Guess what happened to me.
I was feeling a bit under the weather, mostly extremely tired. But when you are very busy you expect to get tired.
Then I gradually noticed I was drinking more, and then going to the toilet more. It’s about time I got a blood test, I thought.
So then the call came that my bloods were in the diabetic range.
At first I was shocked because I know how to eat well, I don’t eat lots of bread, or cakes, or biscuits, or sweets, or drink cola, or alcohol, or takeaways.
It was embarrassing because I teach this stuff. I deliver a module to students covering the aetiology of diabetes type 2, and how to help patients with their diet. I take patients through dietary protocols, I flag up patients with risk factors and give advice as to how to lower the probability of developing full blown diabetes.
So how could this happen to me?
I put it down to family history. My father had type 2 diabetes, and my grandmother, and uncle, and my mother has diabetes, and my brother and 2 cousins. How much can you do to avoid this kind of family tendency? Maybe diet isn’t enough. Maybe if you have such a strong family history then herbs could help support the effect of a good diet. Although herbs cannot replace necessary insulin therapy we do have herbs that can help lower blood sugar. We also have herbs that help prevent long-term complications of diabetes.
So, after I sulked for a bit, I pulled up my big girl pants and made a plan. Starting with another blood draw in a week I reviewed my diet and found I could make tweaks, I reviewed my lifestyle and found I could fit in a walk every day. It is something that I must make time for.
Because, however much you know it is possible to become complacent and take your eye off the ball. I found the last two years emotionally draining – my husband had brain surgery, my father died, a granddaughter had open heart surgery, my husband’s health is deteriorating, and more… And what happens so often is that you forget about doing the right things, and eating the right things.
What do they say on the runway? Put your own oxygen mask on before helping other people. The moral of the story is make sure you look after your own health as a priority. This is not selfish, it is to put yourself in a position to help other people efficiently.
