Monday, November 14th, marked World Diabetes Day. A couple of years ago, I started using the opportunity to have brief conversations with my students about my experience with diabetes in an effort to dispel stereotypes, correct misinformation, and share something about me that may help them at some point in their lives. I usually tell my students about my pump within the first few days of class, and field the usual questions so they aren't wondering what the heck that tubing coming out of my side is. I would say, though, that 75% of the time at least one of my students knows someone with diabetes, and it's always a gloom and doom story. When I hear, "Yeah, my grandmother...", I cringe. I cringe because the stories of Nana losing her toes or Aunt Donna being found dead become the extent of their diabetes knowledge. So I started taking a few minutes to educate my classes on diabetes. The differences between the types, what insulin does, explaining that it is hard to say which one is the "bad" kind, and answering their questions. I want them to see someone who is healthy, living a full life, struggling with a disease at times but not being at the mercy of it. Having children. Expanding the extent of their knowledge. Yep, it's what I do.
This week, I saw my primary doctor for a follow-up diabetes appointment. I love that they like to keep tabs on my diabetes, too. What a refreshing feeling, though, to go to the doctor without the usual guilt, frustration, "I-know-what-you're-going-to-tell-me" attitude. I felt so proud to be able to report out, rather than being the receiver of medical advice. I felt so IN CONTROL. This was also awesome: On June 3rd, I weighed 172 in their office. On November 15th, I weighed 154!! Wow. That is huge for me, and I don't think I have been this weight in years. YEARS. Before kids, maybe even close to wedding weight. It's a powerful feeling to be able to grab anything in my closet and not be worried that I will have to squeeze into it.
So, my goals are in full force. As you can see in the pic above, I am 1 lb away from my initial goal weight. I actually weighed myself today and it was 150.8, even closer, but I didn't have a camera. Once I reach the 150 mark, I will be setting my new goal to 140. I am continuing to plug away at my A1C, and I truly think some of my resistance issues came from my extra weight. I am not having those super-stubborn highs that refuse to come down, and I just feel more sensitive to the insulin lately.
Steve has also lost 33 lbs. so far. That brings our total to 51 lbs!! I am so proud of us. Here's to health.
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