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Originally Posted by Fizz  This is a lot to take in, and frankly getting my mother to answer questions is nearly impossible. I don't know what type she has, I know that might seem like I don't care, but I've tried asking her questions and like I said she can be difficult, but I do know that she has been overweight for years and that now she watches her sugar like a hawk. I'm not overweight myself, I was but I lost the weight last year, I gained it because I am a heavy coffee drinker and I sweeten my coffee, but now I use splenda. The weight just fell off. |
No worries!
More than likely she might not even know that there IS more than one form of diabetes. Most people don't! And most doctors unfortunately never take the time to really explain a condition to their patient (assuming the patient is mentally fit to understand).
It sounds like your mother has Type 2 diabetes. This is the form often linked to excess weight. It is more common in the elderly. The good news is, in many cases, Type 2 diabetes can be delayed and even prevented with a healthy lifestyle. As you can see, small changes make a *huge* difference. Congrats on your weight loss! Now you just need to stick with it!
Type 1 diabetes (used to be called Juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes) *normally* appears in children and is sudden onset. This form always requires insulin right away, is not ever preventable, and is NOT linked to diet, exercise, or weight.
Note: If you have any sudden excess weight loss that is unexplained, or have any symptoms of diabetes (extreme thirst, excess urination, etc.) see your doctor right away. I do think you should ask you doctor for a diabetes screening as soon as you can, just to be safe. Following a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a normal weight can go a long way to help prevent some cases of Type 2 diabetes.
Don't be hard on yourself.
There is a lot to learn, but know that you are already ahead of the game by asking questions and educating yourself. Your mom is very lucky that she has someone like you, and I think she is in good hands!
Remember this: Small changes make big impacts. That's a huge role in diabetes management. Let me know how Meals on Wheels works out for your mom!