I am there and doing that. The battle with Type 2 diabetes often feels like a relentless storm raging inside. What can I eat? Remembering to take my pills, taking daily heart and blood sugar readings several times per day, exercise and, through it all, maintaining an emotional balance.
Having diabetes is not easy. Millions of people in North America do not even know they have it. At least I know and can decide how to protect myself to a better quality of life living with type 2 diabetes. It is not an easy battle. Sometimes, watching my family and friends eating mashed potatoes, bread, juicy hamburgers on that scrumptious bun, and other things I know are unsuitable, I have this overwhelming urge to grab and gorge.
But I resist. I chose to manage my diabetes without taking a pill, as I have to take enough pills because of my heart. I know what high blood sugar means, but I am not ready to check out yet. My goal is to live the best quality of life living with type 2 diabetes, and after 3 years, I am doing pretty good, and you can too.
START WITH A SIMPLE STEP
The first step is discovering if you have diabetes. A simple blood sample can tell you that. If I had one wish, it would be that everyone at risk of type 2 diabetes would take the test. Letting it go leads to many medical problems that no one should face. Cutting off toes and limbs, going blind, and many more serious medical conditions can hit you if you have type 2 diabetes and do nothing about it.
THE HEART
We all know where not looking after our hearts will lead us. In North America, more than 695,000 people die from coronary disease each year, with a further 110,000 having a heart attack.
Please do not be one of those on the negative side of the statistics. Start by getting checked out, and if there is anything we can do to help, contact us at Damndiabetes.ca. We have been there and are doing what we can do to have a better quality of life living with diabetes - we are only an email away.
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO
Heart health, alongside Type 2 diabetes, is not just a passing concern—it's a serious issue that demands our attention and action – our lives can depend on it – are you ready to check out yet?
Fear not! Damidiabetes.ca provides five ways to help navigate the rollercoaster of blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and heart rates.
Embrace the Power of Crunchy Greens
Let’s start with our arsenal's most straightforward yet underrated weapon: vegetables, specifically leafy greens. Imagine the vibrant explosion of colour on your plate—spinach, kale, arugula, and Swiss chard. These nutritional powerhouses are low in calories and high in fibre, making them essential for keeping blood sugar levels steady. They help manage Type 2 diabetes and support heart health by reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
On my journey, I began every meal with a giant salad, tossing in everything that could come from a vegetable garden. I sometimes joke that I have turned into a rabbit, but the taste can be changed by changing the sauce. My simple sauce consists of Olive Oil, lemon, and salt.
Let Greens be your first line of defence. With imagination, a salad can taste really good while being great for you.
Get Moving – But Make It Fun
Exercise is like a magic potion, often on the tip of our tongues but rarely done. I remember the days of treadmill dread, where each minute felt like an hour in purgatory. But here’s the secret: find a form of movement you genuinely enjoy. Dancing, biking, walking the dog—anything that gets your heart pumping and your spirits soaring.
You can take 30 minutes daily to invest in yourself for a better quality of life and heart health.
Stress Management is Key
Ah, stress—the silent assassin lurking in every corner of our lives. Did you know that stress can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels and heart health? The adrenaline rush from a stressful day may trigger blood sugar spikes, while prolonged stress raises cortisol levels, which can lead to inflammation and heart disease.
To keep this invisible foe at bay, I turned to mindfulness and “sometimes counting to ten.” It was not an instant fix, but slowly, I learned to breathe through the chaos, and there is an added benefit: I realized I did not have to say “sorry” for what I had said or who I had attacked.
Incorporating practices like deep breathing or taking time to respond can significantly alleviate stress’s impact on you and your family. Embrace calming rituals as part of your daily routine to fortify your heart and manage your diabetes more effectively.
Sleep Like Your Health Depends on It
Sleep is the elusive fairy that tends to dart away just as we grasp for it. For those of us managing Type 2 diabetes and want heart health, getting a good sleep is crucial. Insufficient rest can lead to insulin resistance and increased blood pressure, making it a double-edged sword we cannot afford to wield carelessly.
I had to make some tough choices—no more late-night binge-watching Netflix marathons. Instead, I established a comforting bedtime routine that signals to my body that it is time for rest.
I shut off screens 30 minutes before bed, slip in between the sheets, and that is it. I aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Give it a try for a week and watch as your body rewards you with more energy, improved glucose levels and a more resilient heart.
Stay Connected
Lastly, let’s discuss the power of connection. You are not alone in this journey. Share your experiences, frustrations, and triumphs with friends, family, or support groups, and feel free to reach out to us at Damndiabetes.ca. We are here to help, and having lived through this, we know many of the challenges and frustrations and the importance of talking to someone who understands what we are going through.
Do you really think your family, who can eat when they want, what they want, and how much they want, can really understand the frustrations you face each day? That is why we suggest it is so important to stay connected.
Conclusion
So here are five powerful strategies I adopted to manage my Type 2 diabetes and heart health. The journey is fraught with challenges, but getting tested for type 2 diabetes and taking control of your health is your most empowering decision. And, feel free to reach out to us at Damndiabets.ca. We are here to help.
Best wishes ...
"Damndiabetes.ca" is a path to a better understanding of diabetes. We do not provide medical advice—for that, please discuss your diabetes concerns with your doctor. We provide practical advice, and you are responsible for checking with your doctor before deciding to make any changes to your diet and life.
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