Wednesday, April 1, 2015

30 day diabetic challenge.

First off, wow.
Thank you to those of you who read my little blog.
I haven't blogged in what feels like forever, yet there are people out there who keep reading it. (Or at least people who click on my blog and therefore BlogSpot counts it as a view). That is really exciting.
BlogSpot tells me I have audience from the United States, Canada, Egypt, Australia, France and Poland to name a few. I think people stumble across my blog because they are looking for help, for answers, and for shared experiences from fellow diabetics.  I hope I have been of some help to you.
That has inspired me to really get back to this. Diabetes is a hard disease to live with, but its easier with help.

So a little update.  Actually not much to update. But I do have an appointment scheduled with my diabetic nurse in approximately one month.  My goal is to do a 180 with my health by then.  I need to get serious about my blood sugars, about my weight, what I eat, how much I sleep, exercise, etc etc. I want to go to my appointment in a month and impress the socks off of my nurse. (not really, please keep your shoes and socks on...gross). I want my A1C to be the best its ever been. And additionally, I'd like to get my body as healthy as possible so I can have a baby.

Dear God, did I actually put that out in the universe?!
Yes I'm (cough, cough) 32 and I think I'm finally ready to be a (cough cough) parent. If you can't tell, that idea still kind of freaks me out.
(Also I swear that's not an April Fools Joke...)

So who is with me? Who wants to become more healthy as a diabetic but also as a person? (Diabetics are people too!) Who wants to do a 30 day diabetic challenge? (These are really things we need to be doing for the rest of our lives, not just 30 days, but hey, baby steps)


Here it is! For the next 30 days...starting today (or today being whenever you may read this), I challenge you to...
1. Test your blood sugar every morning after you wake up. (My blood sugar goal is 90-140)
2. Test your blood sugar before eating (that includes before mindless snacking...better yet, don't mindless snack)
3. Test your blood sugar 90-120 minutes after eating.
4. Test your blood sugar before going to bed at night.
**If you have a different plan for blood testing prescribed by your doctor, than follow that plan as your challenge**
5.  Drink a glass of water when you wake up in the morning, 8oz-16oz.
6. EAT a healthy breakfast in the morning, something with fiber and protein.
7. DO NOT drink any Soda, sports drinks, or energy drinks (UNLESS necessary to correct a low)
8. At least 30 minutes of movement in your day. (Example walking around your neighborhood.) This can be done in 3 10minute increments if need be, just make sure to get it done.
9. Record and log what you do. This is not only for your accountability but also so you can refer back to good and bad days to figure out what made it a good or bad day.  Plus at the end of thirty days, other than feeling great, and maybe looking great, you'll have something you can see as record of your success. Because no matter what, at the end of the thirty days, if you've stuck with this, that is a success.
10. Eat at home MORE. And I'm not talking about fast food or restaurant food taken home. Cook more of your food and eat it at home. This is just healthier, plan and simple. I'm not saying don't go out to eat (yeah right), but make a conscience decision to eat more at home.
11. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night. For me, this means going to bed around 9 or 10pm and waking up around 5 or 6am.
12. Take your vitamins. Talk to your doctor (if you haven't already) about what supplements you made need.

There you have it. Feel free to comment about your experience with this challenge.
GOOD LUCK!