Friday, February 27, 2015

True Confessions of a Diabetic




By Paul Bridgewater

I’m a diabetic. There, I said it. I typically don’t share that with many people, but I was diagnosed with this diabolical disease that plagues about 29 million Americans at least two decades ago.
I fully know how to manage my diabetes, but I don’t manage it well. 

In fact, I run the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, where we host diabetes self-management training. I don’t attend. I’m supposed to monitor my blood sugar two or three times daily. I might check it once. I’m supposed to eat small, healthy low-carb meals all day. I might get in two large meals between meetings and other obligations.

 I’m supposed to start my day with breakfast. Truth is, most days I don’t eat my first meal until after noon or 1 p.m., hours after I rise. By this time, my blood sugar level has plummeted so low that I grab anything I can get quickly, fried chicken, burgers -- anything defined as fast food. Every night is capped with an insulin injection. I remember to do that.

Oh, yes, I also fail to exercise regularly. I know I’m supposed to get in some movement at least 30 minutes a day three times a week, however, I tell myself I’m too busy.

Since I know what I’m supposed to do, I often ask myself why I don’t do it. Why won’t I do it? I haven’t come up with a satisfactory answer. I don’t know if it’s frustration or emotional giving up. Perhaps, it’s a form of denial that I’m diabetic. I don’t want this disease controlling my life; I want to be able to eat what I want, when I want, live the lifestyle that ultimately contributed to my diabetes. I make improvements, fall off the wagon, get angry at myself and sing the blues.

I have trouble scheduling my life around this disease and I keep telling myself I’ll do better tomorrow or I’ll get on the right track starting Monday. I’m going to plan my meals, pack my food for the work day, and eat more fresh produce and work on balancing my life. Then, it somehow doesn’t happen. I know better.

I also know that my mother’s side of the family has been devastated from blindness and other eye problems, amputations, strokes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks and pre-mature death, all associated as diabetes complications. I know that if I don’t get a better handle on my management, it may catch up with me, too. I think about it every day.

As I reflect on this, I understand the seriousness of diabetes, so I’m sharing publicly I’m going to change. It’s a new year, so I’m renewing my mind. I’m committing myself to reading labels while grocery shopping, pre-planning and balancing. I’m even going to attend the next diabetes management training.

But I confess I need some help. I need diabetes buddies or accountability partners, and we can help keep one another on track. If you’re interested, I’ll be the diabetes buddy clearinghouse and we’ll create a support system for ourselves. 

Head over to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/paul.bridgewater.779 and post your comments there – or you can email me at bridgewaterp@daaa1a.org. I’m going to change; I just need a little help from my friends. We’ll do this together. 

Paul Bridgewater, President and CEO, Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA), hosts "The Senior Solution" on WCHB Newstalk 1200AM, Saturdays at 10 a.m. DAAA is located at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207; (313) 446-4444;  www.daaa1a.com


 Want to know more about the DAAA Diabetes Self-management program? Click here

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