Before we head off to diabetes education class, I think now would be a good time to let you inside my head. Please keep your hands inside the ride at all times. And please - no flash photography.
There are many different ways to approach a problem, and I'm sure everyone thinks that their way is the best. I am no exception.
Fight or flight is the most basic instinct. In my opinion, if you have even the slightest chance of winning, fight is the best option. Don't get me wrong, if a 1200 pound grizzly bear is about to remove your face, you may want to run, but type II diabetes is not a bear. It's time to stand and fight. You may not be able to win, but you can beat it into submission.
It's all about attitude. You can most certainly put your head down and feel sorry for yourself. Take the meds that your doctor has prescribed, inject a little insulin, wait and hope. Wait for the tingling to start in your fingers and toes. Wait for your vision to get blurry. Wait for your organs to start shutting down. Wait for the diabetic coma, heart attack or stroke. And hope it doesn't happen for a really long time.
Or you can adopt my attitude.
An old Italian saying is, "If you dance, you have to pay the band." What increases your risk of developing type II diabetes? Smoking, inactive lifestyles, and certain dietary patterns (read:donuts and gravy). I have contacted the American Diabetes Association and asked them to name this 'Bob Syndrome'. I danced for 45 years. And I danced hard. Legendary stuff. Now I have to pay the band.
Whatever it takes, I don't care. I have two kids, a great wife, great family and friends. I will do whatever needs to be done, because even though my life is far from perfect, I'm not done yet, I don't anticipate being done for a really long time, and there is no way in hell that I am going to let diabetes take away one minute.
It's hard getting started. It's hard staying motivated. It's hard to change your lifestyle. No kidding. Look at each part of each day as a new challenge. The feeling of accomplishment after completing each challenge will motivate you to meet and accomplish the next one. It's a snowball effect. Put on you big boy (or girl) pants and get after it. Keeping things simple can make even the most daunting tasks seem manageable.
My youngest nephew, Charlie, is five years old. Charlie was in our office the other day and my father said, "Charlie, I hear you are doing really well with your swimming lessons." Charlie looked at my father, and with wisdom that could only be imparted by a five year old said, "Poppy, it's not that hard. The more better you try, the more better you get gooder."
My little nephew has it figured out. "The more better you try, the more better you get gooder." I wrote it down immediately. The secret of life from a pre-schooler, and now my personal mantra.
