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Diabetes can be very, very overwhelming and there’s many things that you really need
to do improve your overall control.
It could be around healthy eating; it could be around being active or taking your medication.
You are really, ultimately, the person in charge of managing your diabetes.
We know from the Diabetes Prevention Program and other studies that in fact there are things
that people can do who are at high-risk to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.
I was motivated to make lifestyle changes because I was already feeling and experiencing
the complications of diabetes.
It made me change the way I eat, the way I approach activities, the planning I do, the
way I sort of think about my health.
Change happens over time and it’s a process and we have to learn how to sometimes change
our behaviors and its difficult, but you can do it and you just have to just keep going
forward.
There are ways you can increase physical activity in small segments throughout the day, such
as taking the dog for a walk, going out and playing with the kids, or if you’re on the
phone, walking around; don’t just sit in one place.
My first step was just to get up, get out, and walk.Those were one of my first things.
I knew that I would eventually have to take the approach on food, but my first thing was
just getting active and getting motivated to get out.
If making big changes in the way you eat seems overwhelming, think about small steps and
try to find a quick win.
I had to do a lot of changes with how I eat. I read labels now. I make sure that I eat
either in a nine-inch plate or a bowl.
Making changes in lifestyle is one of the hardest things that people do.
In the beginning, me trying to take the approach of losing weight—it was not easy. I did
fall. I did struggle.
I want to do it for all the reasons that all of us want to do it; I want the best possible
health.
I feel wonderful now. I feel good about myself to not just stay at this weight, but to continuously
lose weight.
You can get more information about managing and preventing diabetes by visiting YourDiabetesInfo.org.