Annual Physical February 2012. I complained of tingling and numbness in my
fingers, toes and nose. I thought it was
due to weakness resulting from a small stroke I had in 2009. I also gained 25 pounds but thought that was
also due to the stroke and inactivity.
My MD, Ross Midler, decided to do and A1C to rule out Diabetes. It came back high – Type II Diabetes. I was
put on a 500mg of Metformin.
This hit me hard, as it was not
expected. When I was young, I lost a
friend to kidney failure resulting from Diabetes and I knew this disease as a
killer. I withdrew into a deep
sadness. When my MD recommended Diabetes
Education, I rolled my eyes and reluctantly attended the sessions. I am highly independent and I don’t like to
be told how to live my life. I got angry
and decided to take control – I wasn’t going to let this disease take away my
life.
How I eat is a challenge. I adjusted
the regimen of carbs to even out my food intake over six small meals a
day. I keep low carb snacks in my car
and purse, and I have learned to order wisely in restaurants.
I cook my foods from scratch, sometimes
including bread, and eat no processed foods because I am allergic to a
preservative used in pre-made food.
Under these circumstances, counting carbohydrates can be difficult. I
also have intermittent attacks of Gastroparesis, my stomach does not empty and
bloats. I change what I eat when this flares up - low residue foods, liquids, and
very little or no fiber. The two diets
are not compatible and my blood glucose fluctuates.
I began to exercise again and
trained to be certified to teach strength and balance classes to older
people. This keeps me in shape – I
cannot say that I am too tired to exercise because I am teaching the classes.
My A1C now remains between 6.1 and
6.5 and I have lost 22 pounds. I have
learned to listen to what my body is telling me, although I admit I sometimes
cheat.
