Today i just got the news that I'm a Type II diabetic. I'm only 28 years old, and on top of the diabetes I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an abnormal ecg. I guess I'm a mess, health-wise.

I now have to change my eating habits and add an exercise routine, and find the willpower to change my entire life style.

As it is I have no time to do anything because of my busy job -- driving a truck is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. I am trying to decide if I should try to find another career but I'm not really qualified for anything else. I have arthritis in my ankle which prevents most standing and walking jobs.

Today has shown me life can always get you with something unexpected.

Because of your ankle problems I suggest swimming. It's excellent no-impact exercise and very easy on you, but you get a good workout.

Sometimes life throws big ones at us. I kind of know how you feel. I've been diabetic most of my life, and recently have gone on medication for high blood pressure -- and im only 21.

I have the faith that you can do it. I will be praying for you.

PS -- I can get you some great recipes that are easy to make and on-the-go for diabetics. We're all here for you!

Hello CT! I am sorry to hear about the diabetes. However, I can really empathize with you as I was told the same thing this past summer and it really hit me hard. You and I sound so alike - I too have high blood pressure/hypertension (abbreviated HTN). I developed HTN during my last pregnancies, in my early 30's. My doc had to pull me out of work in my 20th week and then my pressure was normal. However, not long after having the baby, my blood pressure went up again high enough I had to go on medication. And yes, I too have a high cholesterol level. My ECG's always show quite a few PVC's - premature ventricular contractions. I went through a very thorough cardiac work-up and they couldn't find why. Sometimes people just have them and they do no harm. I am one of them.

First of all, be gentle with yourself and let this sink in for awhile. Believe me, freaking out doesn't help. That's what I did at first.

You have a tremendous resource right there in front of you - the internet. Great sites for diabetics to learn and places offering support, if you need it. There are also tons of books out for type 2 diabetics that explain the disease and also tons of cookbooks for type 2 diabetics.

I saw my doctor and he put me on medication for my cholesterol and for the diabetes. They also gave me a home glucose monitor. so I could keep an eye on my blood sugars. With regards to my diet, I just started eating better and paying closer attention. Drinks like Crystal Light are great. It's made with Spenda and doesn't taste diet at all. So, there that helps you get in your needed water intake everyday. Weight Watcher's has a line of diet sodas that are delicious and don't taste diet either.

Keep a diabetic journal. I take my medication when I get up and I test my blood sugar and log it. Two hours later I re-test and log it. Then I write down what I ate for breakfast. I write down what I ate for lunch and test my blood two hours after and log it. Then I take my medication again around 5pm. I write down what I had for dinner and again test about two hours after and log it. Doing this I can see if my sugar is high after a certain meal, I can try and see what I ate that may have caused it.

My doc re-tested my blood six weeks after the diagnosis and my blood sugars were in the range of a non-diabetic's. My cholesterol went from 314 to 177 and my bad cholesterol (LDL's) was 88. All excellent.

Like you, I have issues with exercise as I have fibromyalgia. During the warm weather I swim in our pool. Other than that, I just try and be as active as the fibromyalgia allows me and I take it day by day. Swimming and water exercise would be excellent for you as the other poster mentioned.

You're not a mess. Everything will fall into place. Humans have the greatest ability to adapt. You will adapt. When I look at things, I don't see my lifestyle having changed that much. I incorporated changes into my lifestyle.

Now, I only have to test my blood sugar a couple times a week instead of four times a day. I've lost weight with my better diet and my blood pressure is wonderful. My doc said if I keep it up I may be ale to get off the blood pressure medicine.

If you take your blood pressure medicine, do what they prescribe for your diabetes and also probably take a medication for your cholesterol, soon you will be feeling a whole lot better and your numbers will be better too. I didn't realize how crappy the diabetes was making me feel until I got my levels normalized.

Take a deep breath and take things moment by moment. You're going to be fine.

Hi CT, I am sorry to hear you have been unwell.

Sangye offers some excellent advice.

Only thing I can add is that sometimes with type 2 diabetes, it isnt so much what you eat, as how often you eat period. As with most types of diabetes the difficulty is to keep your blood sugar stable. We learn from childhood to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, it depends on your metabolism as to how your body breaksdown and uses this energy.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 24. Now I have never been a big eater and would often go without meals. I kept a journal as Sangye suggests and guess what?
I realised at times I would go 16 hours without food. My blood sugar would drop and then peak after a meal because I was not eating often enough.

Now I eat small meals but frequently. I try to sit down and eat at least 5 times a day if I can, and when I do, I feel much better and my blood sugar level remains fairly even.

I always keep a piece of fruit in the glove compartment of my car, and another in my purse. That way I have NO EXCUSE for skipping a meal.

