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.