Hi LoriAnne,
Welcome to the group. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger any more, we all felt scared when we first learned we were diabetic. youve received some good advice here so far. It won't be so different than how you treated your diabetes before, just a new way of treating it.
Get the books THINK LIKE A PANCREAS by Gary Scheiner and keep it right beside you until you feel more knowledgable. The author is a diabetic himself and a diabetic educator and explains things clearly.
You can eat with your family. You need to do it for them and for you. You will eat basically the same things, but pass on the high carb things, or just have a little bite. You'll eat green veggies, meat, salad and a little whole grain bread. Your family will learn to take it happily in stride when you put out dessert and they get most of it except for a tiny bite or two!
I second Nancy's suggestion to find an endo that you like and trust. It it absolutely necessary for you to feel comfortable with him or her. Go with your feelings, no matter how famous they are. It usually takes me 1-2 tries before I settle on one in a new city. You need one pretty quick, or will have to work with the one you have for now because you need to get your medications straight.
People still are finding different "types" of diabetes, or at least finding new ways that the old types work. Don't let your "type" scare you too badly, we all deal with it slightly differently but we're all in the same boat. It is normal to have a big meltdown regarding your lifespan at diagnosis when you have kids. I had a small one after each child was born--letting my mind run away with thoughts of my motherless girls.
Well, I'm in my 49th year after diagnosis. It's really not much of an issue.
We are so glad you found us. Looking forward to getting to know you.
Mich
