It Gets More Challenging

I start back working in a hospital setting tomorrow. The last time I worked in the hosptial, I was newly diagnosed with diabetes. I was not eating healthy - well, I was eating healthy-ish. I was still drinking coffee and diet soda, and would occasionally eat something less than optimal Now I am almost 2 months into whole food, plant based diet, with no oil (or a tiny amount rarely). I am eating completly different now - gone are the sparse days of atkins low carb. Now I eat healthy all day, and often. I don't drink coffee, or tea. Easy enough to do at home. Much more interesting at work. I've packed the snacks in my lunch bag, and written down the carb count so I can dose appropriately. I've counted out my portions. I have a note left out so I don't forget the cold items. Long gone are the days of tossing random stuff in a bag. It is all planned. If I fail to plan, I plan to fail. I've come too far, with too much success, to fall into bad habits. I won't have a lot of time to eat, so I have several quick snacks, along with a healthy lunch. Of course, I have my hospital dedicated water cup to drink water. All day. My new lifestyle continues in a new setting. It is a little more challenging, but I'm up to it!!

Resist Victim Mentality

I was at the nail salon the other day getting a pedicure. You know, in the near empty, no walk ins, everyone is wearing masks...nail salon.

I was watching the soothing videos of tropical fish and sea turtles, and I couldn't help but over hear the very loud conversation between a client and the nail tech.

The client was talking about all her medical woes. Her gall bladder issues. Her osteoarthritis. The fact she couldn't get around as well due to her knees.

I of course had to glance up.

Predictably, she was the fab 4 - which leads to gall bladder issues.

I'll get into that in a minute.

I blog because we have a huge part in our health. What we chose to eat, or not eat. If we chose to be active, or sedentary. If we take the hard path, or the easy one.

Change is hard - I get it. It has been a process for me - one that has taken me from nine years ago being incorrectly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. That diagnosis got me off the couch. I stopped being sedentary. In my mind, I told myself I was plenty busy working full time in nursing - and yes, I was logging 10-15K steps per day on days I worked. But that is not enough!

I started walking 5k a day. I started reading labels. I started eating mindfully. I worked my way up to running half marathons. I ran many races every year. I lost 30lbs. I went from mildly overweight into a very healthy BMI.

Next, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes three years ago next month. Okay, more changes. I gained 20lbs back. My lower carb diet wasn't cutting it. I couldn't exercise without my blood sugar tanking. I had to start insulin.

Time to figure out how to be healthier, once again. It has lead me to a whole food, plant based no oil diet. I am doing much better, my blood sugars are more stable, and I am increasing my endurance once again.

Osteoarthritis? Oh yeah, I got diagnosed with that, too. A knee. My back. My shoulder. My wrist. Some fingers.

Eating healthy, exercising, and being at a healthy weight are all ways to prevent or lesson the symptoms of the diagnosis I have. My asthma - I haven't been on inhalers daily since April.

I could have taken my diagnosis and sat with them. I'm too depressed. I'm in too much pain. I'm diabetic.

I refuse to!!

Fair, fertile, female, fat. These things lead to gall bladder issues. I can only change one of those factors, but it's a big one (no pun intended). If you are overweight, you are at higher risk for gall bladder issues.

If you are overweight, you are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Hypertension. Heart disease. Osteoarthritis due to the huge amount of strain on your body.

The older I get, the harder it is for me to maintain a healthy weight. When I was in my 20's and 30's, I could eat whatever I wanted to. And I did!

I'm paying for that now - my decades of emotionally eating high carb, unhealthy foods do torment me at times.

I also now have almost a decade of eating healthy. I plan to continue to learn and eat and move, to be the healthiest me possible.

Is it easy? No. I would much rather watch TV and chill, with some ice cream or pastry. I'm just being honest.

I realize, though, that no one is to blame for the diagnosis' I have. I am in control of what I do to get and stay healthy.

Sitting around bemoaning my pain doesn't help. I live in constant pain, from the arthritis stiff joints. I have found that eating cleaner is beginning to help with the pain. It has not helped with the joint stiffness. What DOES help is getting up and going for a walk, or a run, or rebounding, or hula hooping with my weighted hoop. I am moving and exercising with no pain once I get moving!

Yes, there are those that are dealt cards that are a lot tougher than the ones I was dealt. I believe with all my heart, though, that there are changes everyone can make to improve their life. To improve their outlook.

