FatBadger
Member
- Messages
- 12
Hi all
I’ve done a bit of a back and forth on whether or not to write this. I want to say something to folks newly diagnosed as pre diabetic, but I don’t know how helpful it’ll be, because will they want me for Mastermind, special subject the bleedin obvious. Or will it simply not apply to many because our journeys are different. I’m just going to put it out there and go call a taxi.
A few years ago, I was diagnosed as pre diabetic. It came as a surprise even though I was overweight… ok let’s call it what it was. I was obese and like a Nun with a bad tailor, I had a lot of bad Habits. But even so, it’s a thing you hear about for other people right? Not for you.
Anyway, Diabetes was not a thing I knew very much about. I had no call to think about it prior really. Plus, I think to an extent, it’s one of those words that’s been normalised and reduced in many peoples eyes to little more than a different set of dietary requirements. So I started reading about it. Not a lot, but just enough to know that this was not a thing to be taken lightly and definitely not a thing I wanted any part of.
So, job on. I changed my diet. My best friends were no longer pies and chocolate eclairs. I embarked on a gym referral arranged by my doctor and yes, I did it. It took a little time and it wasn’t always easy, but I reversed my pre diabetes diagnosis. I’ve struggled with weight for most of my adult life, but I promised myself that this was it, no more.
But here’s the thing and this is what I really wanted to say..
“The price of freedom, is eternal vigilance.” Inside me is a little fat lad and he just wants to eat. All the pies and eclairs, all the fish and chips and I knew I couldn’t afford to let him out. But he’s as cunning as a fox with two tails and he did get out. I struggle with anxiety and bouts of depression, which I mention only because a combination of this and the awful temptation to indulge during the lockdowns, took me off the right path and stole from me that hard fought progress I’d earned.
And though I knew I’d lost my way, I continued down a bad path. Because now it was a familiar path right? I was heavy again, but nearly two stone lighter than I’d been when I’d been diagnosed before. So I knew I had time, time to fix it and even in the worst case scenario, I’d beaten Pre Diabetes before, I could do it again!
So when I had an overdue health check blood test and after the results got a phone call to talk about Diabetes, I was surprised it happened sooner than I expected, but told them I knew what I had to do. I knew about Pre Diabetes and how to knuckle down. “No, you don’t understand.” They said. “Your levels show you are now Diabetic.” ……..
See it wasn’t really about the weight. Oh weight can contribute of course. If you’re overweight or obese the odds are much more stacked against you every time you roll the dice regarding Strokes, Heart Attacks and all manor of nastiness including Diabetes. But I thought I had a safety window because I’d been heavier before and that wasn’t true. I wasn’t safe.
So, when you beat your Pre Diabetes… and you can, because I did and believe me if I can do it, you can do it! Please don’t completely rest on those laurels. Don’t be completely lulled by the back slaps and the roar of the crowd. You’ve done really well, it certainly wasn’t easy, you should be proud. But stay on your new path and stay vigilant.
Badger
I’ve done a bit of a back and forth on whether or not to write this. I want to say something to folks newly diagnosed as pre diabetic, but I don’t know how helpful it’ll be, because will they want me for Mastermind, special subject the bleedin obvious. Or will it simply not apply to many because our journeys are different. I’m just going to put it out there and go call a taxi.
A few years ago, I was diagnosed as pre diabetic. It came as a surprise even though I was overweight… ok let’s call it what it was. I was obese and like a Nun with a bad tailor, I had a lot of bad Habits. But even so, it’s a thing you hear about for other people right? Not for you.
Anyway, Diabetes was not a thing I knew very much about. I had no call to think about it prior really. Plus, I think to an extent, it’s one of those words that’s been normalised and reduced in many peoples eyes to little more than a different set of dietary requirements. So I started reading about it. Not a lot, but just enough to know that this was not a thing to be taken lightly and definitely not a thing I wanted any part of.
So, job on. I changed my diet. My best friends were no longer pies and chocolate eclairs. I embarked on a gym referral arranged by my doctor and yes, I did it. It took a little time and it wasn’t always easy, but I reversed my pre diabetes diagnosis. I’ve struggled with weight for most of my adult life, but I promised myself that this was it, no more.
But here’s the thing and this is what I really wanted to say..
“The price of freedom, is eternal vigilance.” Inside me is a little fat lad and he just wants to eat. All the pies and eclairs, all the fish and chips and I knew I couldn’t afford to let him out. But he’s as cunning as a fox with two tails and he did get out. I struggle with anxiety and bouts of depression, which I mention only because a combination of this and the awful temptation to indulge during the lockdowns, took me off the right path and stole from me that hard fought progress I’d earned.
And though I knew I’d lost my way, I continued down a bad path. Because now it was a familiar path right? I was heavy again, but nearly two stone lighter than I’d been when I’d been diagnosed before. So I knew I had time, time to fix it and even in the worst case scenario, I’d beaten Pre Diabetes before, I could do it again!
So when I had an overdue health check blood test and after the results got a phone call to talk about Diabetes, I was surprised it happened sooner than I expected, but told them I knew what I had to do. I knew about Pre Diabetes and how to knuckle down. “No, you don’t understand.” They said. “Your levels show you are now Diabetic.” ……..
See it wasn’t really about the weight. Oh weight can contribute of course. If you’re overweight or obese the odds are much more stacked against you every time you roll the dice regarding Strokes, Heart Attacks and all manor of nastiness including Diabetes. But I thought I had a safety window because I’d been heavier before and that wasn’t true. I wasn’t safe.
So, when you beat your Pre Diabetes… and you can, because I did and believe me if I can do it, you can do it! Please don’t completely rest on those laurels. Don’t be completely lulled by the back slaps and the roar of the crowd. You’ve done really well, it certainly wasn’t easy, you should be proud. But stay on your new path and stay vigilant.
Badger
