Making the right choices for acquiring good health and cultivating good habits can be a challenge. We know better, however, those old familiar habits are so comfortable that often we choose not to do better until…Let’s rewind. First, we accept good habits are key to good health and wellness. Our goal is good health, so start with success by cultivating the habits that work for us. Be self-aware. If you are an early bird like me then schedule your exercise and meditation time in the morning. Sometimes we do well and sometimes we get stuck, however, take it one step at a time, remember always forward. Be diligent in your efforts for a better, healthier you. One success often leads to another.
Being Diligent in Your Efforts for a Better You
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Each year when I get my wellness checkup the I am given healthy suggestions to follow. Here are just some of the suggestions. Each day I try to include as many as I can.
To improve my HDL (Good Cholesterol)
- Exercise
- Use olive oil , canola oil, coconut oil
- Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, oatmeal
- Eat Salmon and Tuna
To Decrease my LDL (Bad Cholesterol)
- Exercise
- Eat oatmeal, beans, apples, garlic and almonds
- nuts
- limit animal fats
To Help My Blood Pressure
- Exercise
- No Salt
- Little to no processed foods
- Decrease Stress
Decrease My Triglycerides
- Exercise
- Limit Carbs, sugar and alcohol
- Include Fiber in my diet
- Increase grains
- Decrease white flour products
- Eat more vegetables, dried beans and soy
- Replace red meats with poultry, and fish
Lesson Learned
I am not perfect; my blood sugar is not always between 70-130. I remember during the first few months of finding out I was diabetic I ordered and ate a fried chicken breast sandwich along with the mayo and fries. “It’ll be ok”, I said to myself, after all it is a chicken breast sandwich and I won’t eat all the fries.…. not good, not good at all. Oh, the sandwich and fries were good, but the results were not. I made the decision to get the fried chicken rather than the grilled chicken because maybe I wasn’t completely convinced that I was diabetic, and still in a stage of denial. When I took my blood sugar two hours later I thought I was surly going to die and to compound the problem my then teenage daughter come by and read the note I posted on my calendar in large black letters and numbers BLOOD SUGAR 364. Never Again!!! It wasn’t enough that my head felt like it was about to split open, or so I thought, guilt made me spill my guts and tell her what I did. She looked at me and confirmed “yes, you’re gonna die, because you know better.” I’m glad to say I got past that careless, ugly episode. Note to self “Never Again”. This is a new journey for me and I know that I’ll have my weak moments but as a diligent diabetic I have enough respect for life that I won’t stop trying to do what I can to live a healthier life. Living takes priority over a brownie, big oatmeal cookie, fried foods, ice cream, or things that are going to jeopardize my health. Because I Choose Life I will always be The Diligent Diabetic.
My Good Habits Wish List
- Never forget I am diabetic
- Focus on solutions
- Keep a positive attitude
- Eat Healthy Foods
- Exercise Regularly
- Mediate and find peace within myself
- No Procrastination
- Never feel sorry for myself
- Think of others and Be a Good Example for them
Still a work in progress, yes, I am. My successes are becoming more a part of me each day and I get excited when I realize that I do most of the things on my list without thinking about them. I made this list shortly after I found out I had diabetes. Every now and then I’ll run across it and it reminds me that managing diabetes can be overwhelming.
A couple of months ago one of my co-workers who is diabetic, said to me “my friend and I have decided we aren’t checking their blood sugar levels anymore”. She also explained that they were somewhat neglecting their diets. They didn’t see the need. Once again, I found myself trying not to be the Food Police, but she was standing in front of me with a can of soda, full of caffeine, and telling me she was suffering from diabetes burnout. Knowing how passionate I am about the subject I was truly afraid to react. I knew from her tone she wasn’t asking for my help. Even though I don’t understand because I know she knows the consequences of diabetics not taking care of themselves. Last week I shared one of my snack recipes with her and she seemed ready to try again. I’m glad I didn’t push her and even though it was hard I just listened. Now I can say that being a diligent diabetic and living by example is so much better than being the food police. I hope to continue to be a good example and live each day content with being The Diligent Diabetic.
MY SIMPLE BUT DELICIOUS SNACK
Simple Snack
Ingredients
- 2 Cups - Granola crumbled
- 1/2 cup - Almonds
- 1 1/2 cup - Dried Cranberries
- 1 1/2 cup - Roasted Walnuts
- 1 cup - Raisins
- Enjoy
Instructions
- Mix together in large bowl
Love the emphasis on being diligent! It may be a struggle sometimes but always go forward!😁 Thanks for the encouraging word, personal story and recipe. Try with yogurt to break up the crunchiness too. Much love and success in your journey, C.C.