I had the opportunity to go to Japan for the first and possibly last time this May. After prolonged wrestling to get my passport (nearly doomed the trip) we were off.
Ever tried to get through security with an ounce over the liquid limit? Now try that with lancets; tiny little needles that go in a spring loaded device. Fortunately I had a note from my doctor that I carried with me at all times in a pouch around my neck with my passport. I carried all my medications in their original boxes or bottles and brought plenty of snacks (keeping your carbohydrates consistent is key) to carry around.
I won't go into the fun of a fourteen hour flight in Coach but the flight attendants took good care of us and fed us well. Most airlines offer special diabetic and even vegetarian meals but be sure to request them ahead of time.
Once in Japan, I knew I was in trouble. Most Japanese food is very healthy; they have smaller portions, have less heavy sauces and even their sweets are less sweet. Plus there's lots of walking which translated into great exercise which made me glad I was wearing braces on my poor beleaguered knees.
But many Japanese meals are served with lots and lots of noodles and rice, the best rice in the world. How to eat without offending my host? Well, traveling in a group helped me not only avoid temptation but ensure the extra carbohydrates did not go to waste. Japanese soil is incredibly rich in its volcanic regions and the fresh produce was incredible. The seafood specialties were wonderful, just don't ask what you're eating. All in all the trip was a great experience culturally, gastronomically, physically. I lost another eight pounds from all the walking!
Diabetes can't keep you from international travel, just be prepared, carry extra supplies and proceed with caution. Keep a phrase book with you, learn the language or have a wonderful friend who can communicate with locals.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as I go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Getting In My Thirty Minutes of Exercise And Still Being Able To Move
Warning: Please consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Always stretch, warm up, and cool down properly every time you exercise.
I don't belong to a gym, I can't afford to. The commercials look great though, all those beautiful people with their long lean muscles and workout clothes that match getting into even better shape as they run on a treadmill or take pilates.
There is nothing wrong with joining a gym to lose weight. For some people it's much better to take a class or work one on one with a trainer rather than try it on your own. There's even gender specific gyms for those who want to focus on working out without feeling self-conscious if someone is looking them over. For me, the solo route is a monetary necessity.
Walking is great. It's both aerobic and strengthening, probably helps coordination and flexibility too. It burns calories and best of all, it's free! Sometimes it's unsafe depending on climate or the neighborhood you live in.
There's a solution: mall walking!
Most malls will open their doors early for people who want to get their exercise by walking circuits around the mall. The stores aren't open but the walkways are. Some places like coffee shops or fast food outlets will open their doors around the same time to cash in on walkers in need of a snack boost. It's free and air conditioned; perfect year round and safe because most malls have security. And yes, a lot of them are competent security guards who work hard.
If that doesn't appeal to you, what about a walk at home program? Some cable networks carry Exercise or Fit TV, some with optional on demand channels so you can work out whenever you want at your own pace. Or there's workouts on DVD covering everything from walking workouts to routines that focus on specific body parts.
That's kind of my favorite option. You can work out in safety and privacy if you're like me and feel like a clumsy dork around others when you work out.
And yes, it works. Through diet and exercise I've lost twenty six pounds so far and I hope to be below two hundred by Christmas.
If walking gets too easy for you, change it up. Try doing bicep curls as you walk or walk up and down the escalators before and after each lap.
Keep yourself motivated and on track with a walking mix on your personal listening device, whatever that may be. Choose songs you like that motivate you. Here are a few examples that are in no way meant as any endorsement:
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk
"We Will Rock You" by Queen
"Milkshake" by Kellis
"Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats (Don't laugh, it's fun)
"Get This Party Started" by Pink
Add your own. Mix and match. Start slow with fifteen minutes and build to thirty, maybe more if you feel comfortable and have time. Sometimes I don't have a big stretch of time so I work out in fifteen minute increments. Exercise is especially important as a diabetic. Not only to lose weight and get in shape but for every minute you are active (according to the registered dietitian) you lower your blood sugar one point.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as I go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
I don't belong to a gym, I can't afford to. The commercials look great though, all those beautiful people with their long lean muscles and workout clothes that match getting into even better shape as they run on a treadmill or take pilates.
There is nothing wrong with joining a gym to lose weight. For some people it's much better to take a class or work one on one with a trainer rather than try it on your own. There's even gender specific gyms for those who want to focus on working out without feeling self-conscious if someone is looking them over. For me, the solo route is a monetary necessity.
