DR. PONDER: Diabetics don't have to be perfect - Odessa American


Few would argue that our emotions control our lives. This is especially true for people with diabetes. Our outcomes are heavily influenced by emotions and how we act on them, or not.

Being told that you have diabetes, or might be at risk for it, generates an emotional response. Often that response is denial. You will make excuses as to why your sugar level might be too high or simply ignore the diagnosis altogether. The early stages of diabetes actually conspire with you to deny it since the symptoms may be mild at best: perhaps just an extra trip or two to the bathroom each night. Blurred vision? Just get some new glasses. Fatigued? I must be working too hard. Our mind will always find a way to explain away what it doesn’t want to accept. Sadly, this is the reason that 8 to 10 million Americans remain undiagnosed and untreated each year. Are you in denial too?

...
Ponder has type 1 diabetes and is a professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center....

Read the full story

Related Stories

Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated

On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.

Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience

Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.

Moseley Named Permian Basin Regional Dean of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

Kelly Moseley, DHSc, R.N., has been named the TTUHSC School of Nursing regional dean in the Permian Basin.

Recent Stories

Research

TTUHSC Teams Selected for 2025 Innosphere Life Sciences Accelerator Cohort

A pair of teams representing TTUHSC earned a spot among the 33 startup groups selected for the 2025 cohort of the Innosphere Life Sciences Accelerator.

Research

Exploring New Frontiers in Patient Care

Jenna Kesey, Ph.D., associate managing director for the Clinical Research Institute (CRI) at TTUHSC, said it's important that the university provides opportunities for its patients to have access to innovative therapies through the clinical trial process.

Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated

On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.