Diabetes diagnosis confirmed
At first, I couldn’t believe the diagnosis. I did gain weight and my mood swings were a little out of control, but at the time I thought it was because I was overstressed at work. A week before the diagnosis, I woke up in the morning and noticed that the white part of my left eye was all red. The following week the same thing happened in the right eye.
The eye doctor told me, “You have diabetes. The blood glucose test confirmed this.
Learn about it
For several months, I felt depressed and cried every day. Then I started reading about diabetes, took a 6-week diabetes course, and made an appointment with a nutritionist. During this time, my blood sugar levels rose even higher.
Through my reading, I thought that if it was the carbohydrates in my food that were causing my blood sugar to rise, then I just needed to eat fewer carbohydrates. But then I learned that all carbohydrates, whether bread or candy, are broken down into sugar in the bloodstream.
Reducing sugar
I started watching my sugar intake. It was during this process that I learned about the high sugar content in dried fruit, so the first step was to avoid it.
I used to love potato chips, so I switched them to celery. I also used to love chocolate, and dark chocolate contains less sugar and less carbohydrates, so I chose to eat dark chocolate.
When reviewing a restaurant, I check the menu ahead of time and will choose a carb, like bread or dessert or pasta, to enjoy.
Exercise to lose weight
I wasn’t an athlete before, but now I do yoga once a week and walk 2-3 times a week, each lasting about an hour. By monitoring my carbohydrate levels, taking medication and exercising, I’ve lost about 46 pounds. Now I feel great.
Checking blood sugar
I think exercise is important, and walking is a key part of that. People can exercise anywhere. Walking will help people keep their minds clear, and it doesn’t cost anything.
The only way to let your blood glucose levels tell you how your body is responding to different foods is to test them, especially 1 to 2 hours after a meal.
Finally, the best way to adapt to the changes that diabetes brings to your life is to think of this as an opportunity to improve your health.