Walking is great. It's both aerobic and strengthening, probably helps coordination and flexibility too. It burns calories and best of all, it's free! Sometimes it's unsafe depending on climate or the neighborhood you live in.
There's a solution: mall walking!
Most malls will open their doors early for people who want to get their exercise by walking circuits around the mall. The stores aren't open but the walkways are. Some places like coffee shops or fast food outlets will open their doors around the same time to cash in on walkers in need of a snack boost. It's free and air conditioned; perfect year round and safe because most malls have security. And yes, a lot of them are competent security guards who work hard.
If that doesn't appeal to you, what about a walk at home program? Some cable networks carry Exercise or Fit TV, some with optional on demand channels so you can work out whenever you want at your own pace. Or there's workouts on DVD covering everything from walking workouts to routines that focus on specific body parts.
That's kind of my favorite option. You can work out in safety and privacy if you're like me and feel like a clumsy dork around others when you work out.
And yes, it works. Through diet and exercise I've lost twenty six pounds so far and I hope to be below two hundred by Christmas.
If walking gets too easy for you, change it up. Try doing bicep curls as you walk or walk up and down the escalators before and after each lap.
Keep yourself motivated and on track with a walking mix on your personal listening device, whatever that may be. Choose songs you like that motivate you. Here are a few examples that are in no way meant as any endorsement:
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk
"We Will Rock You" by Queen
"Milkshake" by Kellis
"Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats (Don't laugh, it's fun)
"Get This Party Started" by Pink
Add your own. Mix and match. Start slow with fifteen minutes and build to thirty, maybe more if you feel comfortable and have time. Sometimes I don't have a big stretch of time so I work out in fifteen minute increments. Exercise is especially important as a diabetic. Not only to lose weight and get in shape but for every minute you are active (according to the registered dietitian) you lower your blood sugar one point.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as I go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
HOW Much Does This Class Cost? Is It Covered By My Insurance?
Wrestling with the insurance company to get them to pay for things is always fun. Some pharmacies offer a discount when you buy a ninety day supply but when your insurance will only pay for 45 or 60 what can you do? Probably what I'm having to do; deal with it. Maybe if I lose enough weight I can eventually control my diabetes with diet and exercise and won't have to take Glimepiride any more. I can hope. I'll still have to buy those expensive testing supplies. I can't help but laugh when people talk about national health care and decry "allowing some bureaucrat to come between me and my doctor" when the insurance companies already are. I understand these companies are in business to make a profit. I also understand doctor's offices and hospitals are run more like a business and less about making us well. There is nothing wrong with making a profit as long as you are offering a quality product or service and are taking good care of one's customers.
There, off my soap box.
My doctor recommended I take a diabetes education class offered by a local hospital taught by a registered dietician. The class was very informative and a I learned quite a bit in the two four hour sessions my support person, Ellen, and I attended.
Imagine my surprise when I received a bill from the hospital stating the charge for the class was over twelve hundred dollars! My insurance company paid a bit over seven hundred, the value they placed on the class, leaving me to pay the balance. Yes, I paid, and now looking back I don't think I should have because even with a registered dietician and nurse and the literature they gave us, I don't think it was worth that much. I could probably have learned to read nutrition labels from books at the library and some of the materials offered are available online for free! It was good and professional information but for that much I could have taken an entire semester at a local two-year college. I feel gypped.
Ask me if I would ever go back to that hospital. Not without knowing about the cost upfront I won't.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
There, off my soap box.
My doctor recommended I take a diabetes education class offered by a local hospital taught by a registered dietician. The class was very informative and a I learned quite a bit in the two four hour sessions my support person, Ellen, and I attended.
Imagine my surprise when I received a bill from the hospital stating the charge for the class was over twelve hundred dollars! My insurance company paid a bit over seven hundred, the value they placed on the class, leaving me to pay the balance. Yes, I paid, and now looking back I don't think I should have because even with a registered dietician and nurse and the literature they gave us, I don't think it was worth that much. I could probably have learned to read nutrition labels from books at the library and some of the materials offered are available online for free! It was good and professional information but for that much I could have taken an entire semester at a local two-year college. I feel gypped.
Ask me if I would ever go back to that hospital. Not without knowing about the cost upfront I won't.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
Cake or Death? I'll have the chicken...
I love food.
