Life Changing Events Happen in an Instant…
Every story I write focuses on a life changing event that sets the character on a different path in life, usually one they tried to avoid or had never thought about doing. I choose to write those types of stories because they are a true reflection of reality…of life.
My life course was altered in 2006 when I suffered a series of strokes that left me partially paralyzed and forever dependent on blood thinners to stay alive. My diet had to change, as well as exercise, which lead to a nearly full recovery (the paralysis lasted less than a week).
But I will be the first to admit that when it comes to the exercise portion of things, I’ve fallen off the wagon…a lot! My excuse: since becoming an author, I sit at my desk for hours on end, blogging, promoting, writing, editing, and interacting with readers, sometimes longer than the normal eight hour work day. And for someone who has to watch out for blood clots, (which is what lead to the stroke in the first place, and at that time, I was much more active than I am now!), it’s something I need to pay more attention to. And okay, I’ll admit it…I’m not an exercise fanatic. 
Over the last three weeks, unexpected illness struck my household again, but this time, it was my husband. What was thought to be an onset of hemorrhoids gone really, really wrong, sent us to the emergency room. After a brief exam, it turned out to be an abscess that need to be drained immediately and treated with a serious round of antibiotics. But even worse, the illness sent him into sudden Type 2 Diabetes. Talk about a shocker! His sugar level was over 400 and he was immediately hospitalized. For over twenty-four hours, he was put on two types of insulin, his sugar checked every hour, and was unable to eat or drink. Fortunately, his sugar dropped dramatically by the morning and he was able to have surgery in order to help relieve the abscess and keep it from turning into something fatal. We left the hospital two days later armed with a handful of literature on how to manage Type 2 Diabetes and a plan: Change the family’s diet, and implement more exercise for EVERYBODY!!!
If you’ve been following my blog over the years, you know that I rarely talk about things this personal, but after the health scare we had, I felt it was necessary to educate as many of my blog readers as I can about the necessity of taking care of themselves.
For starters….do NOT avoid going to the emergency room if you feel strange and your body is telling you something is wrong! Forget the bills and don’t worry if you don’t have insurance! Life is important! There are programs in place that can help you!
Ladies, we know our men can be stubborn when it comes to seeing a doctor. They feel they can suck up the pain, handle it with some over the counter medicine, and then it will be all good. My husband is like that, too. In fact, this wasn’t the first time he’d had a problem with hemorrhoids. He took the steps he’d been instructed to take seven years ago when it happened, but after three days, he realized he was only getting worse, not better. The minute he told me we needed to go to the emergency room, I knew something was wrong. I’m so glad he didn’t put it off until later that evening or wait until the next morning. With his sugar being that high, (as I said, over 400 which is grounds for immediate hospitalization and treatment), he could have gone into a diabetic coma and we would have had no clue as to what the problem was. While diabetes runs in his family (and mine), he’d always been borderline, just under the range of being diagnosed with the disease. According to the doctor, the abscess, or infection, forced his body to work to heal itself, and in the process, produced an overabundance of insulin. This is what jumpstarted his diabetes.
**Fact: There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2…Do you know the differences?**
Type 1: This form is usually found in children and young adults. This is when the body does not produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy. – American Diabetes Association
Type 2: This most common form is when there is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. When this happens, your body does not use insulin properly. – American Diabetes Association
While the diagnosis is scary at first, the good thing is that it CAN BE MANAGED! BUT, it takes more than taking medicine and checking your blood sugar levels. It also means making changes to your diet and incorporating exercise, two of the simplest things in life, but yet the hardest to make happen. Some people with Type 2 diabetes- depending on the severity of the illness- with the proper changes in diet and increase in physical activity, can decrease the amount of insulin needed as a part of their management program. That means if done right, you may be able to go from having to take a shot, to taking a pill once a day. My husband has been told that if he looses weight, changes diet, and exercises, he may be able to do just that or even come off of it completely. It’s going to take time, dedication, and a lot of work. He’s not only determined to make it happen, he’s managed to get the rest of the house on board!
Here’s what we’re doing:
Exercise:
Okay, so this isn’t exactly everybody’s favorite thing to do, but it’s a necessity. It can be as simple as walking for twenty minutes a day. Simple, right? Yep! The point is to not be sedentary, to get your body moving, your blood flowing, and heart pumping. We’ve decided to make it a requirement that we, as a family, get together in the evenings and walk the dogs for an hour around our subdivision. We go in the evenings, at dusk when the sun is no longer pounding down, and the cooler air makes it a very pleasant activity. It’s amazing what fresh air, watching the sun set, and being away from all things electronic can do! You’ll find yourself refreshed, energized, and even though we’re not marathon walking, keeping a steady pace during the entire time works your muscles. If your day job has you sitting down for nearly eight hours a day, chained to a desk, you’ll be surprised at how much your body needs it. How does this work when it comes to diabetes? Walking causes your body to burn calories which uses the stored energy (insulin) in your body, thus dropping your blood sugar down and making it manageable. And for those of you who love to ‘sweat it out’, you can always power walk, run, jog, join a gym, and of course use those exercise tapes. The point is activity. Find what works best for you, do it, then challenge yourself to do more.
Diet:
Okay, here’s the part that’s the most challenging! For diabetics, watching what you eat does not mean everything you eat has to be lacking taste. It’s a matter of knowing what is too much, what needs to be avoided, and what can only be used in moderation. The biggest things diabetics need to watch out for is carbohydrate and sugar counts on the labels. In the past, I’ve only focused on the sodium count (he’s also got high blood pressure), but now have started watching those numbers, too. It’s amazing exactly how much of those two things are found in everyday food! Sugar, well, that should be a given, anything overly sweetened or not using natural sugars, can push that glucose level into uncontrollable ranges, thus landing you back in the hospital. I had no idea that carbohydrates (breads, starches, etc., if not eaten in moderation) also break down into sugars, and can have the same results. We’ve started adding more fruits and vegetables into our diet, while decreasing the amount of sugar and bread. Eating sandwiches made from wraps or pita shells instead of loaf bread makes a huge difference. You focus on what’s on the inside of the wrap: the meat, veggies, lettuce, tomatoes, and seasonings. So much better for you! (Publix sandwiches never tasted so good!)
This is just the beginning of the changes being made in the Kane household. My husband has informed me that after we get the walking for an hour nightly routine down, he’ll be implementing additional exercise to our routine. In truth, I’m looking forward to it.
How else am I going to get in better shape for the face-to-face book signing events planned for the summer and fall?
Side Note: Last night we walked 2 miles in one hour! A RECORD!!!!! Finished up with push ups, and crunches. I swear I’m gonna get so skinny you’re gonna have to ask, “Where is she?” LOL!
***To Learn More About the Disease, visit American Diabetes Association website. There you’ll find information on diet, exercise, and treatment.****
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MJ
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