What Proper Diagnoses means…

Ever since I have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes back in April 2008, it has changed my life in drastic way.  One of those ways is understanding my body better.  Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I used to get hot and sweaty whenever I go to sleep at night.  Whenever I would explain to doctors and friends, they would tell me it’s stress related.  Which back then could have been true.  But I always thought it might be something else because these hot flashes came every night.  But was told the same thing over and over, it’s stress related.  Things changed after I was diagnosed with diabetes.  As I study the symptoms of both low and high blood sugars, I notice that getting hot and start sweating was a symptom.  I started to notice that I wasn’t having these hot flashes or getting hot and sweaty during the night as I tried to sleep.  As the months went by, every time I get hot and sweaty or of these hot flashes I would check my blood sugar to notice that my blood sugar levels were low.  So, I would maybe drink a small glass of milk, orange juice, or apple juice and wait 15 minutes and test my blood sugar again and it would be back to normal.  Doctors want my blood sugar to be between 70 to 140.  I have been noticing when I have those hot flashes or getting hot and sweaty that my blood sugars have been below 70.

Last night was no different, when I went to bed I was fine and as I tossed and turned while I couldn’t sleep, I started to get hot and sweaty.  So, I got up and tested my blood sugars to see how low my blood sugar level was.  It was down to 65.  So, I got up and had a glass of milk and a piece of Dove Chocolate.  I waited my 15 minutes or so and rechecked my blood sugars and notice it was back up to 84 which was within my normal range.  My hotness and sweats went away.  I had a great night of sleep after that.

With me being properly diagnosed with my diabetes, I’m starting to really understand my body better as I have been putting the two things together from my past and now my present to notice the different symptoms of my diabetes.  Understanding these has helped me become a better person and more confident in life now because now I have the controls and not the other way around.

TL