A Healthy Life Option

I am a diabetic. When I was first diagnosed back in 1997, it was controlled by diet only. After some years it was necessary to supplement with tablets, until in 2007 I was on the highest dosage I could be given. That was when I found my local G.P., a most charming and helpful man. Gradually he managed to bring my sugar down from the 15’s to 8 units. We were both pretty happy about that. Then in early 2008 we found that I had a very aggressive form of breast cancer. The specialists at the hospital put me on insulin because they told me that the chemotherapy would put my levels up.

My cancer treatment has been a success so far, but there is no guarantee. I am currently a 2 ½ years survivor. My diabetes was another matter however. Unfortunately, I am not your typical diabetic. My sugar testing kept going up until it reached danger levels, the specialists kept increasing the insulin, which culminated in my passing out whilst getting my husband’s wheelchair down 3 steps. That was when I decided that the experts weren’t so expert! My G.P. now is handling my diabetes again. It is still too high, though slowly decreasing.

Until now, it was not feasible for me to do much exercise. Now that the sugar level is lower I have found a walking group run by the Heart Foundation. I intend to join once I return from my holiday. My daughter is also investigating when the local swimming centre hold water aerobic classes. I bought myself a hula hoop….lol. I could never manage to use one even when young, but I can use it to do home exercises. A Pilates video and book was also purchased with the idea that it might be a gentle exercise I could do myself.

I have been quietly losing some weight for the last few years, at the time my husband passed away I had lost a total of 17 ½ kilos. Since then I have managed to divest myself of a further 15 kilos.