I’m Healthier with Diabetes

I’m healthier with diabetes. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? In my case, it’s true. Before my diagnosis, I was overweight, on my way to obesity. I used my weight as an excuse for many things I couldn’t do. In some cases for things, I didn’t want to do as well. I ate and ate. I was eating in response to stress and in response to boredom. I was happy enough and my eating showed that as well. I knew my weight wasn’t healthy but I couldn’t seem to get ahead of it. In part because I didn’t care either. So how did this happen? I have no idea. I could postulate all kinds of reasons but the fact remained, I needed something to motivate me to move forward. Diabetes was it.

Diabetes diagnosis motivated healthy change

My first contact with diabetes was when I was pregnant with my second child. I knew nothing about diabetes. I had heard of it but because I had no family history of it, I never suspected I’d have it. I had no sign of it with my first pregnancy either. Fear took over and I was motivated not for myself and my health but for my unborn baby. I did everything right and my baby was fine.

My second contact with diabetes was years later when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. My weight was starting to come down just before my diagnosis but I was still overweight. Because it had been years since I’d thought about diabetes, I didn’t see it coming until…I felt unwell, and no matter what I did to try to feel better, I didn’t.

How I'm living healthy since my diabetes diagnosis

My diagnosis gave me another chance to fix the problem. There were many things still in my control. I was motivated now, in part again by fear, but still, it was motivation. I didn’t really care where it came from, I had it. I decided to lose weight. I knew I could do it if I set my mind to it. It would take time but I wanted to see if that would be enough because, frankly, I hate exercise. I knew diet and exercise went together but I was still somewhat in denial. Well, sure enough, the diet wasn’t enough. I knew more was needed. I started walking. It was winter, icy out, and cold but I was motivated. My city block is more like a country block, it is a kilometer distance around. I look back now and I recall barely being able to make it around the block. I couldn’t breathe. My asthma kicked in which didn’t help but it didn’t stop me. I kept going. Every day, it got better.

I lost weight over time. My asthma seemed less of an issue with my weight loss too. My exercise continued as I have grown to be at peace with my choice of exercise, walking. I still deal with stress but walking helps with that. My numbers came down. I succeeded in becoming healthy. And as ridiculous as it sounds, I have my diabetes to thank for that. It’s not a great way to find health but I found it. I guess that’s what counts.