Dr. Lori Shemek – Page 2

What scares me about diabetes in me?

There’s so many things I could mention

From finding out “sugar free” isn’t so free…

To dealing with my hypertension.

On some days there isn’t much that I can do

To keep from experiencing highs

And some days no matter which foods I pursue

My blood sugars are a surprise.

I’m fearful that this is affecting my heart

And maybe my eyesight will fade

There’s so many things I don’t know where to start

But I won’t spend my life being afraid.

On Halloween night I might have me a treat

And I promise myself not to feel guilt

I won’t overdo it, I won’t overeat

But I’ll enjoy life to the hilt.

See, here’s my philosophy, here’s what I know

And here’s how I do this disease

I don’t let fear stop me from letting me grow

And I won’t live in parentheses.

Make your own choices, make you own way

And get good professional care

Take care of your health each and every day

And take all your supplies everywhere.

So yes, I get frightened and yes, I’m concerned

And yes I can sometimes get weary

But when I apply all the things that I’ve learned

Diabetes gets less and less scary.

LISTEN NOW: On October’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re talking about what scares us most about diabetes with musical inspiration from the chart-topping band, Old Dominion.

Does diabetes and it’s health-related complications scare you? How does fear of diabetes affect your life and your daily self-care, and more importantly, what do you do about it?

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Michele Summers Colon DPM, Dr. Andrea Chisholm MD,OB-GYN, Diabetes – What To Know founder & CEO Ansley Dalbo, Diabetes Advocate Cindy Lou, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, newly diagnosed Diva living with diabetes, Jackie, and Dr. Lori Shemek PhD.

We’re talking about ‘What Scares You the Most About Diabetes?’ on October’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 6 PM, EST with musical inspiration from the chart-topping band, Old Dominion.

Does diabetes and/or it’s diabetes health-related complications scare you?

According to the members of Divabetic, Diabetes – What To Know, Diabetes Type 2 Group Support Facebook communities, people fear experiencing diabetes health-related complications such as: amputation, blindness and kidney disease.

Many of our members posted messages about their fears including:

“The questions I didn’t know to ask. You just don’t know what you don’t know” – Marie Jean

“Not being in control of my appetite and not being able to lose weight!” – Chrysta

“Having kids and passing diabetes on to them” – Mallory

“Not having a family that I can talk about this!”– Gaye

“Not knowing if the meds I’m taking are actually helping or creating more of a problem. My belly is super bloated from metformin with digestive issues all the time.” – Kristine

“There’s so much to fear, so much I don’t know, and so much to learn. I guess in hindsight, I don’t want diabetes to become my life.” – Stephanie

“My biggest fear is that I will never have it under control and it will over take my life causing harm to not only myself but my loved ones” – Karen

“My son died two years ago from diabetes health-related complications. He absolutely didn’t do anything to help himself. He lost his right leg and half his left foot. He was going blind and just totally gave up. I’m heartbroken that I lost him, but I watched him give up on himself. As diabetics, we have to fight every second we are alive to be as healthy as we can with this disease. Don’t fear, fight.” – Roberta

“I appreciate that there is a lot to be scared of. I had a few days of being afraid of all of these things when I was first diagnosed. But then I got a new mindset. I refuse to be afraid of it. I will fight it with everything I have for the rest of the days God gives me. And if it does eventually get me, well I will go down swinging. Life is too short and precious to be afraid. And there are so many good things we can do to fight it.” – Sam

How does fear of diabetes affect your life and your daily self-care, and more important, what do you do about it?

Small amounts of fear may energize you and get you to pay attention, but the threat has to seem manageable. If there’s nothing you can do, and the future looks too awful, you will tend to give up and try to enjoy the time you have left.

Of course, some fear of diabetes is justified. The complications of diabetes are truly ‘scary’ as our members indicated in several posts. So are the effects fear can have on your family and your finances.

Fears are stressful, and stress isn’t good for diabetes. Fear increases insulin resistance and blood pressure and interferes with the body’s natural healing systems. It makes it harder to enjoy life.

So what do we do about it? Tune in to October’s Diabetes Late Nite to get advice from our panel of experts including: Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Michele Summers Colon DPM, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, CNC, Dr. Andrea Chisholm MD,OB-GYN, Ansley Dalbo (founder of Diabetes – What To Know), Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and Jackie Mernit Muhlstock.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing selected songs from Old Dominion’s “Happy Endings” album courtesy of SONY Music.

The country band, Old Dominion’s success makes it hard to believe that its members were once just a group of individual songwriters trying to navigate Nashville’s music industry, playing tiny bars and hoping their songs would catch the right ears. They’ve quickly become of one ofNashville’s savviest songwriting collectives with their highly acclaimed new album Happy Endings.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”

TUNE IN: Diabetes Late Nite on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 6 -7:30 PM, EST.

Tag: Dr. Lori Shemek

‘Making Friends With Fear’ by Lorraine Brooks

‘What Scares You The Most About Diabetes?’ on October’s Diabetes Late Nite