I cannot tell you how much I love food or when it even began. Probably with my mother, who when I was very little was a housewife long before they were desperate for anything beyond peace and quiet and the occasional Tupperware party. She made most of what she cooked from scratch to me, nothing served to me in a restaurant will compare. We grew up in the South and all that entails; delectable fried foods but homegrown vegetables from our grandfather's garden as well. Food was nutrition but it was also love; we were all served our favorite cake and meal on our birthdays and the holidays full of homemade cookies and pies in four flavors.
Food was also comfort when I was depressed when someone made me feel bad or kids at school who bullied me, called me ugly, or treated me like a freak. It's what I stuffed myself with to fill the loneliness from having little or no friends and siblings who didn't understand me and a dad who couldn't relate. After a while it became easy to sit with a book and read indoors rather than be laughed at for being clumsy and uncoordinated. Let them play while I got smarter. In my arrogance I thought myself superior to those "dumb jocks" because I got good grades.
Food was there when I battled clinical depression, deaths in the family, my own insecurities. But I don't want to live like that any more. I want to have someone to talk to when I feel that way. And I do. Several people. I have friends, real life friends to hang out with when I'm lonely, schedule permitting and someone who truly loves me at any size.
So I'm gonna learn to be happy without food.
First, I'm going to learn to be happy with smaller portions. Those first few weeks were hell because I wasn't eating as much and it was driving me nuts. So I did some research online at www.diabetes.org about meal planning, including how much to put on your plate, what to eat and little visual tricks such as using smaller plates to make the food look bigger.
Your body needs water any way so why not drink something that makes you feel more full? I also like tea, sweet(Splenda, Stevia) or unsweet, decaf or regular. Yeah, plain water is boring but you can add little flavorings, like lemon or lime juice. Or the juice of one (just one!) of a berry, be it strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, etc.
No lie; those first few weeks of less food and different food was horrible. Now my stomach's adjusted and hopefully I wouldn't want to back to eating as much as I used to and the very idea of salty, fatty foods disgusts me.
I still miss ice cream and cookies and I can't see that ever completely going away but now I make good substitution choices. Some of it is just good common sense. Do I want a tiny little half cup of low carb or sugar free ice cream or do I want a whole cup of mixed berries?
Seems like easy math to me.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
I cannot tell you how much I love food or when it even began. Probably with my mother, who when I was very little was a housewife long before they were desperate for anything beyond peace and quiet and the occasional Tupperware party. She made most of what she cooked from scratch to me, nothing served to me in a restaurant will compare. We grew up in the South and all that entails; delectable fried foods but homegrown vegetables from our grandfather's garden as well. Food was nutrition but it was also love; we were all served our favorite cake and meal on our birthdays and the holidays full of homemade cookies and pies in four flavors.
Food was also comfort when I was depressed when someone made me feel bad or kids at school who bullied me, called me ugly, or treated me like a freak. It's what I stuffed myself with to fill the loneliness from having little or no friends and siblings who didn't understand me and a dad who couldn't relate. After a while it became easy to sit with a book and read indoors rather than be laughed at for being clumsy and uncoordinated. Let them play while I got smarter. In my arrogance I thought myself superior to those "dumb jocks" because I got good grades.
Food was there when I battled clinical depression, deaths in the family, my own insecurities. But I don't want to live like that any more. I want to have someone to talk to when I feel that way. And I do. Several people. I have friends, real life friends to hang out with when I'm lonely, schedule permitting and someone who truly loves me at any size.
So I'm gonna learn to be happy without food.
First, I'm going to learn to be happy with smaller portions. Those first few weeks were hell because I wasn't eating as much and it was driving me nuts. So I did some research online at www.diabetes.org about meal planning, including how much to put on your plate, what to eat and little visual tricks such as using smaller plates to make the food look bigger.
Your body needs water any way so why not drink something that makes you feel more full? I also like tea, sweet(Splenda, Stevia) or unsweet, decaf or regular. Yeah, plain water is boring but you can add little flavorings, like lemon or lime juice. Or the juice of one (just one!) of a berry, be it strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, etc.
No lie; those first few weeks of less food and different food was horrible. Now my stomach's adjusted and hopefully I wouldn't want to back to eating as much as I used to and the very idea of salty, fatty foods disgusts me.
I still miss ice cream and cookies and I can't see that ever completely going away but now I make good substitution choices. Some of it is just good common sense. Do I want a tiny little half cup of low carb or sugar free ice cream or do I want a whole cup of mixed berries?
Seems like easy math to me.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
Throwing White Rice Makes Me Cry. And White Flour, White Sugar...
