Diabetes report card

Diabetes Report Card

Yes I’ve been eating too much fruit, hence sugar, and going my merry way with blood sugar on the rise and health risk at a critical high. I feel this in my feet daily and particularly at night, although it hasn’t interfered that much in my sleep. It’s time to act now.

The Australian of the Year 2020, Dr James Muecke, works with people with diabetes, many of whom lose their sight. He has called for a sugar tax and is certainly not the first to do so. If nothing else a sugar tax will raise funds for education and the medical costs incurred by the community in treating diabetes cases. Pru Goward, not my favourite politician, said in a TV interview recently that she’d decided “not to live like that” and turned successfully to diet to control her diabetes. I’ve decided to do the same. No more procrastinating. Get a grip.

Most of the sugar in my body comes from my addiction to fruit which I eat in large quantities. My endocrinologist, Dr Kuo, has told me many times to limit my fruit to about 3 pieces a day. Of course, some fruit is better than others and strawberries and blueberries are ok in smaller quantities. Of course, they can be very expensive in the off-seasons. Frozen berries are less expensive and serve the same purpose. I’ve decided to try to limit other fruit to weekends and only 2 pieces a day. So far it has worked and my blood sugar has fallen rapidly. My yogurt and berries portion sizes have halved.

I go sugar free in most other foods, especially yogurt. I’ve also cut back on milk in my lattes, or 4 coffees a day. Black coffee is ok and I’m getting by. Less, or no milk, alone will see my weight drop which is a good sign.

Absolutely essential is for me to take daily blood readings to monitor my progress.

My walking has eased back a bit due to my stepping on a nail recently. However less food and this will balance out. It’s all about balance. Unfortunately, a sore foot leaves to less balance and until that passes, plus the present heat, walking back to normal is on hold in these summer months. I’ll stay at my 12000 – 13000 steps a day, well below my 19000 steps. I should perhaps add other exercise movements, stretching, etc, to my daily routines.

I have had diabetic neuropathy since my 2nd stent operation in late 2015, and although I've learned to live with it and it hasn't slowed down my long daily walks and steps routine it would be nice to be rid of it. That won't happen and I've accepted it's a condition of old age that I have to endure. I've told Dr Kuo and my GP Linda that I'd probably be dead if it weren't for my physical condition and daily exercise and that I believe that exercise plays a more important part in our lives than is given credit for.  

Currently, my right foot is still in recovery after the nail-in-the-foot accident. I'm doing steps and walking but it can be a pain in the steps. I guess that things take longer to heal when you get old. Before the accident, I did around 19000 steps per day, and probably much more as my health band takes a while to start up and undercounts my steps. So until my new watch arrives that issue hangs in the air.