Type 2 Diabetes Was My Wake-Up Call

by Adam
(USA)

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years ago. At first, I was in complete denial, maybe it was just my poor eating habits that raised my blood sugar levels. I learned that in fact I was insulin-resistant which is what Type 2 diabetes is. This was a huge wake-up call for me to change the way I eat. I would say that I was about 30 pounds overweight, and this was the main cause of my diabetes. I was active in regards to exercising, but not doing it enough. I played basketball only twice per week, but that was inadequate when it came to exercising, and losing the extra weight. I now exercise almost daily for at least a half hour riding an exercise bike, which increases my heart rate, and helped me lose some of that extra weight. The key to manging my diabetes is not only through the added exercise I do, but to eat sensibly. I have found that I cannot survive on any of the diet fads, so I decided to simply cut back on the high carbohydrate foods that I love. This has worked for me, and I am still able to enjoy some of the bad foods that I like. To deny yourself some of the bad foods, well the temptation would be too much for me to avoid these foods. Like I said, the key is moderation of these foods. I cut the portion size of these foods significantly, and if I am still hungry, I substituted junk food with foods that are healthy for me. The key to managing your diabetes is self-control, and you have to realize that it's not the end of the world for you because you were diagnosed with it. You have to try to remain positive, and look at it as a wake-up call to change your lifestyle. That change included eating better, and exercising more. With these changes, my diabetes is better controlled, and I feel better in general.