Too Sweet To Be Sweet

I share my story on today because when I was a little girl I cherished when my birthday, Feb 14 would come. I couldn't wait. I knew it meant boxes of chocolate after chocolate. During my elementary school days, the Valentine's party and my birthday. It was sweets upon sweets.

Well, I now still have my birthday on Valentine's Day, but I don't look forward to the boxes of chocolate or the very sugary little heart candy. I share with everyone now that I don't do the sugary things anymore. A lot of my friends are surprised even though I'm a type 2 diabetic. They say things like a little chocolate won't hurt you. You're born on Valentine's Day, you're too sweet not to eat sweets.

My response to them is simply, I am dealing with a disease that I know sugar is not a friend. I tell them I want to continue to have great eye sight. I have managed to control my diet, removing a lot of the sugary foods. Chocolate as a child, teenager and even in my adult life was something I craved. Now if I eat sweets, my body rejects it because I've had a made up mind to let it go.

I can happily celebrate my birthday, the day when Godiva sales and all types of candy will fill our homes. Unfortunately for me, I will receive the flowers, cards and cakes with Splenda in it.
I choose to keep my A1c where it is in a good range.

When I was being taught about the blood of a type 2 diabetic that was high, I became sick to know that it is so thick and it does not become thinner until we get a lot of the sugar out of it. I've come to realize at this point in my life I don't need all the sweets on my birthday. I can still be a sweetheart without all the sugar. I'm so much healthier, happier.
I find my adult self telling her inner-child, that was then but this is now.

So for all you St.Valentine's lovers, especially us diabetics, don't let the sweets consume you. It doesn't take much to raise the blood sugar.

Because I feel that it tastes so good and you want to keep eating that chocolate, but realize it can be too sweet to eat and can make the difference of being well or sick.

My many Birthdays/Valentine's Day has really impacted my life in so many ways. I'm grateful now for my willpower and strength to just say no to those rich creamy chocolate hearts. I learnt out of my own sickness and not knowing when enough was enough. I choose not to fill my body with what I know is not good. At the end of the day, that's what's important - realizing I'm a type 2 diabetic.