In furthering the causes of the Diabetes Educational Prevention Campaign, for me personally, the first order of business has been to make my very own lifestyle change. My mother died 20 years ago, early on Christmas morning, from complications of Type 2 diabetes. She was buried on Dec. 30. Upon my return home to Maryland, it took a few months before I could go on, the grief period was extremely hard for me.
Eventually, without thinking, I began to eat anything I wanted. Pounds returned, along with additional ones, and 12 years later, I learned that I, too, had Type 2 diabetes.
Depressed and saddened because of what had happened to Mom — amputations of both legs, kidney failure, strokes and high blood pressure — I took the bull by the horns. I went home, threw out all of the carbohydrates in my kitchen, and began to take 10-minute walks for starters. It hurt to walk at first — the back pain was tremendous — but, long story short, I can now walk an hour without pain, with some jogging included.
It is now a lifestyle change for me. I’ve been scared straight, and will never, as long as I live, eat improperly the way that I once did. I’m sharing my story to help readers around the country to understand that Type 2 diabetes can be turned around. Dr. Sherita Hill-Golden, diabetes doctor at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, once said during an appearance on “The Lyndia Grant Show,” “It’s never too late to make that change to a better diet and to add exercise.” We cannot allow problems to overwhelm us to a point that we are killing ourselves by eating in an out-of-control manner. I’m feeling so much better now. Happy to be back on track, and this time, it is for the rest of my life.
You wonder how I made the switch from eating the way that I had done most of my life to now having my healthy diet. Previously, shucks, it was nothing for me to eat from Burger King, McDonald’s, buy four candy bars because I couldn’t decide on my favorite, buy large bags of Fritos, and I especially enjoyed those “pink” Hostess Sno-Balls.
My first order of business was to cut out all of the fast food, start eating more green leafy vegetables, such as well-planned garden salads, lentils, and began a regular exercise routine which still continues 20 years later. Walking became my exercise of choice — two to four miles three to four days each week. Some weeks I walked five days. There is an extreme difference in the way that I look and feel. The pounds and inches have been steadily coming off.
Drinking green smoothies each morning is another good choice. I’m no longer eating white bread. In fact, I don’t eat very much bread at all, but when I do, it is whole grain or wheat bread. Please look in the frozen food section for your grocery store. Ezekiel Bread is made from Ezekiel 4:9 products, and are crafted in the likeness of the Holy Scripture verse of Ezekiel 4:9 to ensure unrivaled honest nutrition and pure, delicious flavors. The scripture reads, “Take also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils and millet, and spelt and put them in one vessel…” It’s this special, unique combination of six grains and legumes that harvests benefits beyond what we normally expect from our breads, pastas, cereals and other foods. Ezekiel Bread has been a blessing in my diet. Finally, it is 84.3% protein, no eggs included. Brown rice is best for diabetics.
As a result of these lifestyle changes, my health results from my physical examination were tremendously better. My cholesterol level was much improved and my glucose levels (HbA1c) was now at my pre-diabetes levels. My blood pressure was now good again, 120/80, and I feel so much better, too. There is one area that I’m still working on, and that is my ideal body mass (IBM). I’m still overweight, but I’ve lost 50 pounds and still counting.
Consider making a major lifestyle change to improve your diabetes. It’s very simple: One, change your diet by eliminating most of the carbohydrates. Two, exercise regularly for the rest of your life.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.