The first one is to quit seeing yourself as a victim. If you have messed up, then make it right. If you have dug yourself a hole, start digging out. One shovelful at a time.

I read the most disturbing statistic - that when a patient has a heart attack, they are given advice on what to eat and how to stay healthy post open heart surgery. The percentage of people that actually follow the advice of their physicians? 10%!! Only 10%. After being snatched from the brink of death.

We are physical, emotional, spiritual beings. If you are sick in any of these areas, seek advice. And follow it!!

Don't underestimate the power of nutrition to heal you. Even knowing as much as I knew, I am gobsmacked at how much better I feel living a whole food, plant based, no oil diet. I didn't get here overnight.

But I got here.

Victim or victor? The choice is yours.

Chose wisely. Whatever YOU decide, it's no one else's fault.

Recommended reading:

"Eat To Live", Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
"Mastering Diabetes", Cyrus Khambatta, PhD and Robby Barbaro MPH
"How Not To Die", Michael Greger, MD
"The Healthiest Diet on the Planet", John A McDougall, MD
"Finding Ultra", Rich Roll
"Running Until You're 100", Jeff Galloway

Recommended watching:
"Forks Over Knives"
"Supersize Me"
"Food, Inc."

Mastering Diabetes: Month 1

Wow.

That pretty much sums up my response to one month on the whole food, plant based diet advocated in “Mastering Diabetes”.

In 30 days, I lost 10 pounds. On my previous low carb diet, my weight did not budge - despite the fact I was walking/running a 5k a day, plus regularly doing yoga, Tai Chi, and toning exercises. I’m wearing the same size pants and shorts as I did in high school.

I’m also taking Amla Green, which they recommend. It is proven to help with cholesterol. I gave blood during this first month - my last total cholesterol (I am on a statin) was 195. It is now 135 - the lowest I have ever seen it. Ever.

My insulin use is already down 30%. Gone are the days of roller coaster blood sugar. My blood sugar is much more stable. Three months ago my blood sugar was in range only 56% of the time - now it’s in range 71% of the time. And climbing!

Prior to this lifestyle change, my blood sugar has always climbed at night, often to over 200. Now, my blood sugar is just above normal when I go to bed. My fasting blood sugar is normal when I wake up - I mean normal as in normal for any human being!

Running is easier. Stiffness has lessened. Aches and joint pain have improved vastly. While I’m still tired, the crushing exhausting has left.

On my low carb diet, my food choices were few and limited. I felt I was eating the same thing over and over.

Now, I’m eating as much as I want of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. I am sticking to mostly fresh produce right now, as it is abundantly available. I find myself having to eat more throughout the day - unprecedented! I love fruit and I’m eating a ton of it. I was previously eating 40-60 carbs a day. Now, I’m eating 300 or more carbs a day.

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist in August, and I can’t wait to see what my lab work looks like.

It is difficult to eat out - but not impossible. I just have to choose restaurants wisely, and be prepared.

I’m thrilled, and I’m just one month in. I can’t wait to watch my own progress!

Day 15

Today is day 15 of my whole food, plant based diet lifestyle.

I’m very early into this. I am following the “Mastering Diabetes” book. I have been eating mostly “green light” foods - foods that I’m allowed to eat as much as I want of. Fruits, veggies, legumes, greens. I eat them in as close to their natural state as possible. I also avoid all dairy and oils.

It has not been a struggle so much - my biggest problem is the oil part. Cooking without any oil, and not putting butter on bread. I’m thrilled to have bread back in my life once a week - sprouted grain bread, and especially the English muffins!

The first week, I had a terrible headache. It started around lunchtime and persisted until bedtime. I am off all caffeine, and of course all sugar.

Oh, but I am loving all the fruit! I’m eating a lot of it! I’ve always loved fruit, and most veggies.

My family is not on this plan, so I cook for me, and eat a lot of leftovers. I’m fine with that. They are eating healthier sides, as my veggies are incorporated into their meals.

So what has changed so far? As of today, I’ve lost 6 pounds. Pretty amazing since insulin put 20 pounds back on me after I had lost over 30 pounds. I could not lose an ounce doing keto.

My last total cholesterol was 195 - on Crestor. Friday, my cholesterol was 135. The lowest it has been my entire adult life!

My insulin use has gone down 25%...and falling.

All of this, at day 15!

