Achieving Better Control

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Today was the first day of my diabetes educational class at Grand View Hospital. It was a very informative class, the first of three. Basically, it was an introduction to the different types of diabetes and how they affect the human body. A booklet with very useful advice and instructions was given to every member who attended. Since the course is paid for by health insurance, each member also received the new Accu-Chek Nano glucose monitoring kit, the portable version which is said to be the most accurate on the market.

The course began with everyone speaking about their background and why they were taking this class. I told them my brief story. I had been diagnosed as "pre-diabetic" for about two years by my doctor, but I never fully understood or took seriously my condition. I kept eating the same junk and not exercising, while my body and health steadily declined. I told the dietitian, who was the class instructor, that my paternal grandfather, Andreas, had died from advanced stage type 2 diabetes. He had lost his eyesight, had one leg amputated, then the other. My grandmother, Theodora, his wife, had to lift him into the tub to give him a bath. She once told me that she didn't mind his blindness, but when he lost his legs, it became more difficult to help him. I told everyone in the room, now that I'm married, I cannot become such a burden to my wife, so I want to learn as much as I can to prevent diabetes from negatively altering my life forever.

So, now I await the second class to be held next Saturday. In the second class, we will discuss diet and food choices as well as how, when, and how much to eat. Apparently, it's not always what you eat, but the size of the portions. As the dietitian mentioned in the first class today, we should be eating "more of the best, less of the rest." That is to say, if you want a burger and fries, go ahead and have them, but be mindful of portions and don't eat them every single day. Load up on fruits and veggies, but limit your consumption of carbs and fats, especially sugars---sucrose, fructose, and lactose. I am sure much more will be discussed at the next session and the main reason I'm taking this course is to learn about the dietary aspects.

I mean, let's face it, I'm a picky eater who eats like a fast-food slob. If I'm going to beat diabetes, I have to turn my life around and eat more healthy foods, exercise more often, and manage stress better. Thank God, at least I have my wife to support me and make sure I stick to the game plan.

Diabetes, you haven't conquered me yet!

~Andrew K.