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I don’t have any photos to share in this entry. I haven’t been feeling very well over the last few weeks (off and on).
The doctor called with the results of my Glucose Tolerance Test and I’m pre-diabetic. I suspected these results as I’ve had some symptoms over the past 6 months which have concerned me.
My father had type 2 diabetes which he was able to manage by diet and exercise, and when I told the doctor that I’ve had certain symptoms recently, and there was a family history, he ordered the tests.
The good thing is that pre-diabetes does not have to lead to diabetes. With adequate exercise, weight loss, and wise food choices, it can be reversed. I started eating healthy (and cutting calories) three days ago, but I haven’t been feeling well enough to jump into an exercise program yet.
I don’t know what has been making me feel so terrible, and sinus headaches and nausea are no fun at all. I spent all day yesterday in bed with a painful headache and upset stomach. Steve was on night shift, and I think I fell asleep at 7pm and slept on and off until 10am this morning. He’s off for the next couple of days, so I’ll be getting the TLC, he’s so good at giving.
Next week, I am scheduled for a stress test. This is because I’ve been having heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and infrequently some chest pain when I overexert. I have asthma, so this could be behind it. I had an EKG and it was normal, but I wasn’t doing anything strenuous, so they’re going to monitor me on a treadmill. I don’t get any chest pains when I’m in dance class, even though I work hard for that 1.5 hours. The doctor said that’s a good sign.
All of this could be hormonal (the joys of being a middle-aged woman), but better to be safe than sorry. In the meantime, I’m learning all I can about healthier cooking, even though I hate to cook. I need to make changes in the way Steve and I eat, and you really can’t eat healthy unless you prepare food from scratch. Pre-packaged and pre-processed foods (for the most part) are not the best choices if you want to be healthy.
Steve is borderline hypertensive, and has high cholesterol - and we both need to take off the weight we’ve gained since moving to Alaska. There are a good amount of people here with extra padding, so I’m going to blame the cold winter. We need the insulation! OK… maybe not as much as we currently have.
I found this article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9048817/) that ranks the states in the US by the percentage of overweight population, and more then 25% of AK is overweight. Alaska’s not alone with our percentage of overweight folks. Where does your home state rank?
Anyway… that’s what’s going on with me, health wise. I’m glad that Steve is on the same wavelength I am in regards to healthier eating. It will make things much easier if he’s not pigging out on junk food and taunting me with the things I shouldn’t eat. Doing this together will be beneficial for both of us.
