Living with diabetes: Importance of management and fulfillment

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Diabetes affects millions of people in the world and their day-to-day activities. For some, it can be life-threatening. Dr. Ammar Husan, a physician at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, said getting checked out is the first step.

“The first thing to know is if you are diabetic or not. So, getting screened is really important. Getting your blood sugar and A1C checked, which is a 3-month average of your sugars, is vital. Depending on the number of your A1C, it will tell us if you are going to be prediabetic, diabetic, or not diabetic at all,” said Husan.

Jessica Migues, who battles with type 1 diabetes, says she can normally regulate her illness very easily but had an unexpected rise in her blood sugar last year.

“I was admitted to Willis Knighton Pierremont last October with a blood sugar of 1100. I had passed out that night. It was a Thursday night. I fell out of bed Friday morning. My husband heard me and called 911. I was unresponsive, and I almost died,” said Migues.

To further complicate things, Migues has been experiencing heart failure due to defects. Being a diabetic has made it even harder for her to receive a heart transplant due to potential complications and surgery.

“I have congenital heart defects, so I need a heart transplant. The evaluation is going to have a bump in the road because of the type 1 diabetes,” said Migues.

Although things can be unpredictable, knowing your disease and how to manage it will always make things easier.

“Just because you have diabetes, once we control it, and once we get you where we need to get you, there’s no reason that you’re not going to have a fulfilling life that lets you do what you want to do,” said Husan.

Migues asked for anyone who can to please donate to her GoFundMe so she will be able to afford a new heart.