I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes when I was 28 years old while undergoing medical exam for a job. Before it, some friends advised me to see a doctor because they thought I had all the symptoms of the illness but I brushed it aside thinking I have no reason to be alarmed.
The Symptoms
Frequent hunger pangs and extreme thirst are two of the symptoms of diabetes. I would drink at least half a litter of water every so often and then relieve myself after. I would wake up in the middle of the night several times to get water because I felt dehydrated that it already affected my sleeping hours. In the morning, I would wake up with a feeling of extreme thirst like actually gasping for air from a chase. Then I would relive myself every hour.
Then I noticed them: ants hovering on the toilet bowl. I knew from then that I could have diabetes. It was the same time that I was experiencing anxiety bouts and depression due to personal crisis. I became so thin and gaunt looking. Then my medical checkup confirmed it; I have diabetes mellitus type 2.
My Family History
I learned from Nanay that Lola died due to complications of diabetes. Her cousin, an uncle-doctor also died of the same illness. A few months after I was diagnosed, she too was confirmed to have diabetes.
It ran in the family. Usually, one or two in every generation has it. It was uncanny that Nanay got her mother's illness; it was she who took care of her while she was sick. While many relatives would agree that I am the male version in Nanay in looks and built. We are all sweet.
My Struggles with the Sweet Tooth
I have to admit that I have a sweet tooth although I tried to curb it with the advice of the doctor. I tried to eat healthy foods, less carbohydrates, fats and sugars but I always struggle for the sweet foods.
The struggles of a diabetic person include the high cost of medicines that he has to take everyday. I take three kinds of medicines religiously before, during and after meals. Add to that is the high cost of laboratory tests. My medicines and medical maintenance alone eat a big chunk of my salary coupled with the high cost of “sugar fee” foods. Sometimes, my family could not understand why I don't have enough money so it adds to the pain that I have to endure. I have to be careful not to cut myself because I have this fear that my wound will never get healed. I have to go back to the doctor every three months for my laboratory testing so that my right arm is already scarred from the numerous blood samples that are taken out regularly. Sometimes I have this feeling of being too paranoid I tell my friends that I will die young. But most of the time, I have to act like any normal person without the illness. I have gained back weight so I actually look normal except that sometimes, I still have bouts of anxiety and depression and have mood swings. I pick on the little things and I become reclusive. Sometimes I worry too much which showed on my blood pressure so I tell myself to slow down.
A diabetic person has the tendency to have a heart failure and poor eyesight. I now wear eyeglasses especially during meetings where there are audio visual presentations. My liver enzyme is being monitored because it is going up as a result of my regular medicine intake. Although my heart is normal, I have to have an ECG and X-ray procedure every six months as well as other laboratory tests to ensure that my medications are helping to normalize my condition.
Diabetes is a life long illness so I will be sweet all my life.
