The Story of How Diabetes Transformed My Life, Part II
Camille LoParrino is a Health Literacy Coach and a former type 2 diabetic. In this two-part personal story of growth and perseverance, Camille describes how her diagnosis turned her life upside down. But she did not let it knock her down; instead, she made the best of every situation.
Read Part I here.
It's been two years since I was initially diagnosed with Type 2 and I worked diligently on getting my A1c lower and lower. In less than one year I got it down to 6.1 and it stayed there for another year. Recently I had it checked again and my A1c has reached an all time low of 6.0! Woo Hoo! So technically, I may not be in the realm of a Type 2 anymore, but I am still considered to be in the so-called pre-diabetic stage.
A Blessing in Disguise
As I've heard said, being diagnosed with diabetes is a blessing. Why? It is a blessing because once you learn what's wrong, you go out and find out how to fix it. I feel lucky that I was able to catch this condition early and still be able to turn it around to a more manageable stage.
Once I left teaching in the public school system, I took an online course in nutrition to find out even more about healthy foods. After a year, I became a Health Coach just like the person who helped me at the very beginning of my illness. And now I visit community centers to turnkey the information I've learned to help others to create for themselves a journey of wellness.
I was encouraged to write about my transformational journey, and I have recently submitted my manuscript to a publisher. It basically includes all the wonderful websites, recipes, and professionals who have helped me on my journey. And, it's meant to be a motivation to stop worrying and start doing what you need to do to control your diabetic condition now.
Steps to Success
If I were to encapsulate what I have learned to feel better, it would be a three-step procedure:
- Eat healthy foods at every meal but have a little treat sometimes.
- Find various types of exercises to do for each week for at least one-half to one hour each day.
- Relax and take classes that will help you to de-stress.
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