Soooo I didn't have time to do a video this week but I promise I will be making one soon! Pinky promise!
This week is going to be about diabetes and my story so far! I was going to post about this weeks events in Paris but it has been talked about that much and has caused so many unnecessary arguments that I didn't think it was wise to write a post about it. So in an attempt to shy away from idiotic comments I have decided to talk about something pretty personal.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at the start of June this year. Type 2 is the least serious Diabetes and I don't have to inject insulin but I still have to control my way of living and diet. I went to the doctors for reasons that I didn't think related to diabetes and was first diagnosed with Polysistic Ovary Syndrome. When they told me I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I know I went into shock and spent the afternoon crying and eating chocolate and I didn't think it could get much worse. On a further investigation into my health the doctors discovered I had diabetes. I don't think I will ever forget being sat in the doctors chair being told I had diabetes. Do you know that fuzzy noise it makes when you put your fingers in your ears? Well thats all I can remember hearing after the doctor told me. I had broken a fundamental rule that I had for myself. Part of me didn't believe the doctor when he told me because I obviously didn't want it to be true but I have always said as long as I am healthy then me being big isn't an issue. I have lived on this mentality all of my life! For those who know me well they know that I don't do well with change and I suffer a lot with anxiety so the thought of having that a mentality that I relied upon had to be changed was devastating for me! Looking back I know that this was one of my biggest issues and I handled the news pretty badly.
I first was in shock and refused to believe that I was ill and I wanted to avoid talking about it to anyone. Then when I started taking the medication it made me sick and poorly. I was also realising I couldn't eat and drink what I wanted to and my normal reaction to dealing with pain and stress was to comfort eat and I couldn't do this! A mixture of everything all at once caused me to get really down and life outside of diabetes wasn't going the way I had planned it either. The job I thought I had in place was no longer there my health was at an all time low and I felt a little alone. I stopped taking my medication and I ignored it and for 2 months I didn't do anything. I became my own island state. When I was told about my health I was just finishing university, I had an exhibition to finish, and my 21st birthday was coming up but once those occasions past I had nothing to focus on other than my health which wasn't good for me.
When I finally picked myself up I got myself a job and went back to the doctors to sort out my medication and get the information I needed about my diabetes and booked in for another eye screening which I had failed to go to previously. I got slow release tablets that sound of been easier but the first few weeks of getting your system used to them can be a little rough and I had just started a new job. I became poorly with flu, throat infections, ear infections and tonsillitis for over a month and decided to hand my notice in as I wasn't fit to work and I began to neglect my tablets as I felt that they where the cause of me feeling so poorly.
It comes to present and I have recently started taking my tablets again as I know I need to get my health back on track. I have been for my eye screening which was extremely weird! In fact I will tell you all about my eye screening! They first make you do an eye test which I expected but then they proceed to put drops in your eyes that widen you pupils! I looked like something out of a horror movie they where that big! Anyway you wait for 15 minutes while your pupils widen and all your vision becomes blurry and you go back into the doctors room and they have this huge camera that you have to look into and it flashes really brightly and half blinds you! It takes pictures of your whole eye to check for diabetic retinopathy which can cause blindness in later life. Your eyesight is pretty horrendous for about 3 or 4 hours afterwards and I ended up texting people that I shouldn't! FAIL! I am pleased to tell you I received a letter today to say that my results came through all clear which I was extremely happy about! There isn't much room in the industry for a blind photographer I don't think!
The depth of seriousness for diabetes is only really just sinking in for me and I have such a long way to go before I am on the right path. The lucky thing for me is that if I take my medication and diet correctly I can get rid of my diabetes. I didn't focus on this point at first because it is human nature to focus on the negative! I am learning that the more positive I am about situations the easier it is to cope. I would also like to make it clear to people that Diabetes isn't just a "fat person" disease. It can effect anyone and some people are born with it! Labelling it as a disease for big people puts such a negative light on it that people don't like to admit that they have it in case somebody judges them! In fact if people where supported those with Diabetes you are more likely to help them get rid of it like I can!
