Tuesday, September 24, 2013

#Diabetes Rears It's Ugly Head In The World of the #FatChick



Welcome back to Memoirs of a Forty Something Fat Chick. Last week I touched upon my health issues with my obesity and high blood pressure taking center stage. The day after that post, I got another call from my doctor with the rest of the blood test results.

I'm diabetic. Type II diabetic to be precise.  It's the most common form of diabetes and also called non-insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes. It's really not a club I'd hoped to be joining any time soon, but as I said last week, I did this to myself and now it's time to pay the piper.

When I shared my diagnosis with family and friends in private and on Facebook, I got several comments that struck me as odd.  

"Oh, how can this happen?"  
"So sorry to hear. That's just horrible."
"No more sugar for you."

LOL! You know what I thought when I saw the results online? "Damn. Well, I have something else to motivate me now."  Yep. It was almost a relief to get the numbers. I am 148 mg/dl.  The high end of normal for this lab is 122.  It's not horrendous, but it is high enough to warrant testing my blood sugar daily.  Good Goddess! I hate needles!  So far it's only going to be those little lancets and no insulin.

With my obesity, it was only a matter of time before I flipped from being pre-diabetic into the diabetic state. I have to own that, accept I DID THIS TO MYSELF and let it go. Now I can use it as a goal for my plan to get healthy. I'm not going to wallow in the poor me stuff. I've had enough of that!

Just over the last week alone, I've lost six pounds. I've cut out coke and other soft drinks completely. I've increased the amount of fruit and veggies in my diet and continue to drink the water like a fiend. The water is great for me anyway but it's the blood pressure medication that's added to the increased thirst—also the weight loss as it's a diuretic! BONUS!  LOL




Through my doctor, I've signed up for a Diabetes management class. There they'll go over the lifestyle changes that go along with the diagnosis, food choices, exercise programs and of course testing my blood daily with my new One Touch Ultra 2. 




I just started using the machine yesterday and still getting used to stabbing my fingers.  It was a bit messy the first time, but today my technique improved. You would think a veterinarian would be more graceful with this machine, but noooooo. Not this chica! LOL

So for those of you reading about my diagnosis and feel sorry for me? Don't. Like I've said numerous times, I DID THIS TO MYSELF. I've got no one else to blame. Yes the amount of stress in my life contributed to it, but my uncontrolled overeating made me morbidly obese and put me at risk for so much more than high blood pressure and type II diabetes. I thank the Goddess I've got myself back on track and hopefully will have all these conditions under control in no time.

Until next week my friends,
~Tammy




2 comments:

  1. You know what I have to say? GOOD FOR YOU. You have a positive outlook on the situation and have started to do what you can in order to regain control of your health. You are to be applauded and commended. It hurts my heart that people have condescended to speak to you this way. A few changes in diet and exercise and soon it will become your lifestyle, not just the management of a disease. It does not define you, nor does it shackle you. It's a new day, embrace it, and make the best of the life you have. I'm shaking my pom poms for you, girly! If you need anything, you know where to find me!!!!

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  2. Thank you, Tara! I'm feeling pretty good about my new direction to get "me" back from the crazy abyss of depression and physical health issues. Once I get that back on track, I can concentrate more on my writing.

    So I'm embracing my lifestyle changes and embracing life to the fullest! I may not be able to eat as many sweets as I'd like, but that doesn't mean I can't rock out to Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar On Me with you every chance we get!

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