Motivating Good Blood Glucose Control

[Kandus]

Hi Everyone! I am new to this discussion page, but have a very important favour! I am currently consolidating for my last year of nursing at a Diabetes Centre, I myself am also a Type One Diabetic. I would like to present to my fellow colleagues a presentation on motivating patients on better blood sugar control, incorporating exercise, healthy eating, as well as other important things that we are always told to "abide by" when we are first diagnosed haha! I would also though think that it would be advantageous to have personal input whether it be " How you were personally motivated by a health care professional when you were diagnosed", " Outside personal motivation", or " Negative treatment during your initial or current diabetes management" that has lead you to know longer seek treatment or help at a health care agency. There is lots and lots of information regarding motivation in diabetes, but in the end I feel that peoples personal experiences or as I would like to say "the lived experience" are what nurses can relate to as well as learn from most! Thank you so much for your assistance, and if there are any questions I am more than willing to answer them! :)

[LantusFiend]

How was I motivated?
My endo told me I could eat whatever junk food I want, and that I could eat as much as I want whenever I want.

Does that sound nuts?
I was originally given a tentative diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and told I'd need to make an appointment to talk about diet and excercise and medicine and stuff for the following week, plus I was given a prescription for liquid metformin.
That evening, the doctor called to say that I was in severe DKA and that I needed to go to the emergency room ASAP and that she was going to call ahead so that an IV would be ready for me as soon as I got there (and it was).
I spent two days on IVs before I was allowed to eat anything, so for two days I thought that I was gonna be on a sugar free diet.
I asked my new endo in the hospital what I was gonna be allowed to eat, and she said anything. I asked if I could have sweets, and she said yeah. I asked if I could have as many sweets as I wanted and she said, clearly puzzled, "It would still make you fat.":p I was underweight at the time, I have never been overweight, so that was not my question.

Then I was on NPH for a week, which was terrible, and my endo told me about Lantus.

So in the end, I was allowed to eat whatever whenever, as long as I take lots of shots, and that motivates me.
My A1c came down from over 16% to 6.5%, between September 1 and January 17.

I was not told to exercise more, I was not told to change my eating habits (I'm a vegan and I mostly eat health foods, but I really really enjoy sometimes eating a whole watermelon or drinking a gallon of chocolate soymilk and stuff like that). I test, test, test, I don't do "free" snacks.

I think doctors have to decide whether they think it's most important for us to be less insulin resistant or to have low blood sugars.

[CarrieScott]

When I was first diagnosed, I was in denial. The nurse sat with my mother and I and went over all of the nutrition guides and gave me examples of things I could eat and in what portions to do so.

I thought it was ridiculous. 60 grams of carbs per meal was my initial plan. ONE banana has approx. 45 grams! I thought, "yeah right. I'm not even allowed to have two bananas?!"

Then she took out the needle. She looked at me and told me that at that point, my life had changed. Forever. I would take 3-5 shots daily. With a needle!! I told her boldly, "I will not be doing that". She stayed calm, her face emotionless, and said, "ok".

I thought I had won.

"You always have a choice," she said. "You can choose to end up in the hospital and die too young and feel sick all the time. Or you can choose to live as healthy and as normal as anyone else your age, get married, have children, and grow old."

That's what I needed. Blunt, to the point, not sugar coated (no pun intended;).)

Alright, fine. I can do it. And I did.

I am also lucky to have a phenominal doctor. She treats me the same way. When I come in, she gives me a stern look and doesn't let me make excuses. She tells me very honestly the damage that I do or have done to my body and the consequences of my actions. She reminds me that the things I have to do are not that bad, and that I am fortunate in so many other ways. She doesn't let me skip appointments and calls out to me at home if it has been too long in between. When I told her my husband and I were thinking of having children she sat down and talked with me about all of the options, and told me without waiver that it would be the most dangerous thing I could do to both myself and my baby. (I am currently struggling with lowering my A1C)

I have never really had a negative experience, except for an endocrinologist that I never really felt connected to. I only saw him a few times.