If you want to know more about diabetes visit:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/
To finish off this post I am going to leave you with a picture of my very large pupil! ENJOY!! :)
This week is going to be about diabetes and my story so far! I was going to post about this weeks events in Paris but it has been talked about that much and has caused so many unnecessary arguments that I didn't think it was wise to write a post about it. So in an attempt to shy away from idiotic comments I have decided to talk about something pretty personal.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at the start of June this year. Type 2 is the least serious Diabetes and I don't have to inject insulin but I still have to control my way of living and diet. I went to the doctors for reasons that I didn't think related to diabetes and was first diagnosed with Polysistic Ovary Syndrome. When they told me I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I know I went into shock and spent the afternoon crying and eating chocolate and I didn't think it could get much worse. On a further investigation into my health the doctors discovered I had diabetes. I don't think I will ever forget being sat in the doctors chair being told I had diabetes. Do you know that fuzzy noise it makes when you put your fingers in your ears? Well thats all I can remember hearing after the doctor told me. I had broken a fundamental rule that I had for myself. Part of me didn't believe the doctor when he told me because I obviously didn't want it to be true but I have always said as long as I am healthy then me being big isn't an issue. I have lived on this mentality all of my life! For those who know me well they know that I don't do well with change and I suffer a lot with anxiety so the thought of having that a mentality that I relied upon had to be changed was devastating for me! Looking back I know that this was one of my biggest issues and I handled the news pretty badly.
I first was in shock and refused to believe that I was ill and I wanted to avoid talking about it to anyone. Then when I started taking the medication it made me sick and poorly. I was also realising I couldn't eat and drink what I wanted to and my normal reaction to dealing with pain and stress was to comfort eat and I couldn't do this! A mixture of everything all at once caused me to get really down and life outside of diabetes wasn't going the way I had planned it either. The job I thought I had in place was no longer there my health was at an all time low and I felt a little alone. I stopped taking my medication and I ignored it and for 2 months I didn't do anything. I became my own island state. When I was told about my health I was just finishing university, I had an exhibition to finish, and my 21st birthday was coming up but once those occasions past I had nothing to focus on other than my health which wasn't good for me.
When I finally picked myself up I got myself a job and went back to the doctors to sort out my medication and get the information I needed about my diabetes and booked in for another eye screening which I had failed to go to previously. I got slow release tablets that sound of been easier but the first few weeks of getting your system used to them can be a little rough and I had just started a new job. I became poorly with flu, throat infections, ear infections and tonsillitis for over a month and decided to hand my notice in as I wasn't fit to work and I began to neglect my tablets as I felt that they where the cause of me feeling so poorly.
It comes to present and I have recently started taking my tablets again as I know I need to get my health back on track. I have been for my eye screening which was extremely weird! In fact I will tell you all about my eye screening! They first make you do an eye test which I expected but then they proceed to put drops in your eyes that widen you pupils! I looked like something out of a horror movie they where that big! Anyway you wait for 15 minutes while your pupils widen and all your vision becomes blurry and you go back into the doctors room and they have this huge camera that you have to look into and it flashes really brightly and half blinds you! It takes pictures of your whole eye to check for diabetic retinopathy which can cause blindness in later life. Your eyesight is pretty horrendous for about 3 or 4 hours afterwards and I ended up texting people that I shouldn't! FAIL! I am pleased to tell you I received a letter today to say that my results came through all clear which I was extremely happy about! There isn't much room in the industry for a blind photographer I don't think!
The depth of seriousness for diabetes is only really just sinking in for me and I have such a long way to go before I am on the right path. The lucky thing for me is that if I take my medication and diet correctly I can get rid of my diabetes. I didn't focus on this point at first because it is human nature to focus on the negative! I am learning that the more positive I am about situations the easier it is to cope. I would also like to make it clear to people that Diabetes isn't just a "fat person" disease. It can effect anyone and some people are born with it! Labelling it as a disease for big people puts such a negative light on it that people don't like to admit that they have it in case somebody judges them! In fact if people where supported those with Diabetes you are more likely to help them get rid of it like I can!
If you want to know more about diabetes visit:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/
To finish off this post I am going to leave you with a picture of my very large pupil! ENJOY!! :)
Peace and Love,
Katie x
Katie x