by Dan’elle Whorton 

Dan’elle is a MiniMed Ambassador living with type 2 diabetes. She is a single mom of a 17-year-old daughter, and she’s interested in reading and writing poetry, taking walks with her family and dog, traveling, ballroom dancing, and playing video games. She makes videos about her diabetes journey that she shares on her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/roxysplayland. 

Well, for me I guess it’s easier to start this from the beginning: What I mean is that I have what the medical world likes to call “type 2 diabetes uncontrolled!” Quote Unquote! I have to laugh at that because seriously really, was there ever a type of diabetes that is controlled?! Sometimes I look at my endocrinologist like “are you for real?!” when she expresses to me (sometimes this feels like every visit) that my messed up little pancreas does work a tiny but nowhere near enough for me to not slump over dead! Okay, all joking aside, I like to call myself the “Keep It Real Diabetic,” with an extremely heavy emphasis on that title too, hehe! Getting back into what I was going to chit chat about with you today: how to help out other newly diagnosed people living with type 2 diabetes.

My mom was just diagnosed very late in her life, just a few months ago, with type 2 diabetes, and let me tell you it really has been a crazy ride, and I mean like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at the amusement parks kinda ride! We have gone through everything with her, from either someone telling her that a marshmallow has no carbs in it, all the way up to fruit is a freebie carb snack! At times she really makes me want to pull my hair out but because I know that she is a newly diagnosed diabetic and also that she was not originally given the best diabetic training while she was in our local hospital at the time. However, I know it will take some time and I will be here with her every step of the way to help her out.

When I advise my mom, or really anyone else newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, about some of the many things that they might experience while learning about their disease, I always tell them that they will need take everything one step at a time and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day! I also try to place myself back into their shoes as well and remember how hard it was for me to realize that this is a completely different lifestyle change that will take a while for them to get used to, and it’s not all going to be easy. It’s always easier if we stick with the Diabetic Basics, such as testing at least 4 to 6 times a day or more if your doctor advises you too. That you must Carb Count everything that you either want to eat or do eat no matter what it is. Always carry a little extra in supplies than you would normally carry as you never know what could happen. I tell them that if they can get another family member to take the training with them or if they can teach them about what they need to do to help them with their diabetes that it will be a great support system for them in the long run.

Since I am a techie, it really helps if the person has some type of smartphone or even some type of device that will allow them to download many of the different diabetic apps that they have available for carb counting, keeping a log of all that they eat, exercise, insulin, or medication intake and other great key helpers needed for living with diabetes every day.

I have done this with my mom as well and it has really helped her, especially if she is not near me and has questions about something that I am not able to immediately answer for her. She gets upset with me sometimes but ends up thanking me for sticking by her and helping her through these times and teaching her all the ins and outs of diabetes and what may or may not happen to her!

There are lots of other apps that can help you too: Sanofi GoMeals App, mySugr Diabetes Logbook, CalorieKing Food Search, Care4life Diabetes, and The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2016: Pocket Size Edition (just to name a few). I also use my MiniMed 530G insulin pump system with MiniMed Connect to stay on top of my glucose levels and insulin dosages.

Which apps have you found to help out with your diabetes management?

For information about how you can try out a MiniMed insulin pump and CGM system for FREE, visit the Medtronic Diabetes website by clicking here.

You can also learn about the world’s first hybrid closed loop insulin delivery system, the MiniMed 670G system! Click here to learn how to be among the first in line to put this new technology to work for you. 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Medtronic Diabetes insulin infusion pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems and associated components are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks associated with the use of these systems. MiniMed 530G with Enlite is intended for the delivery of insulin and continuous glucose monitoring for the management of diabetes mellitus by persons 16 years of age or older who require insulin.

Pump therapy is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to perform a minimum of four blood glucose tests per day. Insulin pumps use rapid-acting insulin. If your insulin delivery is interrupted for any reason, you must be prepared to replace the missed insulin immediately.

The information provided by CGM systems is intended to supplement, not replace, blood glucose information obtained using a home glucose meter. A confirmatory fingerstick is required prior to making adjustments to diabetes therapy. MiniMed 530G with Enlite is not intended to be used directly for preventing or treating hypoglycemia but to suspend insulin delivery when the user is unable to respond to the Threshold Suspend alarm and take measures to prevent or treat hypoglycemia themselves.

Please visit MedtronicDiabetes.com/isi for more details.