People with diabetes tell their stories
Diabetes runs in my family, and everyone around my father had it. So when I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2000, it didn’t come as too much of a surprise. I was 30 years old when I got pregnant with my first child. The baby was almost 10 pounds when she was born, which is typical of gestational diabetes.
I only gained 18 pounds with my first pregnancy, but I gained 41 pounds with my second pregnancy. During both pregnancies, I had to give myself numerous injections of insulin every day. At the end of the pregnancy, I took medication to control my diabetes.
I have been trying to lose weight my whole life. Whether as a child, teenager, or later as an adult, I was always overweight, similar to my father’s family, where everyone in the family was overweight. I struggled to lose weight, but then gained more weight, a vicious cycle. No matter how much I tried to diet, my weight or my diabetes never seemed to get under control.
In 2014, I learned about a sleeve gastrectomy. I was like, “These are really good procedures. They make the stomach smaller, so you can control your diabetes.” Of course, the procedure isn’t appropriate for everyone. But for me, it was something that could help me eat less. My doctor and I decided to give it a try.
A few days after the surgery, I came home and had hypoglycemia because I was still on medication. My doctor told me, “Don’t take any more medication.” Since then, I haven’t taken any more medication. Over a year later, I’ve lost 68 pounds and am much healthier. I’m also completely free of diabetes.
Today, I’m worried about my oldest son, who has reached a critical state of diabetes. Since the surgery, I don’t have any candy in the house anymore. I encourage him to consume real food rather than junk food. We have all increased our intake of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
My older son has also lost about 15 pounds because I stopped buying junk food at home. At his last visit, his blood sugar level had not risen to the alarm level.
Now, I eat less, but feel more energetic. Instead of watching TV, we’re driving out as a family, and I’m working on becoming more energetic and getting my kids to become more energetic.
I got out of the vicious cycle of losing weight and gaining weight, and it’s been so rewarding, physically and mentally, that it’s like having a second life. I’m 45 years old and I feel like I’m going to live a lot longer. I want to pass that luck on to my kids, too.
Changing mindsets and lifestyles
“What has brought me the most help is connecting and communicating with people on social media who have gone through or are going through surgery.”
“Surgery is not the answer. It’s just a tool that allows you to accomplish what you want to do.”
“To be successful in losing weight, you need to change the way you think and the way you live.”