Well, it has been about a month and a half since I was diagnosed with Diabetes. I think it is funny, and sad, that I put off having my A1c drawn, because I already knew the result, fearing that my life would be devastating as a result. The sad part is that it has been quite easy, nowhere near as dramatic as I thought it would be, to make a change in my lifestyle. If only I faced up to it sooner, I'd already be where I am just now headed. Well, I can't say 'lifestyle' as the only two things I've changed are my eating habits and exercise habits. I feel like I can eat what ever I want but I have made better choices in the preparation of foods and I have discovered some diabetic friendly foods that anyone would like. Most notably I've discovered ground turkey and ground chicken. For meals such as chili and taco soup, or nachos, even - those meats are just fillers. They get seasoned to the point that it's hard to tell that the meat is different. So, substituting those meats in place of burger in some recipes is a much healthier choice. I downloaded a cookbook app called iCookbook Diabetic. I have tried about 5 recipes and so far, I've enjoyed them all. Last night I made kale with lemon and garlic. I've never had kale and while at the grocery store I was talking to some man about it who had just put some in a veggie bag. I asked him if it tastes good and he said, "No. But it's supposed to be good for you so I eat it anyway." I admit, I was a little worried. So, I cut the recipe back knowing we'd all taste it, hate it, but could at least say we tried it. However, Justin and I enjoyed it and Tyler liked it - whoa! What? Yes. Tyler, my pickiest eater, liked it! Granted, he didn't eat much but he didn't complain about it and stated he liked it. So, I'm sure I'll make it again. It's an incredibly low-cal veggie side. Low-cal? Aren't diabetics supposed to watch their carbs, not calories? Well, that's the only frustrating part of this change in lifestyle, but I think I am handling it okay. The way I see it if you watch your calorie intake and kind of just glance at your carbs enough to be able to spot if something is ridiculously high in carbs or not, will aid in loosing weight. Let's face it, the majority of young folks diagnosed with Diabetes are tremendously overweight. Loose the weight, put your Diabetes in remission. And, frankly, I can't handle watching calories AND carbs. That's just too much to handle for me. I need to take it one step at a time and right now, I'm on a loosing streak - and I want to keep it that way! I've lost 18.2 pounds in 48 days. Not too fast but not so slow I feel like this mountain is too big to tackle, either. I have definitely cut back on my portion sizes. I feel hungry a lot but because of my loosing streak I'm in that frame of mind that - being hungry is okay. I know my stomach is shrinking and it's all part of the process of becoming smaller. I don't allow myself to be so hungry I wind up with a headache and am screaming at everyone because I'm so miserable. So, what about exercise? I have done the YMCA in the past, I've tried a walking schedule, tried my own workout schedule at home including the treadmill and Wii fit. I have been unable to keep up with it all. I could go on and on about the reasons why I fail at those well-thought out yet rarely practiced exercise plans and routines but, that's a negative train of thought. Currently, I am taking Jazzercise classes - again. I Jazzercised back when Justin was an only child. I loved it! I can't remember why I quit - it could've been money, finding out I was pregnant again, or just, being tired as a mom of a young child. So, here I am again, and loving it again! I have been going Monday's and Fridays but I've recently added a third day. It's socialization, it's FUN, and I feel good when I leave. I don't dread going, even though, for me, it's quite a hike to the locations. I do have some issues I have to contend with such as my toes going numb, or being unable to move my body in certain positions on the floor exercises. But, I'm hoping with time and increased weight loss I'll be able to hop, skip, or jump instead of march, and still be able to feel my toes and move properly. I am definitely in a judge-free zone! There are skinny-minnies in the classes I attend, as well as slightly overweight women, and older women. I am the heaviest person in the classes I've attended but, like I said, it's judge-free and I feel very accepted. We don't discuss my weight or my progress, or even the fact I was recently diagnosed with Diabetes. Everyone is there for their own reasons and what we do discuss is how great of a workout we just had and, prior to class, anything new going on in our lives, or Katy Perry - LOL!. I couldn't be happier - unless, of course, it was closer.
Finally, I do have to check my blood sugar and prick my finger a lot. Since the week of my diagnosis all of my blood sugars have been within the normal range. The doctor told me to check my blood sugar twice a day, morning and night. My nutritionist suggested I start off by checking it before and after breakfast one day, then lunch the next day, and dinner on the third day. Well, I suck at having to look at the clock when I eat so I don't have too many post-prandial blood sugars in my log book. But, I do have some, enough to know that I have been managing to stay normal. As a result of normal blood sugars and 'the Metformin moment' I have taken myself off that particular medication. I can't wait to have my A1c drawn again in December and see the new percentage. A1c is a measure of blood sugar levels in your body over a period of 2 1/2 to 3 months, that's as long as a single blood cell can live. If you take your blood sugar numerous times in a 24 hour period - averaged out, over a period of 2 1/2 to 3 months- averaged out, you'd have your A1c. Mine was 8.1% when it was drawn and according to two different sources the high-end of acceptable is either 6.0% or 7.0% - I, of course, will abide by the lower percentage feeling it is more healthy. Thankfully, I don't balk over finger-pricking. I don't find it to be so traumatic. Fortunately, too, machines nowadays don't require a lot of blood.
So, this is where I'm at with my Diabetes. I don't suspect I'll make another update until after my next A1c. As you will note, I haven't spoken of my 'diet' as I don't do that. I've made a change in my life that will be permanent. I will add that the use of the My Fitness Pal app has been a gigantic stepping stone in the maintenance, and ease, of making a change in my eating habits. I will endorse this app any opportunity I have. You don't need a smartphone, either, to use it - you can log in on your computer, the phone just makes it super convenient.
Joshua asked me a few weeks ago, "When are we going to eat normal food again?" Ha! I told him, "This is the new normal." Just remember - if we all followed a diabetic diet, we'd all be healthy! So, diabetic or not, I encourage you to consider that. :)