I am glad for all the foundational education and habits I had. I already was tracking all my food on the My Plate app. I have been drinking 80-100oz of water a day.

It’s been a journey, but I’m very hopeful that this new plant powered lifestyle will be the one that keeps me the healthiest. I am happy to report that I’m not having the roller coaster blood sugars I have been plagued by in the last three years.

I truly believe this plan could reverse prediabetes and type 2. It’s amazing with my LADA - late onset type 1 diabetes.

I can’t wait to see what my next update will be!

Below is a picture of how many carbs I ate, as well as my other macros. It’s mind blowing! I used to eat 40 carbs a day or less! I was hungry and miserable.

Big Change Is A Comin'

Well, I have finally said uncle. I'm waving the white flag.

I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

That statement has been true for a while, and I have been making adjustments to my lifestyle, in one way or another, for the past nine years.

The next change will be the biggest one yet.

First, a quick update - I have started regular exercise again, and I am very glad to be able to say that! I began April 18, and did pretty well in April - I did miss a couple of days due to illness or uncooperative blood sugars.

May came around, and so did the 100 Mile May challenge. Yes, it is what it sounds like - log 100 miles in one month. As of today, May 24, I am at 77.56 miles. My total mileage since April 18 is 114.48 miles. So far, it's been mostly walking. I will be restarting my half marathon training in June.

Back to big changes.

I have been on a dietary journey for nine years. Slowly, I have made changes, and incorporated new ways of eating. I don't drink milk anymore. I gave up soda. I don't use table sugar. As to diets, I was on Atkins, modified Atkins, and some modified combination of something that is low carb.

I don't feel good. It is not working for me. I'm always tired. I hurt - all the time. My blood sugars are okay - my hemaglobin A1C is 6.9-7.0, which is not terrible, but I want it 6 or below. I find it is hard to fuel myself for the level of fitness I wish to attain, which is my former half marathon running self.

**Disclaimer - remember, I am a blogger, not your doctor. This is my experience. DO not change your diet or exercise without talking to YOUR doctor first. **

Over the years, I have been integrating more fruits and vegetables. Meatless Mondays. Only having meat and dairy one meal a day. Etc.

Recently, I began researching "Mastering Diabetes", written by 2 type 1 diabetics. I am also listening to "Finding Ultra", by Rich Roll. These two things happened at the same time, but from completely different directions.

Then there was the bunny. I digress...

Bottom line, BOTH these books have one thing in common: a vegan lifestyle. Or as Rich Roll puts it, a plant powered diet.

I have considered vegetarianism, but never being a vegan. When I look at my library over the past few years, though...my first book that I bought when I discovered I had familial high cholesterol was by Dr. Dean Ornish - and I bought that book nearly 30 years ago!

Here is a picture of the books that I have found on just a short glance in my library:

Well. So I have a lot of information at hand.

I also have friends that are vegans, as well as colleagues and mentors.

My thrice a year appointment with my endocrinologist is in August. I am going to start my new vegan lifestyle on Tuesday, May 26.

I am nervous, but I can do it for that period of time. I will weigh and measure myself on day one, and I have the lab work from my last appointment. This experiment is on me - not only will I see if I feel better, but I will have the numbers to prove or disprove it.

All I know is I have tried ADA diet, no diet, Atkin's diet, keto, paleo...all with no change to how I feel or look.

I am serious about this, and I know it will be a challenge.

Back to the bunny.

For the past couple of weeks, every single time I go out for my run/walk, I see a bunny. Every. Single. Time.

I have logged hundreds of miles in this neighborhood, and this has NEVER happened.

I took it as a sign. What did the bunny mean, though?

As I listened to Rich Roll on my Audible app talk about his plant powered life, I saw bunny de jour, and bunny hopped off a little. Just enough movement to trip my mind into realizing he was indeed a sign...a sign I was on the right track. A sign that a vegan trial needed to happen. With a smile, I finished my 5 miles for the day.

Traveling with Type 1 Diabetes

I just got off a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. We left on a Thursday, and returned on Monday. I believe this was the 12th cruise we have been on, but it is only the second cruise with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

My first cruise with type 1, I was definitely more "stable" as a diabetic. Because I was diagnosed so late in life, LADA or latent adult diabetes of adulthood, there was still some random pancreatic function. My blood sugar was not so labile. I spent six years a "type 2" (misdiagnosed), so my slide into full fledged type 1 took a while. I attribute this to good diet, weight loss, and exercise.

