After much consideration, I have decided to pick this blog back up. I am currently sitting in my office working and watching Oprah. Today her guests are Dr. Oz, Bob Green and Dr. Ian Smith. Their topic: Diabetes.
Many of you know that I was diagnosed with Diabetes in 2005. Currently I am taking an oral medication as well as two types of insulin to control my illness. This has caused me to gain lots of weight. I have said this before, but pray that because I really mean it this time that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Something has to give and I do realize it starts with plenty of prayer and me.
Starting today, I am taking my life back and working on ridding myself of this doggone Diabetes. I will be 42 next year and I feel that I am in the prime of my life, but Diabetes is slowing me down. I have moved my elliptical machine from the family room to the bedroom in front of the television. I will exercise at least one hour a day, maybe not all at once, but during the duration of the day, I will get er done. I have gotten rid of sweets, pasta, and bread from my fridge and pantry. I am going to do this. I know it will be hard and emotional, but I am not ready to die. I still have much to give to the world. I would love if you would take this journey with me as I realize I cannot do this alone and I am not afraid to say that I need help. I pray that with your encouragement and support I can kick this habit.
It is also my wish that if you are in danger of developing this pain in the *bleep* disease that you take heed and take care of yourself and educate yourself, your children, family and friends. I believe that had I really known my family health history and had the education to back it up, I would not be in this predicament. I also pray that my children have learned the things I have taught them about our family health history and continue taking the necessary steps to live a long, healthy, and happy life.
Prior to my diagnosis, I had phases where I had a few extra pounds, but for the most part, I was at an acceptable weight. My size ranged from a size 6 to a size 9. If I gained a few extra pounds, it was always easy to eat salads for a week and not eat as many sweets to lose the pounds. Sometimes I would resort to fasting and the pounds would fall right off. As I got older this became harder and harder.
The day I was diagnosed with Diabetes, I was working at HSBC in Lewisville, Texas. In addition, just as I did every day, I was enjoying a route 44 strawberry fruit slush from Sonic. I had not even drunk half my drink on this day before I found myself passed out on the floor at work. After being rushed to the emergency room, and seen by an emergency room doctor, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
I must admit at first, even though I was somewhat shocked, it still had not hit me. After all, my seventy something year old grandmother has had diabetes for as long as I can remember and she was fine to me. Sure, I witnessed her on several occasions administering insulin via a needle and syringe. I hate needles and watching her give herself this daily drug gave me the creeps. Even so, my grandmother still loved her fried food and her sweets and continued to enjoy them. This was the first time I was exposed to the deadly disease; only then, I did not realize how deadly it was.
After I was diagnosed, I was put on a drug called Metformin. I have to admit that I took the drug here and there and the more I realized Metformin did not agree with my stomach and caused me to accumulate many sick days, I stopped taking it. Each time I kept one of my doctor appointments, my doctor would warn me to take the disease serious. “If you don’t, you will die,” he would say. I somewhat listened to what he said, but after all, Madea, the term of endearment for my grandmother, was able to eat whatever she wanted. What didn’t register with me was that she took several medications but I dismissed them because in addition to her diabetes, she had high blood pressure.
It was not until January of 2006 that I began to take my disease seriously. During one of my doctor appointments, my doctor informed me that the numbness that I had started experiencing in my left leg was due to lack of care for my Diabetes. After several tests, scans and x-rays, my doctor told me something that nearly knocked the air from my lungs. “We’re going to have to take that left leg.” Me, without my leg? I was determined not to let that happen. Then another blow—he explained to me that because I had already experienced two heart attacks, one minor, prior to being diagnosed with diabetes, I had to go on a heart and cholesterol medication.
Now, not only was I suffering from heart disease, which I also did not take serious, even after two heart attacks, but I also had Diabetes and high cholesterol and was at risk for yet another heart attack. I could not catch a break.
Shortly after, I joined Weight Watchers through my company and began to use our on-site gym. I was up bright and early at 4 a.m. and at work by 5 a.m. to get in a good workout before I started my shift at 7 a.m. I attended weekly Weight Watchers meetings and began to drop pounds from my size 12 frame. After a few months, I was able to get back into my size 9 jeans, I was feeling good, and I was looking good. I stopped taking my medications and after many stressful events in my life, I stopped working out and I stopped attending my Weight Watcher meetings.
After I purchased my home in the suburbs of Dallas, I found myself living alone and working a full time job, running a business and writing full time. I can remember working ten to twelve hour days, four to six days a week at my corporate job, then coming home and running my business and writing. Before I knew it, I would look up and it was 4 a.m. and time for me to start the process all over again. There many nights I would get no sleep.
I continued this process for a long time. Many asked and didn’t understand my response when they asked, “Why do you do what you do once put so much on yourself and why don’t you get any rest?” My response, “Because writing is my passion. Corporate America pays the bills. You’ll find me writing until the day I die.” My doctor eventually told me that I might be getting my wish sooner than I wanted.
I stopped taking care of myself and eventually I found the Little Elm police and fire department or a neighbor or friend, breaking down my door, because my emergency alert monitor had gone off. Once entering my home, they would either find me passed out on the floor or near unconsciousness.
I can remember one morning getting up to head to the gym. I could not feel my right side. I did not realize that I could not feel my right side until I attempted to get out of my sleigh bed and landed flat on the floor. Long story short, I had suffered a mild stroke. I endured weeks of physical and speech therapy, and to this day, I still have problems with my speech.
As I looked in the mirror this morning I said to myself, my face looks swollen and I look like Petunia Pig! The buck stops here!
