My Diabetes
Three months ago my Mom decided to take myself and her on a ‘girls’ weekend in Cape Town. I havn’t been to Cape Town since I was 2 years old, so I was extremely excited about the trip. We left Durban on the Friday after work. The trip to the airport, and in flight I felt strange. I had a kind of heart burn / indigestion sensation in my chest which would just not go away. I put it to the back of my mind and focused on our trip.
The Saturday was spent doing the whole Tourist thing around The Mother City, and throughout the day I was finding it difficult to keep any food down, due to the indigestion I felt in my chest. After returning to the flat, I asked my Mom if we could take a walk to the Dischem around the corner to get some Gaviscon or Rennies or anything that might take the horrible feeling away. I have never suffered from heartburn or anything like that before, so it was a very uncommon feeling. After purchasing the Gaviscon, and walking back up the hill, everything changed.
I was battling to breath, and breathing at a very heavy and fast rate.
My mom decided to take me to the Doctor first thing in the morning.
That whole night was a bit of a blur, I now realize I was probably floating in and out of consciousness. I just remember being extremely thirsty, and no matter how much water I drank, I was unable to quench my thirst.
I awoke in the morning to an excruciating pain in my lower back, either side of my spine. It felt like two metal rods were stabbing me in my Kidneys. I couldn’t breath, and started to panic. The more my mom panicked. It was terrible, but in a blink of an eye I was thrown into the car, raced to the emergency unit at Blouberg Hospital and admitted into I.C.U with Diabetes KetoAcidosis. Being a private patient I had to quickly find a huge amount of money to be admitted. If my angel’s hadn’t been on my side, and I was turned away to a Government Hospital, I wouldn’t have made it. It’s so extremely scary how quick my condition worsened.
A quick background, my Dad was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 while he was in the Army. He unfortunately underwent extreme dehydration, went into the Army a perfectly healthy young man, and came out of the army 20kg’s lighter and full blown Type 1 Diabetic. His body unfortunately rejected the insulin, and it took him 3 years to stabilize his blood sugar levels. Back then he was flown from hospital to hospital, from province to province, trying to get his sugar levels stabilized. Today he still battles.
I was an average healthy person, maybe a few kg’s overweight, but I never ate excessively unhealthy. I was maybe stupid never to have my sugar levels tested, but I was ignorant to how hereditary the disease can be. I was so blind.
I was kept in I.C.U for three days, to bring all levels back to normality, or as much as possible at the time.
I have accepted Diabetes, and have taken a complete positive spin on the whole disease, and what it has brought to my life. I think for most of it, you have to be in the right frame of mind. Similar to quitting smoking. Of course you’ll get your bad days, but I focus on what goodness it’s brought into my life – my good health. Being aware of everything I put into my body, and how it affects me. One thing is for sure, I had no idea so many thing’s had sugar in them. It’s frightening to say the least.
I now began my first steps into a completely reformed healthy lifestyle.
In a way, Diabetes was a gift, a blessing in disguise. A bit of a drastic eye opener, but I am however grateful. I have lost and average of 26kg's since then, and am entwined in healthy eating and exercise. I am fully aware of what I put into my body. I now have respect for my body and nourish it only with the healthiest of foods.
Yoga helped me so much through my transition. It helped me immensely in my weight loss by toning my body and mind for that matter. The breathing techniques learnt in Tri-Yoga aid me to stabilize my sugars. I am extremely grateful I have this practice in my life.
As a natural nutrition enthusiast, I aim to share all my delicious creations with you. As well as my thoughts through my blog and wonderful information about living a holistic lifestyle.
Flow and grow with me through this path of wonderful wellness.
The Saturday was spent doing the whole Tourist thing around The Mother City, and throughout the day I was finding it difficult to keep any food down, due to the indigestion I felt in my chest. After returning to the flat, I asked my Mom if we could take a walk to the Dischem around the corner to get some Gaviscon or Rennies or anything that might take the horrible feeling away. I have never suffered from heartburn or anything like that before, so it was a very uncommon feeling. After purchasing the Gaviscon, and walking back up the hill, everything changed.
I was battling to breath, and breathing at a very heavy and fast rate.
My mom decided to take me to the Doctor first thing in the morning.
That whole night was a bit of a blur, I now realize I was probably floating in and out of consciousness. I just remember being extremely thirsty, and no matter how much water I drank, I was unable to quench my thirst.
I awoke in the morning to an excruciating pain in my lower back, either side of my spine. It felt like two metal rods were stabbing me in my Kidneys. I couldn’t breath, and started to panic. The more my mom panicked. It was terrible, but in a blink of an eye I was thrown into the car, raced to the emergency unit at Blouberg Hospital and admitted into I.C.U with Diabetes KetoAcidosis. Being a private patient I had to quickly find a huge amount of money to be admitted. If my angel’s hadn’t been on my side, and I was turned away to a Government Hospital, I wouldn’t have made it. It’s so extremely scary how quick my condition worsened.
A quick background, my Dad was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 while he was in the Army. He unfortunately underwent extreme dehydration, went into the Army a perfectly healthy young man, and came out of the army 20kg’s lighter and full blown Type 1 Diabetic. His body unfortunately rejected the insulin, and it took him 3 years to stabilize his blood sugar levels. Back then he was flown from hospital to hospital, from province to province, trying to get his sugar levels stabilized. Today he still battles.
I was an average healthy person, maybe a few kg’s overweight, but I never ate excessively unhealthy. I was maybe stupid never to have my sugar levels tested, but I was ignorant to how hereditary the disease can be. I was so blind.
I was kept in I.C.U for three days, to bring all levels back to normality, or as much as possible at the time.
I have accepted Diabetes, and have taken a complete positive spin on the whole disease, and what it has brought to my life. I think for most of it, you have to be in the right frame of mind. Similar to quitting smoking. Of course you’ll get your bad days, but I focus on what goodness it’s brought into my life – my good health. Being aware of everything I put into my body, and how it affects me. One thing is for sure, I had no idea so many thing’s had sugar in them. It’s frightening to say the least.
I now began my first steps into a completely reformed healthy lifestyle.
In a way, Diabetes was a gift, a blessing in disguise. A bit of a drastic eye opener, but I am however grateful. I have lost and average of 26kg's since then, and am entwined in healthy eating and exercise. I am fully aware of what I put into my body. I now have respect for my body and nourish it only with the healthiest of foods.
Yoga helped me so much through my transition. It helped me immensely in my weight loss by toning my body and mind for that matter. The breathing techniques learnt in Tri-Yoga aid me to stabilize my sugars. I am extremely grateful I have this practice in my life.
As a natural nutrition enthusiast, I aim to share all my delicious creations with you. As well as my thoughts through my blog and wonderful information about living a holistic lifestyle.
Flow and grow with me through this path of wonderful wellness.