4 Ways I Got Back on Track Managing My Type 2 Diabetes

Stress and a family death caused my diabetes management to spin out of control. Here’s how I got back into the swing of things.

I last saw an endocrinologist in October 2023. I received a clean bill of health: my A1C was within range, and I was gaining a healthy amount of weight in my orthorexia recovery.

At the time, I had no idea that life would soon cause me to undergo major life changes from which I’m still recovering.

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A series of unfortunate events

Our family had a car accident

Several days after my appointment, my family and I were involved in a car accident while driving to an early birthday excursion for our youngest son. Fortunately, none of us were seriously injured, and thanks to kind citizens in the area, the kids and I were still able to attend.

Our car was totaled, so my husband had to miss the excursion so he could get a rental vehicle so we could travel home.

I had slightly elevated blood sugar levels after the accident, and that trend continued for a couple of days because I was recovering and trying to get another vehicle.

My father passed away

Despite having the common cold or flu, I was able to regain control of my diabetes during the holidays and for the first couple of weeks of January. The last diabetes educator appointment I had was in late January, after which my diabetes educator decided I was ready to work on my own.

Two weeks later, my life took a turn for the worse when I received the call that my dad had passed away unexpectedly from complications related to diabetes. Since then, I haven’t been the same.

We had to make final arrangements within a week. His funeral took place the day before Valentine’s Day. The entire period was a blur.

It was a difficult time as I had to write his obituary and create funeral booklets while working on two business projects, homeschooling, and helping our children understand their loss.

I’ve never felt so overwhelmed in my life.

The last thing I thought about was managing my diabetes. Although I ate fine, I failed to check my blood sugar levels.

Immediately following the funeral, I returned to my design business to complete a large order and prepare for a community event in March. I was in survival mode then, and I’m still in survival mode now.

Understanding the impact on my diabetes

My endocrinologist appointment was postponed twice. To help me with adding complex carbohydrates to my diet and navigating my orthorexia recovery, I continued to see my nutritionist.

Although things calmed down, I didn’t check my blood sugar levels regularly.

Then, one morning, as I put on clothes, I noticed that my midsection looked noticeably thinner. I stepped on the scale for the first time since 2023 and discovered that I had lost 5 pounds. For the first time in months, I checked my blood sugar and it was over 200.

I immediately started using a new continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor and monitoring my numbers. My levels have hovered between 129 mg/dl and 207 mg/dl lately, but they are slowly coming down.

How to get back on track

On the day of my dad’s death, his wife advised me to take care of myself because diabetes is a horrible disease. My response was that I was doing that — and at the time, I was. Eating healthy and exercising every day were my daily routines (and they’re still the same today).

I recently discovered that I’m going through late perimenopause, which has been challenging. My energy levels have increased and I can accomplish so much more. Our family has been learning how to make food from scratch, decluttering, and just getting back into the swing of things.

The fact that I left my levels unchecked for such a long time makes me feel ashamed. I feel as if I’ve let myself down. However, I’m committed to doing better today.

You might have a similar story about diabetes and life getting the best of you. You may have neglected to check your blood sugar levels, keep appointments, monitor carbs, or take your medications as prescribed. As someone who’s currently experiencing this, you have the power to change the narrative, starting today!

Here are some tips based on my experience:

1. Take a look at what you’re doing right

Take a moment to reflect on what you’re doing right now. In my situation, I continue to exercise and take my medications every day as directed. I’m cooking more at home and teaching our children healthier eating habits.

How does that look for you? Take stock of what you’re doing well. In the event that you haven’t done any of those things, but you’re reading this and realize that you’ve fallen back on managing diabetes, then this is your one positive thing!

2. Change what needs to be changed

Once you’ve identified what you’re doing well, list what you need to improve and why you need to change.

In my case, it’s wearing my CGM regularly. Why is wearing a CGM so important for me? I cannot tell when my blood sugar level is high. I can feel great physically and have high blood sugar levels, but I can always tell when I’m low.

I should also check my blood sugar levels regularly because I am currently going through perimenopause, which can have a huge effect on my blood sugar levels.

3. Make a game plan

Get back on track by making a game plan. You can start making a game plan now that you know what you need to improve on. As part of my game plan, I’m creating a schedule for when I need to wear and remove my CGM sensors and when I need to check my blood sugar.

Your game plan might be different from mine. For instance, if you’re trying to monitor your food intake, maybe you’ll use a food diary or app and meal plan. If you’re trying to get more exercise and physical activity, you might use an app or your phone to track it.

Whatever your goal, make sure your game plan is focused on achieving it — what you need to do and what tools you’ll need.

4. Have accountability

If you’re trying to change your diabetes management, it’s important to have someone to hold you accountable.

When it comes to me, my husband does a great job of keeping me accountable. I could talk to him when I realized I was backsliding, tell him what I needed to work on, and ask him to keep me accountable.

A family member or a trusted friend can be a great accountability partner. If you don’t have that kind of support, consider joining a diabetes support group or talking with your doctor.

Your accountability keeps you grounded and motivated to stick with the changes you’re making, whether you’re talking on the phone, online, or in person.

Accept that it will take time

I didn’t get to this point instantly, so getting back on track with diabetes management won’t be an instant process either.

Take things one step at a time. Celebrate the small wins along the way. If your game plan isn’t working, make changes as needed and try again.

Managing diabetes will have its ups and downs, and if you’ve lived with diabetes for a while, you know that sometimes despite our best efforts, life throws us a curveball.

When life happens, diabetes doesn’t take a break. Knowing that, if you find yourself slipping from diabetes management, know you have the power to change the situation. Self-care begins with taking care of your well-being.

Get back on track, and don’t be afraid to start over. You owe it to yourself and your body.