Prasanna holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Pune, and has been working as a software engineer since almost seven years. A fitness enthusiast, Prasanna likes to spend his free time in the gym and is an upcoming model. He shares his experience of Type 1 Diabetes with Nityaasha.
First Encounter with T1D:
When I was fifteen, I felt a constant urge to pee, be it day or night. In fact, I would wake up every two hours throughout the night to go to the bathroom. My father who had recently been diagnosed with diabetes found this very suspicious and got my sugar levels checked. The test results clearly indicated that I had Type 1 Diabetes. I was quite young at the time and completely unaware of Type 1 Diabetes. All I knew was what the doctor told me, he said, “You have to take insulin twice a day, as you have diabetes, a disorder in your body. You should avoid products with sugar.”
The Support:
I was always afraid of needles. The thought of injecting myself twice a day was just beyond something I could handle. I was also very fond of sweets, and didn’t take the news that I wasn’t supposed to eat any, too well.
My parents really came through for me. They were very encouraging with their love, confidence and courage. They must have obviously been upset, but they never let that reflect in their behavior towards me. Their positive encouragement gave me the strength to fight diabetes. My sisters too have been very supporting and caring. They are my biggest strength.
I have also been lucky enough to be blessed with supportive friends, teachers and relatives. They have always been there for me and I am really very grateful to my teachers and friends for the support they have extended towards me.
The Negative Reactions:
There are times when people around you, who know you have diabetes, have certain misconceptions. Like you cannot participate in a dance or swimming competition or you cannot do heavy weights in a gym. I have faced this negative approach a few times in my life and career and have proved it wrong. These are all just misconceptions people have about diabetes and need to be educated about the facts.
The Challenges:
Taking insulin at school, college or work and making sure you do it on time can be a challenging affair. I have to take two shots of insulin in a day, one in the morning between 8and 9a.m., and the other after work between 8and 9p.m.I am very particular about having food after 30 minutes of taking insulin, which is very crucial. If there is a possibility that I have to work late I carry my insulin to my workplace.
When one suffers from diabetes, there is always a fear of Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which can result into a medical emergency. This fear once manifested into reality when my sugar levels suddenly dropped very low. I was losing consciousness. Thankfully, I had taken my doctor, Dr. Shreerang Godbole’s advise to keep at least 3-4 tablespoons of sugar with me at all times very seriously. I quickly ate the sugar and felt a lot better in a while. Had it not been for that sugar, I would have probably ended up in a hospital with a medical emergency.
The Temptations:
Like mentioned earlier, I have a sweet tooth, so I indulge it once in a while. However, I am very cautious of what and how much I eat. I usually take a bite or two of sweets like gulabjamun or jalebi and avoid ice-creams and cakes. During festivals, I choose to eat preparations which have low or zero sugar content. My mother makes it a point to prepare something special which won’t affect my sugar levels, like ladoo with dates (khajoor).
Words of experience:
I would advise all Type 1 Diabetics to carry 3-4 teaspoons of sugar with them at all times. They should also carry an ID that indicates they are a diabetic. The most important thing I feel is to try and avoid getting Hypoglycemia as it is more dangerous than Hyperglycemia. This can be achieved by eating your meals at regular intervals. It is very important to keep in mind that diabetes doesn’t control your life. You have to control diabetes. It’s just part of your life, it’s not you. One must be positive and remember that to be diagnosed with diabetes is not the end of the world. The key is to maintain a proper diet and take your medication diligently. To sum it up, I would just say “Live Strong”.
Important points to remember:
Always carry 3-4 teaspoons of sugar with you everywhere you go.
Wear your diabetic pendant or keep it in a bag when going out with friends.
Make sure that at least 1 of your friend/colleague is aware that you are diabetic. This will help in case of an emergency.
If your sugar level drops, don’t panic, just try and manage it yourself(eat sugar 3-4 teaspoons) or take your friend/colleague’s help.
Take blood glucose tests every time you change your insulin regimen
Prasanna
