A Truly Good Thing

Good thing I'm a gadget-girl.  Ask my husband.  He'll tell you that it's hard for me to walk away from a good gadget.  I also love color.  Especially bright pink.  That's a good thing, too, since these little plastic gadgets will likely be part of my life from now on.

Do you recognize them?  Two months ago I wouldn't have had a clue.

I wish someone had raised a red flag before, but I   have now officially received a warning from my doctor.  Knowing what I know now, I suspect that warning should have been in the form of a  bright red flag and should have been raised about 2 years ago.

The day after my birthday, I received a copy of the results from my last blood work. My doctor wrote a note on the report, "Follow diabetic diet".  I won't try to hide it.  My first response was fear.  My dad died of complications of diabetes and heart disease.  Two of my grandparents had legs amputated.  Yep, there was fear.  But by the second day after I knew my a1c was elevated, that fear began to turn into a fierce determination to improve.

For those of you who know me well, you know that in my mind, the doctor's simple instruction to "Follow a diabetic diet" was code for: "Learn everything you can about your body's chemistry.  Make lifestyle changes that include diet and exercise. And begin to monitor your blood glucose at home in order to determine what your body is actually doing."

That lab report showed me one tiny tenth of a percentage point away from earning the "pre-" label.  That means, technically, that I'm normal.  But the reality is that there is a wide range of "normal" and I'm on the "not-really-normal" side.  I fit the category of Insulin Resistant and probably that of Metabolic Syndrome. If my body doesn't change the way it processes carbohydrates and insulin, it will most certainly earn me one of those previously mentioned and readily recognized "d..."labels.  Of course, I don't want that.

So I've been busy the past 6 weeks.  I've been researching, reading, walking, sticking fingers, keeping a log, compiling information, stumbling (and laughing) my way through Zumba classes all the while being my own best encourager.  I've learned a lot. I've modified my food intake (yes, that means no cupcakes for now).  I've increased my level of exercise. And the good news is that it appears my glucose level has begun to stabilize.  I revisit my doctor early October.  I'll let you know the results. 

In the meantime, it's a good thing I like gadgets and bright colors.  It's a good thing I can be  determined to change and have the willpower to follow through. 

I recognize these will be changes I'll need to maintain for life.  But you know what??? That's exactly what they are:  Changes FOR life!  And that's a truly good thing.