Living with Diabetes – How To, What it’s Like, A Guide By A Diabetic

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Posted by Prescription Hope - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Thu May 04 2023)

I have been living with diabetes since 2013. I was diagnosed with type 1 at 18 years old and had to figure out the best way to navigate the world of diabetes. Living with this condition is not easy, but it is possible to fulfill your dreams despite the setback.

In this article, I will cover how you can live with diabetes based on my own experiences. Here is a brief explanation for how you can live with diabetes before we get into farther details.

Living With Diabetes: Receiving a diagnosis of diabetes, whether its type 1 or type 2, is difficult to deal with. Despite having this disease, one can live a normal life and fulfill all of their hopes and dreams as long as they learn to manage their diabetes properly. It starts with finding the purpose behind the diagnosis and using that purpose to motivate you to live a healthy lifestyle.

I, as much as anyone, understand how hard it is to live with diabetes. So, let’s get into the ways you can live a fulfilling life while also managing this chronic illness.

Finding Purpose in Your Diagnosis

Receiving a diagnosis of any kind is extremely difficult to handle, especially when it is the diagnosis of a chronic illness such as diabetes. You may often ask, why me?

Why was I the one that had to be diagnosed with diabetes?

Why am I the one that has to carry the burden of this for the rest of my life?

From my own experience, I have found that it is extremely freeing to be able to stop asking why and to embrace it as part of who you are. This doesn’t mean you label yourself as someone that is just diabetic. But to embrace the fact that the illness exists, and start looking at ways you can use it to find your purpose.

Living with diabetes is, no doubt, painful, and often feels debilitating. However, finding a purpose behind the diagnosis motivates you to live the healthiest you can.

I know individuals living with diabetes that have found their purpose in educating people and raising awareness around the subject through their writing and podcasting. Others find their purpose in overcoming various obstacles while living with diabetes, such as playing a professional sport or regularly participating in hobbies, such as climbing.

Without having a purpose and finding your “why,” it can be easy to let a diagnosis of diabetes burden you and bring you down.

Enjoying Food While Living with Diabetes

When you live with diabetes, it can be easy to view most food as either being all bad or all good. Though this very well may be true, we must have balance. You see, eating only “good” foods all the time and sticking to a stringent diet, though this is very beneficial, can be exhausting.

Getting burnt out over trying to maintain a specific diet can only add stress to your life. Therefore, it is best to find a balance between “good” and “bad” foods.

When we reward ourselves for achieving something, it allows us to enjoy life more. This does not mean you should be binge eating only the foods you’re in the mood for. This becomes unhealthy and leads down an unhealthy path.

However, if you accomplished a specific workout and ran a certain distance, then maybe you reward yourself with a dessert you don’t normally eat.

It is important to note here that if you have type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your condition through diet and exercise. However, you may need to maintain a very strict diet to do this.

On a positive note, there are healthy snacks and desserts that still taste good. Learning to make these types of foods may be part of your overall ability to enjoy food while living with diabetes.

Not Having Limitations when You Live with Diabetes

Those that have to deal with diabetes are faced with various challenges. The challenges that are presented make it difficult to live your life without limitations. For example, a person that has type 1 diabetes but has a dream of being a professional athlete must navigate many challenges, such as correcting hypoglycemia in the middle of a competition.

Despite the challenges that a person with diabetes faces, it is possible to accomplish anything that a person without diabetes accomplishes. There are certain measures that one needs to have in place, though, to ensure their condition is controlled.

When you live with diabetes, you are at risk of having either high or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is immediately dangerous and can be life-threatening. Therefore, a person with diabetes needs to have fast-acting carbohydrates handy.

Having glucose handy is a challenge, especially if you are an athlete or have a career that limits your ability to have resources nearby. However, the old saying, “if there is a will, there is a way” often rings true, even when living with diabetes. So, if you have a career where your resources nearby are limited, then you may have to have extra precautions put into place.

There are certain career paths that one with diabetes cannot follow. One such path is the military. Those that enter the military have to undergo a medical exam. Generally, diabetes disqualifies a person from being able to serve.

Learning to live with diabetes while also overcoming challenges, often starts with finding your purpose.

Managing Finances when You Live with Diabetes

Living with diabetes means taking on additional medical expenses. According to the American Diabetes Association, those with diabetes spend about $16,752 on medical expenses, with over half of that being attributed to diabetes.

There are both direct and indirect costs associated with diabetes. So, how does one living with diabetes manage their finances?

Let me tell you, from my personal experience, this may be the hardest part of living with diabetes. Extra expenses add a great deal of stress to individuals. But there are ways to spend less on your medical expenses. You have to do your research, though.

The first step should be determining what health insurance is right for you. Is it best to get insurance through your employer or to go a different route?

Health insurance can get complex, so it is essential to always ask questions. You have to know which brand of insulin and equipment your insurance covers to get the best price. Diabetes supplies can be purchased at various medical suppliers. Each of these suppliers may work with your insurance differently and may offer a different price. Therefore, it is crucial to do your own research for the medications and supplies that you specifically need.

When it comes to saving money, there are drug coupons and patient assistance programs that can help you get your insulin or other medication at a discounted cost.

This how Prescription Hope has helped thousands of people that are suffering from diabetes and other health conditions. By utilizing the patient assistance programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, we help individuals afford their medicine .

Conclusion

We understand living with diabetes is no easy task. This is why we exist and why we strive to provide those with medical conditions, such as diabetes.

If you are struggling to afford your medication, then contact Prescription Hope. Enroll with us and pay just $60.00 a month through Prescription Hope’s medication access service for each medication through our medication access service you need.