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Four years ago I was fifty pounds overweight with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, and sleep apnea. Thank God I was finally pulled up smartly by a firm but kindly MD and an A1c over 7. For many people reading this, an A1c under 8 sounds really good and and I agree completely. No buts. I was really fortunate to get a diagnosis at an early and very treatable stage.

First, I have a history of diabetes on both sides of my family. Second, I had an observant doctor who made a point of listening to her patients. And, third, and vitally important, I have had continuous health insurance and quality health care since birth.

Once I had a diagnosis, rather than the nebulous pre-diabetes cautions, I started paying attention, real attention. Some of the things I've learned since then have helped me lose 30 pounds. Before I trot out this list, I remind you that each person's response to this disease is unique. Use this information along with the information with the support of your physician/CDE to guide your care.

Tips for Anne's health:

• Stop eating any and all white food. Limit yourself to occasional small portions of their relatives: whole wheat pasta and bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes.
• Check your blood sugar early and often. You will be much better able to control and correct your blood sugar variations if you have immediate data points. In the beginning daily is not good enough.
• Listen to your own body.If carbs in the morning make you chase your hunger all day, stop eating them for breakfast. I would like to be able to eat all the balanced meals and snacks during the day me, but they don't work for me.
• Get good support.A doctor familiar with female diabetic patients, DiabetesSisters, TCOYD, and nondiabetic friends and family who stand with you in a nonjudgmental way. Your living partner nagging you about what you put in your mouth is different than one who reminds you that your morning pills are still in the box at 10:30. Likely you have someone in your life who depends on you waking up healthy in the morning.

And let me make a final observation about the value of DiabetesSisters PODS Meetups for women with Type 2 diabetes. In the meetings held at my house, there are usually more Type 1 women in attendance than Type 2 women (However, there were more type 2 women at the last one!). The type of diabetes you have does not matter at these meetings.  I have listened to women with Type 1 diabetes talk about huge fluctuations in blood sugar, continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps and pens and shots-- all of which I don't have. Yet... given the natural history of this disease, it is very likely that I too will wind up doing all of those things one day. I mention this not to scare you but to hearten you. What I see at PODS Meetups are women using their power to live fully every day with diabetes. They share resources and cautions, success stories and failures. You don't have to figure everything out for yourself. At most any PODS Meetup there is likely to be someone who has been where you are, and survived triumphantly!

• 2011 SAN DIEGO, CA CONFERENCE:

  Join DiabetesSisters and Behavioral Diabetes Institute in San Diego, CA for the Weekend for Women Conference on October 7 - 9, 2011;

• 2012 RALEIGH, NC -       Mark your calendars the 2012 Weekend for Women Conference in Raleigh, NC on May 18 - 20, 2012. Pleaseemail us to let us know if you are interested in your spouse/partner attending our "Partner's Perspective Program" during the conference.