My New Year's Resolution: Don't Get Diabetes!

I've always known I could develop diabetes. Family history and a lifelong struggle with weight put me firmly in the "at risk" category. So when the doctor sat me down six weeks ago to tell me that I was officiallypre -diabetic, with a high risk of progressing to full-blown diabetes, it didn't surprise me. I promised the doctor as I left that I would make the small changes he asked.

The changes he requested weren't tough. Aim at losing 10% of my body weight, walk 30 minutes a day, and take the Metformin he prescribed to improve my body's response to insulin. And I did great! For about a week. Then it got colder, and my life got more stressful, and the pharmacy had a mix-up with my prescription... and I just sort of let it all go. Not good. I watched a family friend die step-by-step because she wouldn't take charge of her own health. I refuse to do the same.

So that's my resolution for the new year: to prevent my pre-diabetes from turning into actual diabetes! Here's my plan:

Eat Better
I've been a member of Weight Watchers before and done well on it, so that's the program I'm going with to start. I'm joining with my sister, so besides the much-advertised support of weekly meetings, I'll have a weight loss buddy for support as well.

Exercise (a little)
The doc recommended 30 minutes of walking per day, and small as it is I'm going to be pretty pleased with myself if I can do it. The trickiest part will be the weather - I live in Alaska, and winter is not always the kindest to wimpy walkers like myself. But I'm going to do my best.

Take My Medicine
Truthfully, this is the part I'm most annoyed by, and the biggest baby about. I hate having to take pills, absolutely hate it. (You'd think that'd be motivation enough to take care of my health!) But they're there to help me improve my health, so I'm going to take them.

Diabetes has been present via my loved ones for most of my life, but it doesn't have to be a direct part of mine. It may be that no matter what I do I'll eventually be diagnosed as diabetic, but I'll be darned if I'm going to keep inviting it in! This year, I'm making my New Year's resolution early, short, and sweet - NO DIABETES!