My First Month with Type II Diabetes
"Do you want a few months to see if you can manage this with diet and exercise?" my doctor said first. She is well-versed in my personality. I was taken aback. She waited for me to respond, but I couldn't come up with anything. "Your fasting blood sugar is 153, and your A1C is 7.1," my doctor said. She took a breath and stopped. "You're aware of the significance of this." Indeed. I was well aware of what this meant. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I'm well familiar with lab numbers and what they signify. As a former licensed professional midwife, I've helped a lot of pregnant women deal with gestational diabetes. I'm familiar with glucometers, blood sugar levels, diet diaries, and all of the lifestyle modifications that come with a diabetes diagnosis. It entails significant modifications. It entails taking a hard look at myself and accepting the reality is difficult but necessary ways. It entails acknowledging that I have a chroni...