(Originally posted 4/08/2023)
This week will be 17 years since my mom passed away at 67 years of age from complications of diabetes. She would be turning 85 this year. According to the CDC, approximately 37 million Americans have diabetes, not counting prediabetes. That’s about 1 in 10 people! Approximately 8.5 million people have it but haven’t been diagnosed. If you are Latina(o), you are more than 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. So what can we do to change those numbers? Here are three things that have helped me reverse the diabetes diagnosis I received two years ago.
- Education. It is important to know what we are dealing with. What causes diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes? When I was diagnosed in 2021, I hired a nutritionist to help me understand what needed to change in my diet and why. I took books out of the library and took down notes. I learned about my A1C and what numbers to shoot for. Education is a big part of preventing or reversing diabetes.
- Nutrition. The day I was diagnosed was the last day I drank pop or orange juice. Before the diagnosis I lived in fear that I would never be able to make the changes necessary, especially in regards to my two favorite beverages! But I was determined to do as much as I could to change the path I knew too well. The first few weeks were very difficult. Going through sugar withdrawal is not easy. I took steps to avoid the temptation by not having it in the house and telling myself and everyone else that, “I don’t drink pop.” “I don’t drink juice.” I avoid statements like, “I can’t.” The truth is I can eat anything I want. But I choose not to because I want something better for myself.
- Exercise. I’m not great at exercise. Initially I walked for 30 minutes a day and that, plus the change in eating habits, gave me some weight loss, which improved my health. Admittedly, it is hard to stay motivated, and I have gained some of the weight back, but I am still determined. I go to the gym four times a week (most weeks) and I have a standing desk that I use half the time I’m working.
In my family, my mom, my dad, my grandparents, my uncle, my aunts, all had diabetes. It is a sobering thought. I’m still not where I want to be, but I check my A1C every few months to make sure it’s still good.When we fight diabetes, not only do we feel empowered and make our lives better, but we encourage the next generation to not just accept the statistics. We teach them to make healthier choices. And we give them hope. My mom would be happy to know that.