Well, cruise number two was a lot different. I learned some valuable lessons.

I thought I was prepared, first of all - I had a new continuous glucose monitor on (CGM, made by Dexcom). I brought an extra one...just in case. They last 10 days, so my short cruise should have been covered by that.

Lesson #1 - bring extras for your extra.

On the beach in Cozumel, I was removing my cover up when my Dexcom sensor came right off with it. What!!!! This has only happened one other time in the two years I have been wearing a CGM, and it was when I tried to wear it on my leg. I learned that spot is not going to work for me! Since then, I always put the CGM on my abdomen, and I did not expect this to happen - especially considering that I hadn't been in the water at all.

Bummer. I pulled out my spare CGM when we got back to the ship, and in my flustered state, forgot to peel the tabs off. When I pushed the button to insert the CGM, it could not deploy into my belly, as the tabs covered the sensor. YIKES!

Now I had no CGM, and 36 more hours to cruise.

Let me explain why I love the CGM - there is a terrifying thing that diabetics talk about called "dead in the bed". Basically, it means your blood sugar goes so low while you are sleeping, that you die, because you have no way of knowing that it is low. The CGM alerts me when my blood sugar is 70, or when it is quickly falling. It also alerts my husband, and my daughter. That way, if I have a sudden drop and I am in a deep sleep and don't hear the alarm, they will call or text me and waken me so I can save myself by turning off my insulin pump, and taking measures to bring my sugar back up.

Now here I am on a cruise ship with no CGM. I am already out of my comfort zone of being at home. Of course, that night my blood sugar (which I was manually checking frequently, and have the scarred fingers to prove it) tanked. I always have glucose tabs and skittles with me - at home I have icing and juice. OJ works the fastest - when my blood sugar tanked, Chris ran for a glass of OJ from the nearest bar, while I sat in the room eating icing. Between the icing, OJ, insulin pump off, and a few skittles, my blood sugar came back up.

And up.

And up.

I spent most of that night awake, with blood sugars higher than I have ever had. I had brought my ketone strips in my diabetes emergency kit, and the 2+ ketones were not reassuring. I drank water and sprite zero and checked my blood sugars hourly. By morning, finally I had normal blood sugars, and no ketones.

It put the fear of God in me again, though.

The next day, I tried to keep my blood sugars a little higher than normal. I've experienced my blood sugars dropping suddenly, and it is terrifying. More so now that I didn't have a CGM to alert me.

Yes, you are probably thinking, don't I feel bad when my blood sugars dive? Sometimes. Unfortunately, I am already getting hypo-unaware, and my blood sugar can drop into the 40's without me feeling any worse for the wear.

So the night before we docked, I woke up at 0330 with a blood sugar of 124. With a CGM, I would have gone back to sleep. Instead, I ate my snack sized pack of Cadbury Mini Eggs, and that carried me through until morning.

Diabetes is a frustrating disease - the blood sugar is influenced by hormones, stress, illness, diet, hydration, medications, and a zillion things we don't know. Most of the time I am managing well - my last hemoglobin A1C was 6, which is not too shabby, boys and girls!

There are other days when the blood sugar is wacko, despite the controlled diet and life of exercise that I lead.

It's frustrating. I want 1+2 to equal 3, and that is not the way it goes with diabetes.

As I lay there in fear of going into DKA that first night (diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous state for a diabetic), I realized my traveling is now somewhat limited.

There will be no travels to exotic locales with no medical care available.

I will continue to take cruises...but I will be bringing a lot more supplies with me. And juice! I am bringing juice!

I will continue to fight for as normal a life as I can have.

Despite this dang diagnosis.....

The Exhaustion

By far, my biggest health challenge isn’t diabetes. It isn’t asthma. It isn’t osteoarthritis.

Way ahead of all three, my biggest foe is the exhaustion.

It is absolutely relentless.

I have queried my ologists about this. They do lab work, and shrug.

I’ve asked people on my diabetes boards about this. They will ask about all the labs I’ve have drawn, that all result normal.

I keep thinking that it’s got to get better.

So far, it hasn’t.

It’s present, to some extent or another, every day. I push through, and live my life.

Once in a while, I hit a wall. That was this past Thursday. I could not function. I pushed to get 30 minutes of cardio in...and spent the rest of the day in bed.

It’s frustrating.

I know there are probably multiple things factoring into this.

