Diabetes: Everyone eventually gets it

Glucose meter for diabetics

Several years ago, I had a list of questions for my doctor about health and wellness. When asked about diabetes risks, she said, "Everyone eventually gets it. My 90 year old grandmother has it." Wait a minute! What?! I do not WANT it.

I was fresh out of law school and had gained some serious weight.  Mind you, the same thing happened after undergrad, but I joined a gym with my homeboy from work, ran with some friends, and got back into shape. (It was a serious meat head gym too. Ha! Nothing fancy about it at all. No pilates or spin classes, just rustic equipment. Not only meat head, but a little redneckish, and I was the only melanin rich person in the bunch. All the folks at the gym were very sweet though.)

Consequently, when my doctor said everyone eventually gets diabetes, I was seriously disturbed.  While in law school, I worked part time at a pharmaceutical marketing company.  Speaking to doctors, was something I did regularly. My job was to schedule focus groups, and to interview patients and doctors about their experiences with specific drugs.

This plate contains a small chicken breast,

a cup of frozen veggies, and potatoes. 

There is room left on the plate, so as not

to overindulge. 

Diabetes drugs were included in many marketing research campaigns at my old job.  Most of the doctors, I interviewed, preferred their patients having a lifestyle change to popping pills.  My take away from them was that you do not have to get diabetes.

BUT HOW DO YOU AVOID DIABETES?

• Move more than you eat
• I learned through a research study, I participated in at UNC, that the Amish have a high fat, high carb diet, yet low incidences of diabetes.  Why? Because they move a lot more.  
• Exercise gets your blood flowing and changes your body chemistry.  
• Overeating creates, in many, an overabundance of fat storage. Fat holds toxins.  Not good. Trade nights out eating, for days out hiking.
• De-stress
• Stress also causes a change in your body chemistry.  There's an old adage that sorrow is held in belly fat.  I'm not sure how true that is, but it makes sense to me. 
• Stress also impacts your food choices and dietary intake.  Again, not good.  
• Eat better
• Food can be a strong addiction. You need it to survive, but you have to choose the types of food that will help you survive...not give you a slow death.
• Trade your sugar for naturally derived substitutes, eat raw fruits and veggies, get more protein through lean sources like fish, nuts, and beans. Please stop drinking so many sodas. I drink less than 20 sodas a year. (No, I'm not kidding.) 
• Increase your fiber, nutrients and minerals...You have to purge old food...it is better out than in!

I'm working on all of those things. Those steps are also good for diabetics to improve their health.  Having diabetes does not have to be a death sentence or a life of chronic ailments.  You can still live a healthy life, but you have to stay up on taking care of yourself.

I bought a heavy bag to get my boxing game up, and cut down heavily on my pastries and candies intake.  That is my biggest poor eating problem.  Otherwise, exercise is my nemesis.