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The Diabetes Battle

I am in a battle. The battle is with type 2 diabetes. The battle sometimes involves my mental health. This is a battle I do not feel like I'm winning. I endeavor vigorously to win this battle, but it feels like I always take a hill. It really starts to wear on me, but I cannot stay in that frame of mind. It's not good for me.

Celebrating the smaller wins

So if I can't win the battle in total (welcome to "life"), I guess I'll have to settle for the hill.

How do I know when I have "taken the hill?"

  • I feel good physically.
  • I feel good mentally.
  • I am confident about what I can achieve that day, week, or month.
  • I maintain a weight that is comfortable for my body frame.
  • I am more active; that means walking or doing my Wii exercises.
  • I see that the majority of my blood work is good.
  • My clothes fit.

What does winning the battle mean?

  • I would feel good physically and mentally.
  • I would feel confident about what I could achieve every day, week, or month.
  • I would maintain a weight that is comfortable for my body frame.
  • I would be more active, walking or using my Wii if the weather did not cooperate.
  • I would see all of my blood work in target ranges.
  • I would have an A1C that would be below 7 every 3 months.
  • I would never have to worry about my clothes fitting.

Staying resilient with type 2 diabetes

In my current battle, I feel good physically and mentally. I certainly have days where I feel drained and exhausted from the diabetes battle, that there is too much to do to win, but I refuse to give up. There is help if I feel like I'm losing myself in this disease because that can happen and affect winning the battle.

Getting more physical activity

I will not be so consumed by diabetes that it's all I think about or consider. I feel confident most days in what I can achieve both with this disease and in life. I am more active than I was 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago, I was back at work. In my most recent job assignment, I am working from my home office instead of being in the community daily. That will change once I'm back to work next week.

Between work and leisure, I will get 10,000 (or more) steps daily. I have my asthma under control, so the humidity is not stopping me from getting my walks in. I prefer the outdoors to my Wii, but it is a backup plan if the weather or my asthma does not cooperate.

Seeing improvements in bloodwork

My blood work was phenomenal 2 weeks ago, including my A1C being below 7 for the first time in ages. My clothes are starting to fit better now since I lost 10 pounds.

The battle continues

The only thing I have yet to achieve in this battle is that my weight is different from where I want it to be. Yet. I have only 20 more pounds to lose. I have taken all the "hills," but this one. And I have not given up hope I can accomplish this hill. The battle continues. And I am feeling pretty confident I will win this battle.

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This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Type2Diabetes.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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