Managing diabetes – our journey so far

Exercise plays a very important role in managing diabetes. In our journey of battling with diabetes, we consider diet and exercise as the primary means of treatment for diabetes. Medication plays a secondary role. If you see it from this angle you'll become less and less dependent on medicine over a period of time and your quality of life will improve.

My husband, Viswa, was diagnosed with Type II diabetes four years ago. He was in his early thirties. At that time, his HbA1c was 11.8. Every year, with the help of medicine and some dietary changes, the A1C reduced but it was not significant. His father has been a diabetic for well over 20 years and did not have any major health issues because of diabetes. We thought we’ll also be ok if Viswa takes the prescribed medicine. But we were so wrong.

Early last year, during one of his routine checkups, the doctor informed us that his uncontrolled blood sugar level had done damage to his eyes. He was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. He had to undergo laser treatment for the same. We thanked God that his eyes were saved but it was not over. The doctor told us that if the situation continues he might develop other complications also.

Viswa was already taking so much medicine. There is no point in going on increasing the dose or changing the medicine unless we make other changes in our life as well. There was something wrong in the way we approached the problem. Though medicines definitely help in controlling blood sugar it needs all the help we can give in the form of eating right and exercising. We had made some changes in his diet after he was diagnosed with diabetes but he exercised very infrequently. Therefore, he decided to give it a try.

At first, he started gradually - walking for 30 min daily. We both walked together. We did not consider it as an exercise; it was like exploring the city, as we were new to the place. After a week he increased it to 45 min, then to 1 hr and then to 2 hrs. The result was evident. He lost 8 kilos. His blood sugar levels became normal. When he tested a few months back, his A1C came out as 6.6. We were delighted. His efforts had paid off. Now he walks for 45 min every day, jogs sometimes, and keeps his diet under control. The diabetic retinopathy has been taken care for as of now.

We were really pushed to a corner. We didn’t have much of a choice. He walked to preserve his eyesight. He was an avid runner before but stopped running, as he got busy with work. It was at that time he was diagnosed with diabetes. In retrospect, we think he would have not become a diabetic if he would have continued running.

Everyone is different and each person’s body responds to different types of food and exercise differently. So don’t stop until you find the right combination of these two. Not only does exercise helps maintain your blood sugar levels but also helps in lowering cholesterol levels which is important in order not to develop heart disease. Diabetes is itself an unwelcome pretty heavy package, you don’t really want the extras that come with it.

Many people do know that exercise is beneficial but simply do not make an effort. Don’t delay until it is too late. You don’t need any fancy equipment or gym membership. Put on your walking shoes and get out. Don’t underestimate the effect walking or any other simple form of exercise will have on your health.