Take Responsibility or Take a Pill

More than 84 million adults have prediabetes. That is one out of every three adults. More than 30 million people have diabetes. More than 23 million are diagnosed and 7.2 million people are undiagnosed. That is 9.4 percent of the U.S. population.  

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that requires daily self-care. The disease can be managed, but if not managed properly, can lead to devastating and costly complications.  Cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, kidney failure, loss of vision and even amputations.

Over the last couple of years, I have talked about my diabetes, coping with the highs and lows of the disease, and loving myself enough to live a healthy lifestyle. All of this is easier said than done. I’ll be honest, consistency has been my biggest struggle. I am constantly striving to find the perfect balance in hopes of avoiding complications in the future.

Having type 1 diabetes requires consistent management and planning of activities, stress, sugars, and consumption of food and insulin. There is not a day or moment that goes by that I am not faced with making decisions on my health.

There is no known way to prevent it; whereas type 2 diabetes in most cases can be prevented. The choice: Take responsibility or take a pill.

To make lasting changes, I have been educating myself in the discipline of time management, task prioritizing, managing the flow of information and scheduling time into each day for the unknown. Planning and organizing my life must become a priority to find balance, maintain my health and sanity.

Here are 5 things that I know for sure:

1. It takes a minimum of 21 days to form a new discipline or behavior and if you focus on one or two at a time over the course of a year, that is 17 new habits that can be formed. I started with exercise. I committed to three days per week and have consistently maintained that routine for a year and a half now with the guidance and encouragement of my personal trainer.
2. Stop doing the things that take away your energy and do more of the things that give you energy. This process takes time. But once you identify the things that take away your energy, it is easy to make adjustments.
3. Focus on the tasks, not the outcomes. Tasks are manageable and outcomes are big-picture thinking that can become overwhelming. Tasks are easy, just do the tasks and the outcomes will take care of themselves.
4. Success comes from having a great team that supports your vision, goals and dreams. My tribe consists of a personal trainer, nutritionist, massage therapist, chiropractor, general practitioner and endocrinologist.
5. Just say, “NO!” If something doesn’t serve you any longer or doesn’t fit your priority list, you have to say no. You must align your thoughts and actions for success. You are responsible for who you become.

Check out this article in our DIGITAL MAGAZINE.