million people have type 2 diabetes.  How is type 2 diabetes treated?  Treatment includes eating a balanced diet that spreads carbohydrates throughout the day, getting regular exercise, monitoring blood sugar levels, and possibly taking medication.  Heart attack, stroke, or other larger blood vessel disease (macro vascular disease).  Your can reduce your risk further by lowering high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  Quitting smoking and getting treatment for high blood pressure.  

Part II:

Curable:

Type 2 diabetes is a life long disease that develops when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or when the body’s tissues become resistant to insulin.  Insulin helps sugar (glucose) enter cells, where it is used for energy.

It also helps the body store extra sugar in muscle, Fat, and liver cells.  The stored sugar can be released and used for energy when needed.  When insulin is not available or is not used properly, blood sugar rises about a safe level.  If blood sugar remains high for years, blood vessels and nerves throughout the body may be damaged, putting you at increased risk for eye, heart, blood vessel, nerve, and kidney disease.  Blood sugar rise to an unsafe level even before diabetes symptoms occur.  Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, although it usually develops in adults.  It used to be called adult – onset diabetes.  It also was called non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), because it can often be treated without using insulin.  Between 90% and 95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and secondary diabetes are other forms of the disease.   Some people believe incorrectly, that type 2 diabetes is a life long disease.

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