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
