I'm a worrisome worrier, and if you don't want to ride the emotional rollercoaster with me, then maybe skip reading this review.

I've never considered myself a healthy person. I've always been plagued by aches and pains here and there. And even though doctors said I was fine, I had my doubts.

At some point, I just checked out, and when I came to, I had a weight problem that was clearly taking a toll on my body.

I didn't have any obvious issues, just constant fatigue and shortness of breath when climbing to the 9th floor, which started showing up around the 4-5th floor. I used to be able to run up and down those stairs 3-4 times as a warm-up! I decided to get a check-up and run some basic tests.

As soon as doctors saw me, they'd start telling me to lose weight and have kids, and also to get my thyroid checked, lower my cholesterol, and look for diabetes, because I was clearly going to get it.

They'd explain how terrible diabetes was, how people lose their limbs, their vision, and their minds due to vascular dementia, and I'm just like... I got overwhelmed. Plus, my mom has diabetes. Before the test, I was shaking like a leaf.

The doctor didn't sugarcoat things, didn't scare me in the usual way, and didn't promise me a certain future, but even her tone was enough to send me into a panic. She spoke as if the diagnosis was already made, and that's what my prospects would be if I didn't lose weight.

I knew the consequences of diabetes, but I hadn't put that diagnosis on myself. I went to the doctor with fatigue as my only complaint, and the doctors weren't even endocrinologists. But in the moment, I wasn't thinking clearly.

It got to the point where the day before the test, I couldn't eat normally - I was too scared to eat. My heart was racing, I had the shakes, and tears were welling up in my eyes. I was going in for a glucose test like it was a death sentence. Now I realize that the 'concerned' doctors and family members had me so worked up that I had a panic attack. But at the time, I didn't get it.

I gave blood, and the next day, I got the results - 7.3. Diabetes. That was it. Game over. The doctors and family came running. I had diabetes.

At that moment, it felt like my whole world had come crashing down. I'd never be able to enjoy my favorite foods again, I'd never see old age with clear eyes, and I'd never walk barefoot on the beach.Life just... stopped.

However, it's worth noting that diabetes isn't diagnosed based on one blood test. It's diagnosed based on two blood tests and a glycosylated hemoglobin test.

I took a deep breath and started actively monitoring my diet. I lost weight and ate a lot of veggies and protein.

Here's what my meals looked like: grilled chicken with cottage cheese, beans, cucumbers, and a zucchini salad.

Vegetables, homemade chicken patties, and green beans.

Chicken, rice, zucchini, and cucumber.And it paid off. The weight started coming off. I ate out of small plates so the food looked like more. And I loaded up on veggies everywhere to make the food look like more and the calories less.In a month, I'd lose around 2-3 kg.

And then I was ready for my second glucose analysis. Again with the nerves, again with the tears, and... the result was 6.9. Borderline and downright bad.

You know what I did? I freaked out. The nurse, seeing my state, immediately said I shouldn't expect a good result. I mean, stress can raise your glucose to 6.5-7 in just a few minutes. And I was so freaked out about the impending results that my blood just wasn't flowing.

I didn't dwell on it and just let it go. I didn't want to see doctors anymore. I didn't want to do anything else. I knew I was sabotaging my own results with my stress, but I just couldn't calm down. Everyone told me: 'don't listen to those doctors, just chill.' But I couldn't.

It was like telling someone who's bleeding out: 'just stop bleeding.' The process was already underway. The images of a thyroid problem, diabetes, and cholesterol plaques were already in my head.

Spoiler: my thyroid ultrasound, hormone tests, and cholesterol were all normal. And all the other tests, except for vitamin D and that darn glucose. I was almost 100% sure it was just nerves. But I couldn't calm down and breathe.

After the first analysis, they gave me a ton of stuff, put me on a super strict diet, and scared the living daylights out of me. I didn't want to go back to the hospital. So I freaked out and stopped. And with my eating, too.

Was that the right thing to do? No. But listening to amputations and not being able to have kids unless I lost weight right now wasn't exactly appealing.

I get that doctors have a way of scaring you into realizing the gravity of the situation. But, come on. You can't do that with tests that are affected by stress!

When I finally calmed down, I decided to retest. This time, I went to a different doctor who told me I have an anxiety disorder (which I didn't know about), which causes my body to react to stress with pain and a spike in glucose. My mom has the same thing, and after she lost her job, her sugar levels normalized.

And to be sure if I have diabetes or not, I needed to get a glycosylated hemoglobin test and a glucose test. But without the nerves. I knew that. I understood what I needed to do. But I just couldn't calm down. I was a total ostrich.

And you know what? When you're not being scared, pressured, or guilt-tripped, there's no panic! There were no tears, no feeling like my world was going to end.

Just a doctor who calmed me down and said everything would be okay. That I'm probably 90% healthy, and there's no diabetes!

And that was it. That worked better than any medication. I prepared myself and went to get the test done.

Like any other similar test, you do it fasting, after 8-14 hours without eating. I didn't eat for 12 hours, I think.

But that's also because I was getting a glucose test.

The glycosylated hemoglobin test, on the other hand, shows your average glucose levels over the past three months.

I was hoping for a result of 6.0-6.5, which is pre-diabetes. Anything higher is diabetes. I got my blood test done in the morning and went for a walk. The blood draw wasn't painful at all, and they even used an elastic bandage to wrap my hand afterwards - no bruising at all.

I was expecting the results to be ready in two days, but I got them the next day at lunchtime, and I was blown away by the result: 5.8! I was hoping for pre-diabetes, but it turns out I don't even have that! My results are within the normal range. Considering I was stressing out about it for the whole month beforehand, the result is amazing!And to make things even better, my glucose level was 5.5! That's also within the normal range! This time, I even managed to eat apples with honey at night while I was on edge (no panic attack, though).

So, what's the point of all this? Well, if you're a worrier like me, your blood glucose levels can show anything! Mine were way off because the doctors had me all worked up. I've been getting my blood tested annually as part of my medical checkup, and the results have always been 5.3-5.5. But then I heard all the horror stories from the 'experts' and freaked out. I mean, if a doctor tells you something, you assume it's True, right? They're the ones who know what they're talking about.But they don't! And my story is proof.

So, if you're getting anxious about your blood glucose test, don't be like me and wait. Just go ahead and get a glycated hemoglobin test instead.

And don't listen to doctors who paint a bleak picture, even if your tests come back normal.

I can definitely recommend this test. It's affordable - I paid around 350 rubles (I got a discount since I was doing it as part of a package deal), the blood draw isn't painful, and the results are ready quickly. Plus, you get a clear idea of your body's state right away.

My other medical experiences

When I couldn't muster the strength to live - the vitamin D test

After my brain MRI, I got a triple-scan of my neck arteries to check for blood clots

Treating a ingrown toenail with a titanium thread

Treating an ingrown toenail with ZTO clips

Getting an MRI of my brain to try to find the cause of my migraines