Diabetes – Day 7 & Overall Reflection

For the final day, I continued with advanced carbohydrate counting/insulin dose adjustment based on intake because this was the method I identified with the most. I believe that this would be the most accurate way to manage blood glucose levels whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, assuming the patient has the motivation and understanding to do it.
This week has been fun, and educational. Compared to the week I spent on the renal (pre-dialysis) diet in my undergrad MNT class, this was a piece of cake (no pun intended). Here’s what I got out of it (in no particular order of importance):
1. I am happy to say I have gotten over my fear of needles. I can’t even watch when someone else gives me a shot. Orientation was the first time I was able to actually stick myself with a needle. In the past, I had to have someone else do it. Now, after sticking myself 3 times a day for 7 days, I’m pretty numb to it.
2. I would make a great diabetic patient. My typical meal pattern is already pretty evenly distributed with carbohydrate. I’m a huge perfectionist and am very organized, and have a good memory for things like checking blood sugar. I almost always have my meals planned out, at least in my head, for the whole day. I have been known to look up the nutrition information of restaurant menus before I go there, so I can decide what I’m getting before I arrive. I realize that it is extremely unlikely that my patients will come equipped with all, if any, of these attributes.
3. Don’t freeze the other half of the large/medium banana for later. Share it with a friend, or just use the whole darn thing and adjust for it. Icky texture change is not worth it!
4. Hooray for wine, a great low carb drink choice!
5. Despite my desire to follow the meal plan precisely, something always came up that caused me to change it in some way or another. That’s life – you just have to be ready to deal with it. I will remember this when working with patients, and will focus on education so that they can adjust for changes in their plan.
6. I love advanced carbohydrate counting! I know I am going to want everyone to get there, but will have to recognize when people are and aren’t ready for this method. For some, the plate method (although I practically loathed it) will be the most appropriate thing to teach.
7. I believe the hardest part about being diagnosed with diabetes would be the perceived loss of freedom and ability to be spontaneous. You can’t just eat or drink whatever or whenever you want, and you always have to carry your supplies with you. You have to be aware of what you’re eating, how much, and how you’re feeling between meals. You have to be prepared and know what to do in case your blood sugar gets to low. I have a feeling that many people probably go through some period of denial/anger after being diagnosed. It will be important to recognize this in patients and only give them the information they are ready to hear so as not to overwhelm them even more.