I am not going to lie to you, it's not easy, and just because I have beat the odds, I still have to continue doing what I am doing. My advice to you is adapt the new life style and make it your life. Don't just do it for the moment.
My story begins a yr and a 1/2 ago. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 33 yrs old. I never thought this would happen to me so soon, especially because my Father was diagnosed when he was 58.
I was home re-cooperating from having surgery on my elbow. While I was home, I started having the symptoms of diabetes, increase of urination and thirst. But I was in denial, I said this can't be, it's just happening because I was home all day watching tv. In the meantime, I was going back and forth to physical therapy. I started becoming exhausted quicker than I normally have been.
But I still ignored my signs. It was not until I fell asleep at the wheel that I realize something was wrong. (Thankfully I was at a red light.) I went to the doctor the next day, because my Mother and brother realized that something was wrong and begged me to seek help. I went to the doctor with these signs: increase in urination, dry mought, thirst, loss of appetite and exhaustion. The doctor took my blood and urine sample and diagnosed me with diabetes.
I was also loosing blood in my urine. The next morning my doctor called and told me to go to the ER, because my sugar was 824. Needless to say, I was admitted into ICU. The doctor told me that if I was 10 yrs older I would have or could have died. This is when my life changed.
By hearing those words at the age of 33 with my 34th birthday coming up in less than 4 months, woke me up to realize I had to change my life. I was on insulin drip for about 4 or 5 days. While spending a week in the hospital, I had time to think. I realized that the following things will no longer be in my daily diet: fried, greasy foods, soda, caffeine and even alcohol. I made this decision because I wanted to live a long life.
When I came home I realized what was ahead of me. A long road of life changes. I was put on insulin 4 times a day, with starlix twice a day. This is not how I planned my life, but things happen. I realized this was an obstacle that I was going to get through, with God, Family and Friends.
I started exercising a little. I walked in the park and I even started taking the stairs at work. I knew this was not going to happen over night. But I knew this was what I needed to do to beat the odds. So to beat the odds, I stepped up a little bit more and joined a gym. I did this twice a week and Saturday and Sunday. Winter came, and I realize that I did not want to travel back and forth to the gym, so I adopted my favorite activity, the WII Fit. I use this 3 to 4 times a week.
Exercising helped me manage my numbers over all, because it helped me to stay active. Exercising was not going to be the only thing I needed to do, so I also changed my eating habits. I no longer ate fried foods. I now only bake and broil my meats and fish. I don't eat after 8 pm. and I keep my calorie count to 1800 daily with 4 carbs per serving. I only drink water or Wylers' Sugar Free mix. I still enjoy my food, the reason being is because I realized I did not need a big portion to say the food is good.
During the course of the year, I met with my doctors every 3 months. And each time I met them my dosage was lowered. Six months after I was diagnosed, the doctor took me off of the insulin because I was controlling my numbers. Eventually, the doctor took me off of all medication except metformin twice a day.
A year and a half later, I am a type 2 diabetic with A1c level of 4.8%. I also loss over 80lbs. I never had a problem with my pressure. I also have reduced my cholesterol, but still working on decreasing it more. I am a new me!!! I just came from the doctor today as a matter of fact and the doctor said: I have beat the odds, I have accomplished something that most can not. My numbers look like I am not a diabetic at all, and he has lowered my dosage.
When the going gets tough, I look back to February 2008 and knowing that is where I do not ever want to be again. I keep in the back of my mind that I almost did not make it to my 34th birthday and that is what helps me. I also have a strong family and friend support. I can call on them anytime and they are there for me.
I am not going to lie to you, it's not easy, and just because I have beat the odds, I still have to continue doing what I am doing. My advice to you is adapt the new life style and make it your life. Don't just do it for the moment. And get a support system, it's the best thing to have. Without my Family and Friends encouragement, support, or even having them say, are you supposed to have that?, I would not be sitting here telling you my story today.
