Laura with Max Szadek, Mister Divabetc®
How I was diagnosed with diabetes: I was working for a home care dept. and one of the LPN’s needed to test her meter. She asked me for my finger and that reading 236. She asked if I would come in the next day and do a fasting blood sugar reading and that reading was 234. I was at my doctor’s office by the end of the week. That was September, 2001 and while driving home from that appointment I had no idea what I was going to do.
Upon arriving home I received a call from by best friend that her father had passed away and I had no time to feel sorry for myself. I was at my top weight. My sugars were high. It took me some time to turn myself around with education and support groups. I knew I had to change my lifestyle, eating habits, lose weight and most importantly educate myself. THAT was the FIRST thing I did. The more knowledge I get about this disease and my body, the more I understand.
Knowledge is power is what I like to say. In 2005 I started losing weight and keeping it off, and as of this writing I have lost approximately 50 to 55 lbs and have about 40 to 45 lbs to go. I certainly feel better, my clothes are fit ting better and in smaller sizes. I was wearing 3X and now I’m wearing XL.
The Divabetic program at the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland (DAGC) has done wonders for me. It’s a great support group that encourages me to keep going and educates me on many things. I’m so grateful for this group. My eating habits have changed completely and I eat smaller meals consisting of protein, vegetables, salads and small amounts of carbs. So much has been done for my family and myself. They (we) are eating healthier, exercising more and we’re realizing that diabetes is a very serious condition but can be controlled.
Diabetes does not control me – I CONTROL Diabetes, AND WILL CONTINUE TO CONTROL IT. I will continue to lose more weight and maintain the weight that I have already lost…. “I’M NOT DONE YET”!