Warning though, check fruit often. Weeks old bananas in car not good.

Good points tutti. It is very important for the diabetic to eat.

My doc actually put me on a 2500 calorie a day diet. That's a lot! But it's quality food, not poor or empty calories.

CT, it is very, very important to begin to carry a source of quick "sugar" with you too. This is for if your blood sugar suddenly drops below 60-65. It's happened to me and it was my fault. Every time I got side tracked and forgot to eat. I thought I was going to die. Certain fruits and fruit juices are good - oranges/orange juice. You can also get fast glucose sources you can tote around in your purse in drug stores - glucose tablets and glucose gel are good to get.

All diabetic diets should contain snacks between meals. Like tutti said, it is important to not go long between eating.

So many people are being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, now, that I'm sure there's ongoing research to find out why. Two people at work were recently diagnosed--one of them in his late 60's, I'd guess. They also have had high blood pressure and high cholesterol--that seems to go with the disease.

The older man also had a mild stroke, so he's worked very hard to follow the doc's orders--and has succeeded to the point where he's now off a lot of the meds. He eats at least 5 times a day--and carries mixed nuts with him all the time.

Keep your journal and watch your blood sugar. Swimming is a great idea. You and your son could go to the Y together. Now that he's 7, he'd probably enjoy it--especially if he knows that he's helping you.

I don't know what's offered in your grocery stores, but egg substitute tastes good and can be 'dressed up' according to your tastes. We also have a vegetarian sausage that actually tastes like sausage. I make an egg mcmuffin using both, with a sprinkle of grated cheese and a whole grain english muffin. Very tasty!

Visit the favorite foolmoon recipes forum--I'll put some diabetic and vegetarian recipes on it. Maybe Meep can do the same.

Keep your chin up! People make small changes to their lives for good health reasons every day--no matter how old they are. You can do it, too.

Besides, you might meet someone at the Y.

Try these sites: dlife.com and diabeticgourmet.com. Also, if your library carries the periodical Diabetes Self-Management, you might want to take a look--or I'm sure it has a web site, as well.

Find a good health plan--not insurance, since you may now be uninsurable due to your diagnosis. The same is possibly true with life insurance. Your health provider should have given you a meter by now--use it regularly. Take your medications religiously. If there are side effects, tell your doc about them. Learn your dietary substitutions--they're not as rigorous as you may think. Switch from cow's milk to unflavored soy milk.

Get regular eye exams and buy the most comfortable, supportive shoes you can find.

Have your liver checked regularly. If you drink, don't--except for the occasional glass of red wine.

Remember that you have a just 7-year old son. If you can't do things for yourself, do them for him.

Take very good care.

These are the things my friend Dick told me to pass on to you.

I agree. This is my biggest problem. I never eat and oddly enough it's causing me to gain weight.

CT, I also have Type II, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and I also have the grand bonus of polycystic kidney disease. All were diagnosed a year and a half ago, though I had the high blood pressure for 15 years and doctors were never concerned (even when I was). But I have them ALL under control with medication. At my last doc visit all tests were perfectly normal.

The biggest worry for everyone recently diagnosed is "OMG what do I eat?!!" But if you just eat regularly and cut out high carbs and high sugar things like ice cream, you will be just fine. I still eat a lot of carbs, when I actually do eat, but my meds are my friend.

Hi Blizzard. Glad to hear you have things under control now. It can be frustrating and very disappointing when you follow all the diet advice and your blood sugar and pressure still remain. Quiet simply, some people need medication.

I have been fortunate enough to manage to get away without meds. Thats not to say things dont get a bit out of whack at times.

Hi CT, about the issue of driving truck.. my husband does the same thing and he's gained about 40 lbs over the past 9 years. He doesn't have diabetes but he has a cholesterol problem (so do most of the men in his family).

His problem is with exercise too. Being in a truck 6 days/week, sitting for hours at a time, you want to sleep not exercise when you get home. Have you considered buying yourself a little microwave and fridge for your truck? My husband gets points from certain filling stations at truck stops and he can pick out anything he wants with the saved points. He is going to get a mini fridge so that he can buy healthy foods to eat while he's on the road. He wants to get a microwave too.

One of the biggest issues that he has when on the road are the all-u-can-eat smorgasbords that are available in the truck stops. They are often more economical to buy than a regular item off the menu. This of course, encourages you to eat more than you should.

Some of the truck stops in the US have exercise rooms. Go to
http://www.gocomchek.com and type in the state that you're traveling in. You can check off "exercise facilities" and search for truck stops that have them. You don't have to go crazy with the exercise, only 2-3X/week would help, and you don't have to do the strenuous stuff. Just getting mobile will help, even your arthritis. I've got mobility problems and find that exercise really helps me to move better.

Hope this helps,