When I first found out I was in pre-diabetic levels a lifetime (3-4 months) ago, I revamped my diet and was determined that I would reverse my diabetes and rejuvenate my health. I wasn’t going to be a diabetic damn it! I knew the consequences of being a diabetic and I was in no hurry to join the ranks.
I didn’t want to pay for continuous glucose monitoring every day so my plan was always to use my CGM as a check-in a few times a year to ensure I was on the right track.
Fast-forward 3 months later.
I feel better. I know what I can and can’t eat.
I’ve made changes to my career to reduce work stress.
I am meditating (trying to) regularly and feeling overall more zen.
Blood sugar levels after 3 months of dietary changes
My first blood sugar reading when the CGM started up was 9.0 mmol/l (162 mg/dl).
Horrors!
Granted this was 2 hours after lunch but WTF. That was in diabetic range!
Then I woke up this morning and my fasting blood sugar (FBS) was 6.6 mmol/l (118.8 mg/dl). In fact, my blood sugar sat between 6.3-6.6 mmol/l (113.4-118.8 mg/dl) throughout the night.
What does it mean if your blood sugar level is still high despite being on a diabetic diet?
My heart dropped. This can’t be right. My fasting blood sugar was even worse than it was 3 months ago before I went on my sugar crusade!
My heart dropped and I could feel a sense of panic and anxiety rush through me.
Does this mean it is too late for me to save my health?
Does dietary changed mean zilch now that my body has decided to fold?
Why bother? I might as well eat what I want if it’s not going to make any difference to my blood sugar levels? I’ve sacrificed a truck load worth of chocolates, cakes and yummy treats these last 3 months.
This is so not worth it!
What is a gal to do with this ‘oh shit moment’?
Luckily, my months of 3-minute ‘trying to meditate’ sessions has improved my self-awareness. Rather than rushing to the kitchen to drown my sorrows in a tub of ice-cream, I sat down in quiet with the discomfort.
What could have caused me to slide backwards? I’ve been really good!
Or have I?
Reflect on the real situation
When I first found out about my blood sugar levels, I panicked and went full force on my diet. However, between October and January, there were birthdays, Christmas, New Year, and hubby was off for a month so we were going on lots of dates (I said before I would eat whatever I want on dates and not worry about it).
We were also going on lots of family trips and ate out on average 2-3 times a week.
Plus, I’ve slid back into my habit of eating my kids’ leftovers and to sneak a bite or two from hubby’s sweet treat (just a little taste wouldn’t hurt right?).
I still exercise only 5-10 minutes a day.
I easily pinch at least 2 inches from my belly so I’m pretty sure my visceral fat hasn’t packed up yet.
I’ve had a run of bad sleeps. The heat and humidity of a Queensland summer wakes my kids (and us) up 2-3 times a night.
Is it such a surprise that my blood sugar control is not better?
Truthfully, no. It’s probably expected.
Not enough has changed. Plus it’s only been 3 months.
I’ve made some superficial tweaks to my life. And that’s great.
But it takes more than tweaks to reverse a lifetime of poor lifestyle choices.
So I’m not giving up. I won’t go back to eating chocolates and cakes.
I’m going back to the drawing board.
Make a plan for the future
And if you feel that you’re not getting anywhere with your health despite making an inordinate amount of sacrifice, don’t give up. Don’t go back to your old habits.
You’re on the right track. You’ve done well to take the first few small steps. They are always the hardest.
But maybe it’s time to bite the bullet and tackle the bigger steps now.
Only you know if you’re ready for bigger steps or if you need to continue taking small steps. Both are good. One will bring about quicker improvements in your metabolic health while the other will get you there slowly but surely.
Any step forward is better than a step backward.
