It wasn't long ago that I learned I was a diabetic. The disease was discovered when I reported to my local clinic with a near immobilizing infection that had gotten bad in a fairly short time. I knew it was inherent in both sides of my family but did not give it much thought until my diagnosis. A number of members in my distant family that had this disease and wound up blind, an amputee, or dead from it or its complications. The main reason was that none of them took it seriously or treated it as their doctor's had prescribed them to. All these stories floated around in my head in the first week of my treatments.
Dealing With Fear
Fear can be a powerful motivator. Or it can be a powerful and disabling influence in one's life. I believe a big part of it has to do with the mindset that is taken into dealing with the issues related to this disease.
Above all, it meant simply not giving up or giving in to the fear that threatened to overwhelm me as I gave serious thought to what all of this meant and the changes in my life that would inevitably come as a result.
In my earlier years, my head was filled with stories of people dying, going blind, or becoming amputees from this disease. But, in none of the stories I can remember, did I ever hear of them taking it seriously and treating the disease. I do remember a few stories, regarding people that I DID know, who did what they wanted NOT what they were instructed to do. I had taken it to mean that these things were inevitable to happen.
It was only after I has spent 18 fun filled hours (I am being sarcastic here) did I learn the truth about these myths and my disease. A doctor there told me that my particular case was treatable, and with exercise and proper diet, I could live to be a ripe old age.
Since that time I have resolved to manage this condition with daily exercise and regular eating in moderate portions. I won't lie to you, this has not been easy. It has required a considerable amount of mental discipline and tenacity.
Moderation in eating hasn't been my only challenge. Moderation in exercise has been another. I had noticed that my tendency to build too much into my workout regimen had begun to take its toll on meas well. I have had to learn to back off and build in a more moderate pace. Not too fast and not too much.
|
|
|
|
Contributor's Note
Being diabetic means alot of things. Primarily, to me anyway, it means thinking about how I eat and how active I am a little more seriously.
|
|
|
|
|