April 1, 2010 (yes, we laughed about the irony too) I decided to throw out all the "white" foods I had around the house. Any simple carbohydrates that quickly became sugar in the blood were thrown out. So no more white flour, white sugar, or white rice. I barely bake or cook from scratch so the flour wasn't a huge sacrifice to make. Fortunately the rice was nearly empty or I would still be bemoaning the waste of money. But the sugar, ah...there's the rub. I had only bought it two days prior and it was barely open. Sugar, you dear old childhood friend, you sweet tyrant. How I would miss you...
Until I remembered I'd miss limbs that would have to be amputated if I continued on this path of overindulgence even more and after that it was easy to rid the house of sugar and its minion white bread in favor of more complex carbohydrates like whole wheat and multi-grain. Brown rice was in and so was wheat pasta. I would become virtuous with my eating habits if it would keep me alive and started taking my medication every day. I was terrified. I didn't want to die. Guess you could say I was up to the bargaining stage of grief at this point, having come through denial and anger already. What if I'd refused to go to the doctor? Would I be dead right now? Looking back it still makes me shake.
Next came other sweet sources. Soda? Diet or zero carb. That ice cream in the freezer? Slush in the dumpster, its delicious whipped topping, chocolate syrup and marashino cherries shortly followed. Adios, mi tres leche cake. I kept the Godiva liqueur for occasional treats because a) Delicious and b)It was a frickin' present from Dave, my darling man's brother.
On to portion control. I started measuring my food. One-third cup for rice. Two dry ounces of pasta. Three ounces of lean meat and a cup or so of non-starchy vegetables. So too much rice: bad. Green leafy veggies? Go nuts. Up to a point.
I started drinking more black, green and herbal tea; bought the big box of Splenda with a little Stevia or agave nectar for variation. My sugar started slowly coming down. The agave was expensive and even though it didn't spike as bad as sugar, it still spiked a bit so I phased it out in favor of Stevia and Splenda. I decided it would be a good idea to start cutting fat and sodium too so bye bye to most fast food. I would start to think of myself as allergic to it and try to avoid it until I felt more self-disciplined. I'm not there yet so you can imagine how long it's been since my last french fry. Salt started taking a backseat to other seasonings like garlic, ginger, lemon pepper, and herbs. I've swapped out fish for most red meat and now make a mean turkey burrito.
But let me be honest. I haven't been perfect. I've cheated. I've pigged out on peanut butter crackers and the occasional sugar free chocolate treat. I'm a little better than I was a few months ago.
Now I want to take a moment and acknowledge the kickarse support system I have. There's the built-in resource I have in my friend and personal angel, Jen, who is herself diabetic and has been there with great advice like, "Don't beat yourself up. Make small changes." (Kev, you are sooooo lucky! But so is she.)
My most important man, mi Esteban is now and has always been my rock. He's worth getting healthy and staying alive for.
I am truly blessed to have a "mother-in-law" like Ellen, Stephen's mom. She's been there for me when I needed to go to the doctor or pick up prescriptions and has found great diabetic snacks for me to try. Fortunate is she who calls this woman not only family but friend. I'm not kissing up, she's a classy lady but she'll also boomsmite me out of existence when and if she has to.
My great friends of TBA and MMOs. I don't see them as often as I would like because they have their own families but I love them.
When Stephen joined the Nihonzashi Dojo of St. Petersburg, Florida I also gained a group of wonderful, yet dangerous friends who are awesome to chill with and couldn't have anyone better guarding my back. Sempai is not only a fun "big sis" but also has been where I am with a family member and is lovingly strict with me. I'm not going to argue with a woman who could cut my head off and put it back on my neck before my body hit the ground.
LJ, you wickedly funny guy! We love you, your humor, your passion, and your re-introducing me to Doctor Who. I'm glad you're in my life.
To my mIRC buddies, especially the multitalented Filia, who came up with the name for this blog. Ranchan, Vaz, Yasu (grab!). Oyasumi.
Last and least...oh, I'm joking...are the usual gang of idiots I work with, for yelling at me if I even look at fast food, checking to make sure I don't cheat with sugared soda and complimenting me on my weight loss.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
Until I remembered I'd miss limbs that would have to be amputated if I continued on this path of overindulgence even more and after that it was easy to rid the house of sugar and its minion white bread in favor of more complex carbohydrates like whole wheat and multi-grain. Brown rice was in and so was wheat pasta. I would become virtuous with my eating habits if it would keep me alive and started taking my medication every day. I was terrified. I didn't want to die. Guess you could say I was up to the bargaining stage of grief at this point, having come through denial and anger already. What if I'd refused to go to the doctor? Would I be dead right now? Looking back it still makes me shake.
