Monday 16 September 2013

Autumn

Autumn is a time of change.

We tend to become more aware of a season change when autumn arrives, perhaps more aware than we are at other time of the year. The nights get darker, the weather harsher. Trees lose their leaves and people start moaning that summer came and went way too quick (at least we had a bit of a summer this year). We all seem to go on a bit of a downer until mid November when the Christmas hype kicks in and we all start feeling a little jovial again. This is a long way off.

Anyway this post isn't about autumn, it's about change in general.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts I've been struggling with my diabetes a little bit in the last few weeks/months. However in the last week or so I've been feeling a lot better. My bg levels have been a lot more stable and my general attitude towards this 'condition' has changed dramatically. I've always taken my diabetes seriously but I've always considered it as something that I'm in complete control of. I didn't change my diet too much at first, nor did I cut down the amount I drank or the amount of meals (or lack of) that I eat in a day. Eating one substantial meal a day is not very wise, even if you aren't hungry, especially if your life is slowly becoming revolved around work.

This is the time of year where my parents decide that we're going to start living healthier in the run up to the inevitable gluttony of the Christmas Period. This is all well and good until you have one shit day at work and the 'no drinking during the week' rule goes straight out the window and a takeaway is ordered from speed dial. What has pleased me over the last couple of weeks is how much healthier I feel (I'm the only one at the moment keeping up the healthy lifestyle thing). Don't get me wrong I'm still only eating 2 half decent meals a day and my exercise routine has slowed down a bit recently (mainly due to work) so I'm no health freak whatsoever.


I feel that I've now realised that diabetes is something I have to work with constantly rather than work at constantly. What to avoid, what I can afford to do with myself (weekend benders have taken a massive backseat), and how far I can push myself in terms of stress and generally taking the piss out of my body are part of a giant learning curve. Losing 9lb in just under a fortnight is not clever, especially as I'm slim enough as it is, and it does take it's toll.

Putting a strain on the remainder of my organs that work properly is not something I intend to carry on doing.Going out for a brisk walk after a long day at work without checking my bg is one of many mistakes I make often. There's not a time where after a walk (followed by shakes and a general hollow feeling) that I don't think 'Next time I'll take some lucozade and my meter'. But it never happens, always thinking 'It'll be fine'. Well one day it won't be fine and I'll fuck up big time and it'll be my fault, no one elses. It's only taken me 11 months to realise this but diabetes isn't the nicest 'condition' to have in the world (not that any conditions are particularly nice) and that it is misunderstood far too often.


Loui