I think one of the secrets to decent diabetes management is management … of priorities.
November of 2010 I had the best lab report I’ve had since I was in my early 20’s. Best A1C, best
cholesterol, best everything. I hadn’t made any purposeful changes to my diabetes routine, I wasn’t testing more, I wasn’t counting carbs better, I wasn’t watching what I ate any closer than usual. But I had been exercising like crazy.
I was been spending three to four hours per day at the YMCA playing basketball and lifting weights, and I felt great. I am lucky to have found an exercise that I really enjoy (basketball). While playing basketball I am having fun, and that’s why I do it. It just happens to be great exercise too. How lucky am I?
I had no job(s) though, and that doesn’t last for long. The bank account has been empty (or negative) for a long time, and I needed to find some income. I’ve been super stubborn about trying to find something I can put my heart into, something that helps people with diabetes and supports my family at the same time. But I haven’t been able to find anything. I’ve had to put my dreams on hold for a while (if you have a job/contract/project I can help with, let me know!).
Since then I’ve picked up about four part-time jobs, only a couple of which I like, and none of which pay enough of the bills to let me drop any of the others. It’s terribly distracting and I feel like I’m being pulled in a million different directions, leaving me at less than my best for any of them.
Worse though, is that I haven’t played basketball or lifted weights for two weeks. And I can feel it. My body hurts, I’m crabby and irritable, I’m not sleeping well, my blood sugars are volatile and sharp. I’m just not happy.
I let some bullshit part-time jobs creep in and take priority over my exercise.
There is a lot of tension and anger because I feel trapped in many ways. I have to support my family (earn income), and I have to take care of myself (exercise), but I feel like it’s nearly impossible to balance those two things. I can work all the time to make ends meet, and fall apart physically (and mentally), or I can exercise a lot and not have enough money to pay the rent.
I am re-prioritizing my life around exercise again, with faith that the money side of my life will fall into place somehow. I am going to try my best to keep my guard up against all that tries to creep in and pull my focus away from what is important. I am important. My health is important. My diabetes management is important. And for all of that, exercise is important.
We can always sleep in the minivan…
Health is most important and you have to stick to restrictive diet and exercise.Earning money to keep the family going is also very important but that will fall into place once the health is better.It is better to make a schedule so that everything falls in place.
This is a great post, Scott. It’s so important that we take care of ourselves and make our health a priority, but that can feel impossible with the pressures of everyday life. I don’t have a family to support yet, and I still struggle sometimes to find time to cook healthy meals and exercise (which are two of my favorite things). Best of luck to you as you re-prioritize!
For some of us, it’s a given that money, jobs, family and more, has to take priority. Unfortunately, money does buy health for some, especially those with diabetes. Another consideration for me, and others, is more autoimmune conditions, some of which cause joint and tendon pain. Exercise becomes more than a chore. I’m very grateful to have recently moved to a townhouse with a swimming pool in the complex. It’s such a wonderful feeling to be almost weightless, doing exercise, and not feeling the pain I would on terra firma. Certainly not the same as basketball! I can’t get to… Read more »
I’m not sure anyone will read this comment since its months later, but I thought I’d just say that I’m right there with you when it comes to exercise and the complications of other autoimmune disorders. Since my diagnosis with T1 at age 27, I’ve been diagnosed with 4 other autoimmune disorders. Fibromyalgia (luckily a mild case) and Reynauld’s mean high-impact and outdoors activities are restricted, especially in poor weather. But, I’ve also learned a ton about exercise helping to stave off progression of diseases and symptoms – especially for fibro patients. So the lesson is, exercise IS medicine. And… Read more »
Having to choose between money and health is the worst rock and a hard place there is. Take care of your body and spirit. You are a winner and will land on your feet.
…….I have a pullout couch.