I just wish I didn’t feel this way.

Don’t @ me with home remedies and supplements - believe me, I try to eat clean, drink a ton of water, and am drinking Herbalife shakes daily. I take supplements. It helps. I think.

So tonight I’m exhausted. I ate a healthy dinner. I did my yoga and cardio. I drank 108oz of water.

I’m planning on going for a 3+ mile walk with my hunny and the dogs.

Hopefully.

I’m doing the best I can!

In The Zone

I was back in the zone for the first time in a long time today, and it made me so happy!

I am really struggling with my asthma, and I was supposed to get a CT scan last week.

It didn’t happen.

I’m hoping for it to be this week so my pulmonologist can tell me what is going on, and what the plan is!

In the mean time, I had a 5k today.

I was fully ready to pick up my bag of goodies and bib and walk away if my body said no to exercising, but I decided to gauge the situation.

It was cold and windy, but warming up quickly, and sunny. I used my inhaler, and used my balaclava to cover my nose and mouth on the first half of the race as I headed into the wind. My insulin pump was left on, but I had my PDM in my flip belt in case I needed to pause it. My blood sugar was higher than I normally run, but it carried me safely through the race.

The first half, I ran/walked, using the Jeff Galloway method I learned to safely train with.

I ran the race on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, running on packed sand along the surf, and concentrating on trying to stay out of the cold water. The wind was hitting me right in the face, so the balaclava was helpful. The first half of the race, my health was definitely on my mind, even as I enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Coming back, the wind was gently pushing me forward. The packed sand was easier to run on, and I found myself running with no walk breaks. I was watching the birds - the seagulls seeming to hover above the surf as they soared on the wind gusts. The sand pipers pecking at the dozens and dozens of sea slugs that had beached themselves on the white sand. The moon, pale in the deep, clear blue sky. The emerald green water, deepening to sapphire with white caps further out.

When I noticed someone running next to me, I looked around, and realized I had been “in the zone”. I was enjoying the day, all that was around me, not even thinking about running.

I was so happy! It’s been such a struggle to get back on track, as it were. Today reminded me of the years of running longer races, and cruising along, just enjoying the day.

Today was a victory, and it had nothing to do with winning a race. I ended up running 3.68 miles along the ragged shoreline, and crossing the finish line with a small grimace as I plowed through the thick, powder soft sand at the end of the course.

Good thing it went well - I have an 8k trail Run next weekend!

Let the weekly training continue!

Basics

Week one of no excuses, let's do this.

I started over because I have really been struggling with asthma - I'm on two different inhalers, and due for a CT scan this week to see what is going on.

After I had my pity party, I got my plan together.

First of all, goals are very important. I don't have a weight goal - I know what my BMI should be and I am not far from it. I try to focus on making healthy choices every day, and my body will respond accordingly.

First goal - 15K steps a day. Yes, that is a lot. My prior goal was 10K a day, and when I wasn't sick, I could reach this goal. I use a Fitbit, and I am involved in challenges and a private Facebook group, and that helps me a lot.

Now that race season is here, my goal is to run 4 days a week. I am using the Jeff Galloway Half Marathon app, and I originally started with his 5K plan. I am never going to be fast, but I can walk/run a consistent 11 minute mile over a half marathon. My running goals area always the same - have fun, and finish. I have not failed to meet these goals.

I do sign up for races - when I pay for a race, I feel obligated to go. And to run. And to train. This year a bought a package for a sale price, and this helps me pace myself throughout the year. I can knock out a 5K with no training, but anything longer, I must train. So bottom line, this keeps me training all the time.

Someone advised me years ago to get fitted for running shoes - I cannot stress enough how important this is. I run in a shoe I never heard of, and it's two sizes bigger than my normal shoe. But I am not in pain, I don't get blisters. Shoes will make or break you.

Also important is fun, cute clothes to run in. What? Yes, as a woman, this helps! If you are tossing on an old t-shirt and sweats, just stop!! The performance materials keep your cooler (or warmer) and wick moisture, and are much more comfortable. There is an initial cost, but I find that they last a long time. I love putting together my race day outfit!!

If you need to run with a friend or in a group, find one. I am a member of the local running club - but I run alone most of the time. I am still working on getting my husband to do races with me, but he will train with me.

