That day everything changed. It's not like I didn't have enough medical problems, so what's one more, right? But as I sit here, three months later, I find that being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes was a blessing in disguise. Sure, I don't need to have all the side effects and medical problems that come along with it, but being diagnosed with it finally lit a fire underneath me to get off the sugars, eat better, and work out to try and feel better.
I had my few depressing days of "my life is over". I remembered dieting in the 90's and early 00's and it was miserable. But that's just not the case anymore. There is a plethora of amazing foods to eat and alternatives to soda, which let's face it, was my downfall. That was my emotional trigger. When I had a bad day, I'd turn to the A&W Root Beer to make me feel better. It started out as one every so often, but as sugar is so completely addicting, it became an every week and sometimes every day thing. Along with my sweet tea and occasional donuts, it's no wonder I ended up with the "diabeetus". I realize that I'm at fault for some of this, but I also realize that we are conditioned to eat bad. We are on the go all of the time, we barely have time for ourselves, let alone the time to make a decent meal. Then when you add health issues on top of that, that make you feel awful and not have the energy to cook, it's really hard to eat healthy. And let's face it, most of us were not told how to eat, what to eat, how addicting sugar can be, what it will do to your body, or anything like that when we were growing up. My generation didn't have the internet. We didn't have Wikipedia, we had encyclopedias, and nobody wanted to mess with those unless we had to do a school report. Yeah, we had PE classes, but if your teacher was chubby like mine, then you know you really didn't learn anything but how to avoid a dodgeball in that class.
It's not that I didn't try to lose the weight. I went on diet after diet until I finally just gave up. My medicine made me gain anywhere from 5-20 pounds a year, unless I basically starved myself. And I did that once. Barely ate anything, and I felt miserable. I even cut down on my medicine (without telling the doctor) and I lost the weight. I lost 50 pounds. But then I was in a car accident about 14 years ago and unknowingly ruptured a cyst. Two days later I was rushed to the hospital and put into a medically induced coma for several days until my body could fight off the infection. It wouldn't have been that bad had I been taking my medicine. But I wanted to lose weight so bad and that was the only way. Those 50 pounds came rushing back the following year when my doctor put me on an even higher dose. Nothing I did could keep it off and I just gave up.
In November of 2021 I was recovering from a back surgery. I fractured a disc on Christmas Day of 2020 and the surgery in March took its toll and I just wasn't bouncing back and in a tremendous amount of pain. My weight had skyrocketed to over 220 pounds. It was the heaviest I've ever been and I just didn't really care anymore. I didn't even want to live at that point, because I was so miserable and in pain. I had gone to the doctor and she said I was in the pre-diabetic range and to start eating healthier. So I did. I ate salads and tried to cut off most of the sodas. I thought I was doing better and then some Covid-like infection hit me. I finally went to the doctor in February for the infection and I was just miserable. I was chugging Gatorade because I was so incredibly thirsty, and then I was constantly peeing because I was drinking so much. Did not know that was a sign of diabetes. The doctor gave me some antibiotics and tested me for Covid, but it came back negative, but she did think I possibly had Covid and I just missed the testing window. Two days later I was feeling worse and rushed back to the doctor and they wheeled me to the ER because I almost passed out in the office. That's when I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The doctor at the ER came into the room and said "Well, I know why you're feeling so bad... your blood sugar is 490!" I was halfway to a comatose state.
I was in shock. I'd never had blood sugar so high. I was always hypoglycemic, not diabetic. But I jumped from pre-diabetic to full blown in less than 3 months. I went home in tears. I thought my life was over. I'd have to give up everything I love and all the food that I enjoy and life was going to be miserable. But I talked to my family and they cheered me up and I started researching. And I researched. And I researched. I joined forums and groups and learned so much. And I drastically changed my diet. I dropped the sugars and carbs so fast, I had one hell of a withdrawal. Migraines and felt awful for a little over a week. But then change happened.
I started walking, even though I felt like garbage. At first it was just to my neighbor's house and back, and then it was halfway down the street. I walk every single day, three times a day, fifteen minutes after each meal. There's only been one day that I missed because I hurt my ribs a couple of weeks ago. With each day I tried to walk just a little bit further than the previous day. Some days I didn't quite go as far, but some days, like today, I went much farther. I am now up to walking almost three miles a day. If you had told me three months ago that I would be walking a mile a day, let alone three, I would have laughed hysterically at you.
It's been thirteen weeks since my diagnosis, and I can't tell you how different I feel. It's night and day. I dropped the sugars, I found alternatives to drinking soda, my family got me an Instant Pot which has dramatically helped me with cooking food that's great for me. I have worked so incredibly hard and I am reaping the benefits. I have lost 30 pounds! I haven't been this weight in years. But it's not just that... I FEEL better. I have more energy. I'm not nearly as depressed or have the ton of anxiety attacks that I was having. I'm just so in awe of how much sugar affects the body. So that's why I wanted to start my Instagram and this blog because I want to share with people just how addicting sugar is, and how bad it is for you. I want to share advice on food and how to stay off of diabetes medications, because I have done this without medications, because they cause horrific side effects. I want to share shopping advice on how to eat healthy while on a budget. And I want to just be there for you if you need someone to talk or vent to. So hit me up on my Instagram with a follow and a comment. Let's get fit together!
The Spiritual Diabetic on Instagram
