
Everyday Diabetes: Barbara Applegate – Mother, Grandmother, Type 2 Diabetic
Everyday Diabetes - Conversations with everyday people living their lives with diabetes
Barbara Applegate, a 46-year-old mother of two and grandmother of three, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes only a year ago, but she had the symptoms long before that.
Like many people who have symptoms for the disease, the San Diego native who now resides in Tacoma, Washington, didn’t think it could ever happen to her –even with the knowledge that her mother, brother and grandfather all had diabetes.
With the support of her family and friends Barbara is facing the disease down by taking control of her life and not let the diabetes control it for her.
Barbara’s daughter in law and Everyday Diabetes contributor Natalie Marie Applegate, recently talked to her at her home in Tacoma.
When did you find out you had diabetes?
I was diagnosed one year ago, but I’ve probably had it longer before that. My past blood tests were always higher than normal. It wasn’t until I started having nerve pain (diabetes neuropathy) that I was officially diagnosed.
What was your initial reaction to the diagnoses?
I didn’t believe the doctors. I thought that when you have diabetes you have constantly high blood sugar in the 200’s and 300’s, but mine was only a little over 100 every time.
What did you fear the most after finding out that you had diabetes?
I have kidney disease, and I feared that diabetes would make it worse. They kind of go hand in hand. I was scared of losing limbs like my feet or losing my toes due to IGA Nephropathy. And obviously, I was afraid of dying.
How has having diabetes
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