Not Too Sweet: Kindred Spirits

A few days ago I was at work and I decided to sit with a co-worker of mine. I had bought some sweet things I probably shouldn't have been having. He looked at the label and said that he couldn't have that.

He told me he was diabetic.
Me too!
He got diagnosed a month ago.
Me too!!
He has to take Metformin and a few other pills.
Me too!!! ...kinda... (I only take Metformin.)

It made me think of the possibility of many others who are now becoming diabetic. I feel this is a wake-up call to society to go back to a more simpler way of eating. Mother nature is kicking our butts saying "Stop eating so much sugar!". It sounds simple but it seems hard...

What we put in our bodies is extremely important, and most of society puts 'food-like products' into their systems because that food is cheap and readily available. Processed food also takes the time out of having to actually prepare and cook your meals, but at the cost of ingesting chemicals that your body most likely will turn to fat.

I could go on a rant about food and your body, but I'll just stick with this one quote:
"If it comes from a lab, then it will take a lab to get it out of me."

To all the people who are just now starting your diabetic journey, or even a weight-loss one, I say welcome... and start eating healthier.

Stay sweet, but Not Too Sweet!

Not Too Sweet: Family and Friends

With any new diagnoses, family members become more concerned about your health.

All my life my family always voiced their concerns, "I'm worried you're going to get diabetes." they said, "You need to lose weight" they said, more or less.

Now that I have diabetes, they voice different concerns, "Is your blood sugar low?", "You shouldn't be eating that you know.", "If you lose 100 pounds, you won't have diabetes anymore". I don't know how true that last statement is but I can see that they care for me. But, this form of caring isn't going to work. I have more on my plate to worry about, yes, and I am taking care of it.

I am at a young enough age to increase my chances of repairing my organs to perfect, or near perfect, capacity. I just need to make small, smart choices.

What would be nice is to see friends and family helping out differently. For example; bring me to a cool new exercise class together, show how happy you are that I am making progress, teach me a neat new recipe for my bento lunches, get me excited about the next upcoming 5k, or whatever. Something that isn't demeaning of my choices, not a pity party.

I got myself into this, I can get myself out.
In time.

Stay sweet everyone!

Not Too Sweet Depression

Today, and for a few days now, I've been consumed with this overwhelming sense of hopelessness, grief, and loss. I believe this to be depression at the moment.

I have had times like these before, but back then I would sooth these feelings with foods. Sweet foods mostly. Something to fill the void. Something that can take my mind off my feelings, my thoughts, and put me back into my body. My very uncomfortable feeling body that has either eaten too much or is high on sugar.

The weight of these feelings cannot be fixed with food anymore. That form of comfort will kill me. It feels very hard to not reach for food, so I try other methods; exercise, crafts, blogging, holding the cat. They help in their own way.

I need to talk to my doctor about this on my next visit. Perhaps I need more medication. I would rather not.

Stay sweet, but not too sweet!