Susan K. Scott's Story

What were the steps leading up to your diagnosis?

Last year around this time, I went to the emergency room. I was feeling ill for a long time. However, this day was different. After a CAT scan, blood and urine, the doctor came charging in and told me my sodium level was over a thousand. While he was talking to me, a nurse came in and whispered in his ear. He looked as if he was going to fall off the chair.

He looked at me and said there was no way he was letting me go. My blood sugar was 1090. He could not believe I was not in a coma or dead. Nor could he understand how I was able to carry on a coherent conversation.

I am a living related kidney donor. My A1C was 15.8. My remaining kidney took a hit but recovered. I came home on sliding scale Humalog and 45 units of Lantus at night. Having been scared straight, I listened, learned and followed directions.

At three months, my A1C was 9.6. After suffering many bouts of hypoglycemia, having gotten my blood sugars under control and after reviewing my food logs, the doctor had me to stop the Humalog and take 20 units of Lantus after breakfast.

At my six-month check-up, my A1C was 7.4 and then at the nine-month check-up, it was 6.3. I have a 12 month next month. I am a little worried it may have risen some as I went through a rough patch and engaged in stress eating, resulting in blood sugars up to the 160's.

I have corrected myself. I will always be compliant with having the bejesus scared out of me. I will not go back there ever again... I no longer ignore or find a reason for ANY symptom that shows up. This my story!

What lifestyle changes have you needed to make?

I have attended nutrition classes, subscribed to a diabetes magazine and saved all of the recipes, and continue to educate myself about diabetes.

Who has been there for you? How?

I have the best friends who looked after me. I have one daughter in the US Army. She was not here and was deployed to Kuwait during my diagnosis. She just returned home, and I have been approved to be her dependent.

I will be moving with her to Texas next month, and she will make sure I take care of me and help me in any way necessary.

What accomplishment are you proud of?

How I grabbed hold of what I needed to do to get my health back in order. I am also proud that at 62 I received my Bachelor's degree. I went to college at 58 and went through 4 years of school with blinders on. I was determined to be an honor graduate, and I graduated with a 3.8 GPA.

In my quest, I paid NO attention to the symptoms of diabetes. I attributed many to being tired as I carried 24 credit hours my last semester and had a 20 hour a week internship on campus.

I was feeling poorly on graduation day. I could barely walk across the stage, but I made it. Then I went home and collapsed, where I stayed until I could not. These are the things I am most proud of. And donating my kidney to my mother in 1995.

What's your advice to someone else living with Type 2 Diabetes?

Eat well, follow the doctor's orders and check your blood sugar often. Figure out what foods affect your blood sugar. For example, diet ginger ale sends my blood sugars into the stratosphere.