Hi everyone, this is Spring Lee. I have been living with diabetes for six years.
Before this journey began, I worked as an automotive assembly line worker. My life changed in February 2020. I started noticing something strange: every day, as lunchtime approached, my hands would begin to shake involuntarily. I would break out in a cold sweat and feel an overwhelming, gnawing hunger.
At the time, I assumed it was just hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Because we were in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting a hospital wasn’t easy. I started carrying candy in my pocket, and eating a couple of pieces before noon seemed to make the symptoms vanish. It felt like a quick fix, but I didn’t realize I was masking a deeper issue.
The Day Everything Changed: My Diabetes Diagnosis
I remember the date of my check-up vividly—May 12, 2020—because it was my mother’s birthday. Once the pandemic restrictions eased slightly, I finally went to the clinic.
Four days later, the results arrived. My fasting blood glucose was 7.8 mmol/L. My doctor recommended further testing, so I took a leave of absence to get a second fasting glucose test and a Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) test. The results were undeniable: it wasn’t just occasional low blood sugar; it was Type 2 Diabetes.
In those early days, I felt lost. I spent many days scouring the internet for medical guidelines and science-based advice. I eventually realized that managing this condition required a four-pillar approach:
- Strictly following medical advice.
- Dietary control.
- Consistent physical activity.
- Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule.
Making the Hard Choices for Health
My job at the time was a major obstacle. The factory was far from home, and I only had a 40-minute lunch break, meaning I had zero control over what I ate. Even worse, we worked a rotating shift schedule: two weeks on the day shift, followed by two weeks on the night shift. This constant flip-flopping wreaked havoc on my internal clock and metabolic health.
After discussing it with my family, I made a pivotal decision. I resigned and found a new job much closer to home that didn’t require night shifts.
Note: This was a personal choice based on my specific circumstances and isn’t intended as career advice, but for me, it was necessary.
This change allowed me to walk home for lunch, eat a home-cooked meal, and walk back to work. Suddenly, I had built-in exercise and a regular routine. Since then, while my blood sugar hasn’t dropped to “perfect” levels yet, it has stabilized. Better yet, I’ve lost 7–8 kg (about 15–17 lbs) and have remained free of any diabetic complications.
Why I Created DM Safe Haven
Building a personal website has been a dream of mine for a long time. While I’m not a programmer, the evolution of technology and AI has finally made it possible. I used AI to help me build the foundation of this site. It might look a bit simple—even “shabby”—but it’s a space I’ve built with heart. If you have suggestions on how to improve it, I’m all ears.
What You Can Find Here
The Journey Tracker: At the top of the site, you’ll see a counter showing the number of days since my diagnosis. Seeing that number climb reminds me how long I’ve committed to a healthy lifestyle, giving me the momentum to keep going.
Glycemic Load (GL) Calculator: You can look up the GL value of your meals here. This is crucial because while the Glycemic Index (GI) tells you how fast a carb spikes your sugar, the GL tells you how much that specific portion will actually affect you.
Click here to use the GL Query ToolReal-Life Logs: I share my daily life, what I eat, and how I move. These aren’t prescriptions, but real-world data points that fellow “sugar friends” might find helpful as a reference.
I am not a doctor or a nutritionist. I am simply someone who wakes up every day and works hard to keep my blood sugar under control. I’m not a coder; I’m just a guy using AI to share my story.
What you see here is a living, breathing person saying, “I’m doing this, and you can too.” If you’re ever feeling lost and just want to see how someone else is navigating the daily grind of diabetes, you’re in the right place.
Note: The information provided here is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual results may vary. Consult your physician for personalized health recommendations.