On November 14, World Diabetes Day was observed around the world. The day shines a spotlight on one of the world's most pressing public health challenges, raising awareness of the impact of diabetes on millions of lives and the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and effective management. WE Life and Culture examines the realities of living with diabetes through the experiences of one woman living with the disease.
In 2019, a year after her grandmother died, panic attacks and respiratory stress sent Kacy Valentine to the Arima Hospital emergency room. That was when she first discovered she was diabetic.
“At that time, I was feeling really shaky, my heart was racing, I was urinating frequently, and I was really weak.” She assumed it was as a result of her grief.
After a series of tests, she was diagnosed with type two diabetes—the most common form of diabetes that causes the body to develop insulin resistance, preventing it from producing enough insulin. This type is most often linked to lifestyle factors, genetics, and being overweight. Diet, exercise, and medication can effectively manage it.
“My mother and my aunt are diabetic, so I guess that’s where I got it.”
For Valentine, 36, this meant a drastic change in her lifestyle.
“At first they found that my sugar level was a bit high. They did a renal profile, liver profile, lipid profile and glucose test. They checked for protein, creatinine and my blood count,” Valentine told WE Life and Culture.
She was immediately prescribed metformin—the primary first-line prescription medication used to treat type two diabetes, and which comes with a host of side effects of its own. The most common are nausea, diarrhoea, indigestion, stomach discomfort, and gas. When taken over a long period of time, it can also lower the body’s B12 levels.
“When I first started, I got a lot of diarrhoea and belly pains, and sometimes I felt nauseous,” all of which improved with time. But even with the medication, she said there are a lot of times when she doesn’t feel well.
“Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have very bad days, and I still get anxiety attacks with that. Sometimes when I check my sugar level, it would be high, especially in the morning.”
Additionally, because the elevated blood sugar levels can result in excess glucose in the urine and vaginal secretions, she tends to get a lot of yeast infections.
“I will not wish this disease on anybody. It is awful.”
Nevertheless, she said, she tries her best to manage it. Her diet now includes more non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, quality carbs and fruits in moderation.
“I really had to make changes to my diet. But sometimes with work and school, it is not every time I can eat as healthy as I want to. Sometimes I have to eat what I get,” while ensuring that she takes her medication religiously.
“The medication is there to help keep the sugar down, so it’s something I have to take every day, for the rest of my life.”
She said sometimes it’s inconvenient to have to keep checking her levels, but that too has become a routine part of her life.
“I have to constantly keep checking my sugar levels; as soon as I wake up in the morning, I check it. After I eat, I check again. I have to do it like about three or four times a day. Sometimes it’s low, other times it goes really high and I don’t really know the reason why.”
This comes with a cost, she said. Because while she gets the medication from the hospital, she has to buy the testing strips at least twice every month.
But her profile tests are done at the hospital every six months.
“So there are some cost-cutting there.”
And then, whether or not she likes it, she has to make time for exercise between work, school and everything else in between.
“I used to have a regular workout routine, but then I couldn’t get the time off from work. So now my father and I do some aerobics and skipping at home.”
But as difficult as managing the disease can sometimes be, Valentine is grateful that her condition is not Type 1, which destroys the immune system’s insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
“I have a friend who has type one, and that is another story by itself.”
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It happens because your pancreas does not make enough insulin, or your body cannot properly use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone that lets blood sugar into your cells for energy.
Main Types of Diabetes
* Type 1 Diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, this is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing beta cells. Because the body makes little to no insulin, people must monitor their blood sugar and take daily insulin.
* Type 2 Diabetes. As outlined by the World Health Organization, this condition occurs when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. It is strongly linked to genetics, excess weight, and physical inactivity, and it can often be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes.
* Gestational Diabetes. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention notes that this type develops during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery. However, having it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life for both the parent and the child.
Pre-diabetes. Blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but they are not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Lifestyle adjustments like weight loss and regular movement can often reverse this stage.
Common Symptoms
* Frequent urination
* Excessive thirst
* Unexplained weight loss or increased hunger
* Fatigue and blurred vision
Management and Treatment
* Monitoring: Tracking blood sugar via finger sticks or a continuous glucose monitor
* Medications: Oral medications like metformin, or insulin injections depending on the type.
* Lifestyle: Eating a balanced, fibre-rich diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight.
