Six Until Me: Your Story

David's Story 

In the past years, I have never been concerned about my health. I thought I was relatively healthy until one and one half years ago when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Being single, I rarely prepare meals at home. I eat almost all my meals out. You know those fancy fast food restaurants. Well, it was not uncommon for me to eat a cheeseburger, fries and drink several regular sodas with a meal.

I had a habit of eating pancakes for breakfast heavily drenched with syrup. After such a meal, I began to feel dizzy. I thought I was allergic to pancakes. I went to my doctor for a yearly physical and shared this information with him. For some reason I thought I could have diabetes. My doctor said my past blood sugars over the years were within normal range, however said he could give me an Oral Glucose Tolerance test to confirm my suspicions.

Well it was confirmed that I did have diabetes. It was beyond my belief with no family history. How could this be? I was advised to make an appointment with both a diabetes educator and dietician. I was afraid to eat carbohydrates. They are converted to sugar and can spike glucose levels.

After seeing the dietician, I went into about six month’s of depression and lost about 24 pounds over this time. I was now under nourished.  Food became my enemy or should I say lack of it.
I forced myself to take control over the diabetes after educating myself on the subject of the disease. I learned that proper dieting and exercise could control blood sugar levels immensely.

I walk about 120 miles a month and it not only boosts me mentally, it allows me to eat almost any food items within a normal portion. My blood sugars have remained within normal ranges going on five years this February, and I am now within a normal weight range.