Women's Problems

You know how when you go to the doctor and you're all ready to hear about how you're going to need a hysterectomy and a biopsy, only to find out that you have diabetes?

That.

I started off the summer on a roll. I was running and blogging about it and planning for a 5K that is coming up this very weekend. But then I started not feeling so good. Back pain that I thought I had beat kept coming back, among other things going on.

I finally made an appointment, had a battery of tests and expected a lady-business overhaul. But instead I was diagnosed with a lifestyle overhaul.

Type 2 diabetes is a big problem in this country, and now it's my personal problem. The doctor said that I'm "borderline" diabetic, which means that my blood sugar levels are low enough that I'm not technically classified as diabetic ... but she also said you can't be a little bit diabetic. Either you are or you aren't. And now I am.

So I've been put on medications that will basically prevent me from eating the foods I shouldn't eat. Too many carbs = ohmygoodness. You don't want to go to there. I know I don't want to go to there for sure! So I've gone cold-turkey on the diet (which has been set at 1100 calories. Which I choose to hear as under 1500 because that seems a bit more feasible). I've been told that I need to lose 10% of my body weight and I need to work out and aim for a 400-calorie-burning workout every day.

Coming on the heels of a summer that I thought would be including lots of running and exercise but actually turned out to be more sedentary due to health issues, this is going to be a challenge. But it's a challenge that I'm ready for.

This week has been consumed with reading labels, researching and doing lots of math as I count up my calories and my carb grams lest I overdo it and regret it. I've been acclimating from going to zero medications per day to 4 separate medications per day. It's been interesting.

But best of all, today I went back to the track. The doctor asked me if I had been feeling sluggish (one of the symptoms) and I didn't think I had ... but just a few days with better carbs and fewer calories and medications to help me and I feel so much better. And I realize that I really was feeling sluggish. I hit the track and I carried my water bottle to stave off dehydration due to the meds and ... walked. Taking it slowly. I did run, about 1/4 mile there at the end. It felt good. I want more of that! And I'll get there.

Some of the music that moved my diabetic ass today:

1. Oh Love - Green Day
2. Settle Down - No Doubt
3. Salvation - Rancid
4. Bloodclot - Rancid