Next came other sweet sources. Soda? Diet or zero carb. That ice cream in the freezer? Slush in the dumpster, its delicious whipped topping, chocolate syrup and marashino cherries shortly followed. Adios, mi tres leche cake. I kept the Godiva liqueur for occasional treats because a) Delicious and b)It was a frickin' present from Dave, my darling man's brother.
On to portion control. I started measuring my food. One-third cup for rice. Two dry ounces of pasta. Three ounces of lean meat and a cup or so of non-starchy vegetables. So too much rice: bad. Green leafy veggies? Go nuts. Up to a point.
I started drinking more black, green and herbal tea; bought the big box of Splenda with a little Stevia or agave nectar for variation. My sugar started slowly coming down. The agave was expensive and even though it didn't spike as bad as sugar, it still spiked a bit so I phased it out in favor of Stevia and Splenda. I decided it would be a good idea to start cutting fat and sodium too so bye bye to most fast food. I would start to think of myself as allergic to it and try to avoid it until I felt more self-disciplined. I'm not there yet so you can imagine how long it's been since my last french fry. Salt started taking a backseat to other seasonings like garlic, ginger, lemon pepper, and herbs. I've swapped out fish for most red meat and now make a mean turkey burrito.
But let me be honest. I haven't been perfect. I've cheated. I've pigged out on peanut butter crackers and the occasional sugar free chocolate treat. I'm a little better than I was a few months ago.
Now I want to take a moment and acknowledge the kickarse support system I have. There's the built-in resource I have in my friend and personal angel, Jen, who is herself diabetic and has been there with great advice like, "Don't beat yourself up. Make small changes." (Kev, you are sooooo lucky! But so is she.)
My most important man, mi Esteban is now and has always been my rock. He's worth getting healthy and staying alive for.
I am truly blessed to have a "mother-in-law" like Ellen, Stephen's mom. She's been there for me when I needed to go to the doctor or pick up prescriptions and has found great diabetic snacks for me to try. Fortunate is she who calls this woman not only family but friend. I'm not kissing up, she's a classy lady but she'll also boomsmite me out of existence when and if she has to.
My great friends of TBA and MMOs. I don't see them as often as I would like because they have their own families but I love them.
When Stephen joined the Nihonzashi Dojo of St. Petersburg, Florida I also gained a group of wonderful, yet dangerous friends who are awesome to chill with and couldn't have anyone better guarding my back. Sempai is not only a fun "big sis" but also has been where I am with a family member and is lovingly strict with me. I'm not going to argue with a woman who could cut my head off and put it back on my neck before my body hit the ground.
LJ, you wickedly funny guy! We love you, your humor, your passion, and your re-introducing me to Doctor Who. I'm glad you're in my life.
To my mIRC buddies, especially the multitalented Filia, who came up with the name for this blog. Ranchan, Vaz, Yasu (grab!). Oyasumi.
Last and least...oh, I'm joking...are the usual gang of idiots I work with, for yelling at me if I even look at fast food, checking to make sure I don't cheat with sugared soda and complimenting me on my weight loss.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
It's the end, my friend. Or the start....
Diabetes Type 2 takes years to develop, or so I've read. It began with tiny things. Like the fact I seemed thirsty all the time no matter what I drank and spent enough time in the bathroom to read all the Harry Potter books. Twice. Tiny little cuts and bruises took forever to heal and when I caught a cold it lasted on average two months, even when I took antibiotics. More than that, I was tired all the time, even on days when I got a minimum of nine hours sleep. I kept drinking sugary soda loaded with caffeine, hoping it would help and couldn't figure out why I still felt exhausted. I ate too much fast food at work because it was cheap and convenient. Chocolate, ice cream and cakes or pies were constant companions. Exercise? I hated it. I ignored all the signs either because I didn't recognize them for what they were or I didn't want to.
It should not have been such a surprise. My paternal aunt is a diabetic and has been nearly all the time I've known her. I was never as active or athletic as some of my siblings so I wasn't outside playing as much as I should have. One of my sisters was gestational and then borderline diabetic until she got the disease under control. But I didn't want to think I could get diabetes. I deluded myself into thinking, "It can't happen to me", even as I got dizzy spells at work from the after meal carbohydrate crash or a decrease in desire for my wonderful boyfriend. I attributed it to age and weight gain. Looking back it was incredibly obvious and I wish I'd started sooner.
