Life falls apart at 41.... Time to fix this problem

LIfe does kind of sneak up on you. You're trudging along, thinking that because you do so much with work and life in general, running here and there, doing this and that, you're doing fine. This site is a true eye opener. Logging in each day what you eat and what you do for exercise really lets you see that its too much (eating) and too little(exercise). You're type II diabetes can be handle with exercise and diet, once you get going. Take the meds that the doctor tells you until you get in a routine of diet and exercise. Then as you monitor your blood sugar and it starts getting under better control you can talk to your doctor about weaning you off the drugs.
You can do this and there are a lot of people here to help keep you motivated and be supportive. Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like, and good luck on this new adventure in your life!

Hi Jason,

This Monday, the 24 will be the 12th year that I've been living motherless due to diabetes and most of all my mother didn't have the information that is out now about diet. Eating the South Beach Diet is a good way to get started. Getting a Heart rate monitor to calculate the calories you're burning is another great tool.

Jason, you can get rid of this...You can and You will....as long as you show up and do the work here and at the gym!! Good Luck to you!!

Suggestions: Life begins at 41

The same thing happened to me but at 50! I was shocked. I am so healthy but know my bad habits finally caught up with me. I never ate enough, my dad says I eat like a bird. What I did was so the wrong thing. My favorites were potatoes and bread. Quick, easy, tasty and deadly. I had to get over the idea that a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was a death sentence. You are right they kick you out the door with your diagnosis in your hand and say, "good luck, see you when the side effects of diabetes start to kick in". I had ro kick into action. I got myself educated. I combed the internet and signed up for education classes. I kinda took much of the training with a grain of salt because again it seemed like they wanted to focus on the worse case. I got my diagnosis by accident. I was always tired and had lost some weight and having other health issues. I thought it might be menopause and a friend recommended a doctor that specializes in menopause. Imagine my surprise when she said no you are not menopausal you are diabetic. What? I immediately started crying. She was so cool. Her question was why are you crying? This is not a death sentence you can do something about it". I wasn't convinced but she recommended I go on a low carb diet. Thank goodness. I lost 35 pounds and got my levels in line, Then I went on vacation and everything I worked for was derailed. I gained about half of the weight back over about 9 months. Then it occurred to me. I don't know exactly when, that although diabetes is not a death sentence it is something I will need to live with. The question then became what kind of life do I want to live? I don't want walk into old age with the symptoms of not dealing with this. The foot problem, and everything else. I want to be vibrant and active and I am the only one that can make that happen. I had to make a choice. But I was determined to make a choice that added to my life not took it away. I vowed to find exercise that I enjoyed and food that I love that is within the guidelines of my diet. In total I have lost about 50 pounds and have about 50 to go. It's a struggle but not one without its rewards. I am on a life-long journey and I learn something every day! My life has been enriched by the choices I have made and I am confident it will pay off. Good Luck, and try to see your diagnosis as a gift. You have been given the opportunity to have some control of what your future will look like. Take the wrapping off your gift and run with it!

This negative will turn into a positive! ...Suggestion....learn & read all you can on diabetes! More knowledge you have & understanding how this silent killer works will benefit! Follow some of the suggestions down below by other members,will be glad you did!!!
I always thought that it was the BEST thing to ever happen to me....Taught me about a healthy lifestyle,exercise,advantages & disadvantages made me aware what I was putting in my mouth!
Seek out a nutricianist for advice on portions,carbs,protiens, & fats....BE amazed what you learn....Stat of the week 1 in 3 will be diabetic by 2050 if we don't take control & awareness of what we eat!
Yes...I am diabetic and controling it,[it doesn't control me]....will beat this....losing weight & healthy lifestyle rest of my life!!!

Need any info,support, add me as a friend!
PS. ALSO BLESSED TO HAVE A PHARMACIST AS A WIFE!!:happy:

Welcome to MFP!

I will be 41 in January, so I am right there with you about life falling apart. For me it has to do with family life. I have not had any of the health issues you described hit me yet (don't know how, though), but my Dad is Type II so I knew where I was headed.

I have heard a few colleagues who have become Type II diabetics talk about a class specifically for diabetics that they take with a dietician. It might even be covered on your insurance. I would check with your doctor or the nurses who took care of you that day. They should be able to refer you easily. If not, I would consider finding a different doctor.

That being said, this is a great site to help keep track and the support is wonderful. Hopefully you have a smartphone and can use the phone app. to keep track during the day when you are working so much. It is really quick and easy! If you don't have one, it might be worth the investment.

I wish you all the best on this journey - you've already been a success today by taking this step!