Twenty-three-year-old Vladimir recently found out that he has diabetes. Since he knew nothing about the disease, he was faced with many questions overnight. What actually happens in the body when sugar levels rise, how can it be controlled, how should one eat, whether and how much to exercise...?
- Ever since I found out I have diabetes, my days have been monotonous: I get up at seven o'clock to give myself the first dose of insulin. After that I have breakfast, then I rest a bit. In the morning I work at home, then I go for a walk. I check my sugar level before lunch, then it's time for another dose of insulin, another walk, then hanging out with my friends, and then comes the evening, when I check my blood sugar level again. Then comes dinner, then the third dose of insulin. The time until 22 p.m., when I give myself the last, fourth dose of insulin, I spend either walking or watching television. After the last dose, I go out with my friends or girlfriend. However, the most important thing is Vladimir's determination, as well as his awareness of what is happening to him. It is the right way to control the disease. And how did he discover he had diabetes?
- Before, I didn't take care of my diet, and neither did most of my peers. I worked all day, ate mostly twice a day, and had no time to exercise. In the middle of last year, I picked up one virus, then another... I was sick for almost two months.
In the meantime, I recovered, strengthened my immunity and everything was fine until I noticed that I was suddenly getting weaker. Even though I was eating the same as before, the pounds were melting away.
But, regardless of everything, I never suspected for a moment that it was something serious.
However, when I went for a medical examination for work a month and a half ago, I found out that I have increased blood sugar values (17 mmol/l).
Discipline is important
- I was quite calm when I found out I had diabetes because I really didn't know anything about it. No one in my family has problems with high blood sugar.
After a few days, when I found out what kind of disease it was, I started to feel fear, panic, anger, confusion...
Now I'm slowly learning how to adapt and deal with this disease in the right way.
I am slowly learning how to adapt and deal with this disease in the right way
Immediately after the discovery of increased blood sugar, the doctors referred me to specialist examinations, where I received therapy.
I take insulin four times a day, and I have also received recommendations for a proper diet and regular moderate physical activity.
Discipline is very important in controlling diabetes.
This implies that a dose of insulin is taken at a certain time, but also that the prescribed food is also eaten at the scheduled time.
A new old life
Although his new lifestyle seems demanding and complicated, our interlocutor is determined to tackle all the challenges that diabetes brings.
- I'm still new to this, but I'm sticking to the therapy. I regularly give myself insulin, I try to always eat at a certain time, I walk a lot, I forgot about sweets... I admit that all this is very difficult, but I also realized that you can live normally with diabetes - with appropriate therapy and a certain lifestyle .
My life now looks the same as before, only I pay more attention to my diet and time. My everyday life is definitely disturbed by constant thinking and looking at the clock - when I have to eat and when I have to give myself insulin. However, I am aware that I will have to adhere to a certain model of behavior for the rest of my life. But I also hope that in a few years or months I won't be on insulin anymore.
Vladimir wants to persevere in his new lifestyle and fight his illness in the best possible way.
- I'm learning how to control the disease, not it control me - says our interlocutor with a smile.
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