Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson

Dear Counsellor:

I recently lost my father to diabetes mellitus. Even though he was sick for a long time, his death was seen as unexpected and early. The entire family is having difficulty dealing with the loss.

- Monica

Dear Monica:

Death is a part of life and it usually results in pain and suffering. It is one of the most challenging things that humans have to face. Losing a parent can be catastrophic because of the bond between parent and child and the role that the parent played.

In grieving, people need comfort and solace. In the early stages, individuals usually get support from family members, friends, co-workers and church brethren. As time passes and individuals adjust to their new situations or positions, the support by others gets less and basically, the individuals have to cope with the help of God.

People often wish that they could live forever but they have to face their mortality. Usually, the family pulls together through this challenging period. It is good to talk with others about what is happening to you. When we speak about our problems, we get a sense of relief and can see clearly to deal with the problems.

During the early days, you may find yourself crying and feeling lonely. This is a part of grieving and you have to accept the sadness and lonely feeling. Some individuals are able to function in the immediate period. After a month or so, they might start to be preoccupied with the dead person and find themselves searching for answers.

Grieving can be delayed and you may find yourself crying or feeling depressed at times. Some individuals may find themselves unable to sleep or eat. You may need to see your doctor to get medication that will help you sleep.

Grieving is a normal part of life and it can last for many years.

Life not so sweet

Dear Counsellor:

I was recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. I am overweight and I do not exercise much. I was passing urine frequently with severe thirst and scratching of the skin. I did a blood test which showed that my blood glucose was 18.

My parents and aunts are diabetic, so I was usually concerned about the state of my health. I feel overwhelmed about this diagnosis and I am having problems sleeping at nights because I am worrying about my health.

- Annette

Dear Annette:

Diabetes mellitus is a common condition and is treated with medication, weight loss, diet and exercise. People are afraid of the complications and it can co-exist with hypertension. The complications are vision problems, kidney failure, stroke or heart attack. With the treatment regime, the blood glucose can be well controlled and the complications are minimal. The aim of treatment is to prevent or minimise the complications. It is, therefore, important that you educate yourself about diabetes mellitus.

In the beginning, you may experience a sense of loss and find yourself full of fear. A diagnosis of diabetes mellitus brings our mortality into the forefront and we can become depressed and/or anxious. As the days go by and following the prescribed treatment, you will find that the blood sugar is normalised. With normalisation of your blood sugar, you may experience a happy feeling as things become normal. The loss that you face with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is that your life is forever changed and you must adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Diet and exercise need to become an important part of your life. You need to eliminate fried foods, reduce the carbohydrates and stock up on vegetables and fruit. You need to see the dietician to work out a nutritional programme for you. We are what we eat, and so we need to document all that we are eating and make changes.

Exercise is important as this will help your glucose to be reduced and improve the functioning of your heart and lungs. Walking is a good form of exercisefor you and this can be done for half hour each day. If you can afford it, get a personal trainer who will help you to exercise properly.

Diet and exercise will help you to lose weight which is crucial in the management of your diabetes. As you can see, you need to reshape your life and be in control of your health. When you make the changes in your life, your depression will be lifted and your health improved.

Phone Dr. Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson at 978-8602 or 791-1778, or email yvonniebd@hotmail.com.