I work in the mall and always arrive thirty minutes early. I could have walked laps with the mall walkers. Perhaps I could have prevented diabetes, perhaps not, but I could have tried. But I didn't.
February of 2010 I had a horrid cold that felt almost like the flu. The usual rounds of medications were not doing the job and my employers were understandably concerned that I would not be able to do my job effectively. So I went to my primary care physician, who did a routine blood draw to check my white cell count. Later that week, one of the office assistants left an urgent message on my answering machine and told me I needed to make a followup appointment with the doctor ASAP. My first assumption was I had bronchitis or pneumonia. Irritating, but not earth shattering.
On March 29, 2010 I was diagnosed with diabetes and it felt like all the fun had gone out of my life. No more ice cream, candy, cake...and what the heck was I going to do without chocolate?! I'd go insane! This couldn't be happening to me, I didn't deserve it. Then the doctor talked about diabetic education classes and losing weight. Would my insurance cover all this? Would I need oral medication or *shudder* insulin shots? I would have to get used to poking my finger every day to test my blood sugar. I would have to start taking medications until my blood sugar was under control. Maybe for the rest of my life. After the diagnosis and reassuring concerned friends and family I was fine I went home and cried alone, feeling overwhelmed and small and helpless.
But hey, maybe it's not the end of the world. There's lots of things I can do to help myself. I can start changing my diet in a way I can get healthy and live a long life but not starve. And yes, I can start to *shudder* exercise. Maybe there's a fun one out there I could learn to like. If I'm careful and learn to control my portions and and how often I eat it, perhaps chocolate won't be gone forever.
My only fear is staying on track. Changing years of routine will take months to undo, and that's if I'm disciplined. Oh, boy. I'm going to need help, advice, support; and provide a little too.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
It should not have been such a surprise. My paternal aunt is a diabetic and has been nearly all the time I've known her. I was never as active or athletic as some of my siblings so I wasn't outside playing as much as I should have. One of my sisters was gestational and then borderline diabetic until she got the disease under control. But I didn't want to think I could get diabetes. I deluded myself into thinking, "It can't happen to me", even as I got dizzy spells at work from the after meal carbohydrate crash or a decrease in desire for my wonderful boyfriend. I attributed it to age and weight gain. Looking back it was incredibly obvious and I wish I'd started sooner.
I work in the mall and always arrive thirty minutes early. I could have walked laps with the mall walkers. Perhaps I could have prevented diabetes, perhaps not, but I could have tried. But I didn't.
February of 2010 I had a horrid cold that felt almost like the flu. The usual rounds of medications were not doing the job and my employers were understandably concerned that I would not be able to do my job effectively. So I went to my primary care physician, who did a routine blood draw to check my white cell count. Later that week, one of the office assistants left an urgent message on my answering machine and told me I needed to make a followup appointment with the doctor ASAP. My first assumption was I had bronchitis or pneumonia. Irritating, but not earth shattering.
On March 29, 2010 I was diagnosed with diabetes and it felt like all the fun had gone out of my life. No more ice cream, candy, cake...and what the heck was I going to do without chocolate?! I'd go insane! This couldn't be happening to me, I didn't deserve it. Then the doctor talked about diabetic education classes and losing weight. Would my insurance cover all this? Would I need oral medication or *shudder* insulin shots? I would have to get used to poking my finger every day to test my blood sugar. I would have to start taking medications until my blood sugar was under control. Maybe for the rest of my life. After the diagnosis and reassuring concerned friends and family I was fine I went home and cried alone, feeling overwhelmed and small and helpless.
But hey, maybe it's not the end of the world. There's lots of things I can do to help myself. I can start changing my diet in a way I can get healthy and live a long life but not starve. And yes, I can start to *shudder* exercise. Maybe there's a fun one out there I could learn to like. If I'm careful and learn to control my portions and and how often I eat it, perhaps chocolate won't be gone forever.
My only fear is staying on track. Changing years of routine will take months to undo, and that's if I'm disciplined. Oh, boy. I'm going to need help, advice, support; and provide a little too.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience and my own opinions. I'm not trying to treat or diagnose anything and the opinions I express are my own. This is all conjecture. I'm learning as a go so forgive any inaccuracies. This is a way for me to cope and focus my emotions into something positive. If you read this and recognize yourself in anything I've written about, please, talk to your doctor. Read some books. And never be afraid to scream, cry, or yes, laugh about being a diabetic. I'm going to.
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