I'm working hard on some more ideas for keeping diabetes in check. As previously posted the best thing for a diabetic to do is to keep an eye on your diet. I'm not talking a diet like the south beach diet or anything like this. I'm talking about your actual food intake. The recipes our coalition will be posting soon will hopefully give you that extra nudge in the right direction. Other than that there is the whole physical activity thing.
In the generation that we now live in physical activity is hard to come by. Especially with the young generation. Younger people love video and computer games they are all about the R&R (Rest and Relaxation) Even for myself I sometimes lack motivation because I grew up in the generation of computers and video games. So what can we do to help this generation evolve from that? Theres this fantastic "new fangled contraption" called a Wii fit. It helps give that extra nudge of physical activity and it's fun. Now they also have active games for other video game systems. I personally have a Zone 60 which is a cheaper video game system but still gives off that physical activity vibe. Theres a dance game, bowling, baseball, tennis, and so much more. Other video games are the millions of Just Dance and Dance Dance Revolution games out there. The resources and possibilities are endless and it's up to us to use them. If you say you can't afford it that's fine but chances are if you have a teenager or younger in your home you've afforded it or will one day. Thats just one example.
I found a site courtesy of my good friend who is type 2 diabetic. Both of her parents are type 2 as well and they all took it upon themselves to try and get healthier. They would thy many things and most of those things just didnt work. So they heard from someone about http://www.sparkpeople.com/ I am not a diabetic though it runs on both sides of my family. I'm also active in the diabetes coalition (proof? I help run this blog) Anyway...I know that in order to prevent type 2 diabetes in my own life I need to get healthy and stay that way. I've started to eat healthier and stay up on my phsycial activity. For a long time my main problem was that I didnt have an accountablity partner but thats exactly where sparkpeople comes in. You sign up, and it gives you the opportunity to track your food and physical activity daily. It also gives you other tasks to do, and fits your own personal needs. As a person who is at risk for diabetes it helps me keep track of my carb in take. Try it, it could help you like it's helped so many others.
So the first words on this blog entry are "Diabetes Challenge" You are probably wondering what on earth that is about. I'm a member of Tumblr and I've found that the site is great for networking and finding people with like interests so I did a search for diabetes. On this I found a "Diabetes challenge" This diabetes challenge is a 20 day challenge that has focus on a person with diabetes. It asks certain questions that the diabetic is to answer, and it's one question per day. This diabetes challenge serves the purpose of a vent, and support, as well as awareness. I will post the questions below. Feel free to post it on your facebook or your own blog and do your own diabetes challenge.
20 Day Diabetes Challenge
In case any of you are fans of the 10/20/30-day challenges:
- How old were you when you were diagnosed? And/or how old is your diabetes now?
- What was your first reaction to your diagnosis?
- Have you ever been to diabetes camp/events? Have you made any friends that way?
- Do you know any other diabetics? (both online and IRL)
- Pump, shots, or something else? Why? What meter/pump do you use?
- Do you advertise it or try to hide it? Any reason why?
- What’s your favorite diabetic book/movie?
- Did you have to make any major lifestyle changes when you were diagnosed?
- Have you ever traveled far away with it? What was that like?
- What was your scariest diabetes moment?
- What’s your record for highs/lows?
- How’s your relationship with your endocrinologist?
- What’s your favorite diabetes joke?
- Have you ever gotten in trouble for doing something diabetes-related that someone didn’t think was allowed? (Bolusing in class, blood sugar test in a meeting, eating at work, etc)
- What’s your favorite oh-gosh-my-diabetes-hate-me-for-eating-this food?
- Do you own/use any diabetic cookbooks?
- Has being diabetic gotten you any privileges? (scholarships, special treatment, etc)
- What advice would you give a newly-diagnosed diabetic?
- What’s your best diabetes moment?
- Give a diabetic shoutout!
(diabetes challenge post is courtesy of http://igotthebeetus.tumblr.com/) Thank you.