Stay safe! The rates of violence against runners are real, and scary. Have situational awareness at all time. If you run at night, wear a lot of lights and reflective clothing. I run with my dogs if I am alone at night. Carry mace if you have to go through a sketchy area. If you feel you are being followed, change your course if possible - and call for help immediately.

I am going to tai chi, yoga, and a modified yoga stretch class a least 3 times a week. This is helping me out a lot!! I am especially fond of the tai chi. Three times a week is the goal, but going more is awesome. I have a local gym that is less than 2 miles away. This is crucial! If you sign up at a gym that is inconvenient for you, it will just be an excuse not to go. Trust me, I've paid a LOT of money to gyms I rarely went to. I also pay month to month - not having to have a contract is great!!

Water water water!! I have a goal of a minimum of 80oz a day. I usually drink more than that. I didn't get here overnight- my keys to success are to have a 32oz cup I like, and carry it, or a water bottle, everywhere.

Accountability! I meet weekly with my Herbalife coach - yes, I get weighed and measured, but it more to see progress, however incremental. The store is an incredibly positive place to go - I get my shake there once a week instead of making it at home, and I always leave encouraged. Having someone cheering you on is a good thing!!

Logging everything I eat and drink. I do this using MyPlate - another app you can get. It breaks down my meals into protein, carbs, and fat, and being able to see at a quick glance where I am is really helpful. I would say 90% of the food I go to put in the app is already in there - but if I need to add something, it is really easy. Trust me, if you know you have to log what you are eating, it will make you think twice before you eat something.

I carry healthy snacks with me, along with my water. When I am babysitting, I will bring my lunch shake. Once I am streamlined I will replace the lunch shake with a healthy, low carb lunch. Right now I am in jump start mode.

I don't punish myself with food, or because of food I eat. While I can eat whatever I want, there are foods that make it hard for me to manage my blood sugars, even with the most aggressive planning with my insulin pump. This doesn't mean it's all kale and broccoli. I love ice cream and custard and chocolate, and I still have them - in moderation. The morning my blood sugar is more forgiving, so I can eat more carbs then. Night time - forget it. I have learned, and am learning, what works for me.

Read, research, repeat. There are a lot of reputable resources to help you on your journey to health when you have diagnosis that impact you. I have found Facebook groups are extremely helpful - they can point me in a direction I hadn't thought of, or give me advice that comes from their years of experience. OF course I put anything major past my "ologists", but keep in mind, the recommended amount of carbs per day that the ADA recommends is WAY more than I ever eat.

I am sore and stiff today, but I have gotten to 11K steps as of this writing. After my healthy dinner, I am going to take the dogs for a walk, and I am sure I will meet and perhaps exceed my goal.

There will be good days, and some not so good.

The most important thing is to keep going. Having a healthy life is choices you will make every day, for the rest of your life.

Begin Again

Eight and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was healthy y’all...or so I thought. I was slightly overweight, but I was a couch potato on days I wasn’t working full time as a registered nurse. Those 14-16 hour days left me exhausted on my days off. I didn’t take the diagnosis lying down. I decided to start making better choices, and began by walking 5k (3.12 miles) a day. I cut back on my carbohydrate intake, and stopped drinking presweetened anything. Within the next six years, I had run 22 half marathons, countless 5k’s, and multiple 10, 15, and 8k’s. I also lost 30 pounds, and brought my resting heart rate down from 100 to 60 beats per minute. Two years ago, it came crashing to a halt. I was diagnosed with LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood). In a nutshell, I was now an insulin dependent, type 1 diabetic. Did you know that more than 50% of those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are adult at diagnosis? Neither did I. About the same time as that diagnosis, I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, which has progressed to adult onset asthma. Yippee. This year, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Enough already! I’m starting this blog to record my journey. As with any journey of this sort, I have talked to all my “ologosts” and my primary doctor. This is not medical advice. This is my story. Do not attempt to change your diet or activity without talking to your MD. Today, I walked 6 miles. I plan to start my running training in earnest tomorrow. I’ve signed up for 15 races so far this year. It’s time to get cracking. I’m not going to lie - all of these diagnosis hit me hard, and had me crying. I won’t stay there. I’m not using any of this for an excuse to be on disability. Instead, I’m going to get stronger, and healthier than before. I’ve done it before - gone from couch potato to race runner. I am also utilizing Herbalife shakes, aloe, and teas. I use them as meal replacements, and also to enhance my diet. This is my journey. Let’s go! LaraLynn