I'M NUMBER TWO

Hi! I'm Carol (the one on the left), a writer, artist, coffee addict, foodie, and urban anthropologist of sorts. And I'm "number two." 

What do I mean by that? Second in line? Didn't win the gold medal? Poop?? 😬 Read on...

It started with a tick bite. In June 2024, I woke up one morning with a stinging, itchy sensation on my leg. I stumbled into the bathroom to investigate, and found a tick attached to my right inner thigh. I got out my tweezers, pulled the tick out, and disposed of the headless body. But the head had dug in, and it was hurting, so I went to the ER. They told me the head would work its way out, tested me for Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (both negative), and gave me a round of antibiotics because I appeared to be having an allergic reaction to the bite, which was possibly becoming infected.

A few days later, the small red spot had become a huge purple-y red spot, and the head was still embedded in my thigh. I went to the Urgent Care Clinic, where they performed minor surgery to remove the head...

In a few days, I was better...except for one unexpected issue...

The blood tests that I'd had at the hospital revealed something more serious, and totally unrelated to the tick bite. I was a Type 2 diabetic.  

My doctor recommended that I begin taking Metformin and see a Nutritionist, who would help me overhaul my diet & lifestyle, which...let's face it...as a card-carrying carbaholic and sugar junkie, this was not the best news. Also, I needed to lose weight...something I had been trying...unsuccessfully...to do for years. 

There are three things in life I REALLY hate. Dieting. Exercise. And taking medications. This was a troubling trifecta of epic proportions. I begged my doctor to let me try diet and exercise first, without taking the medication, promising to stick to a lifestyle change, and assuring him that I would take the Metformin if major improvements weren't realized in three months. He agreed to my proposal...but only because I'm an adult, and he couldn't really force me to take it.

As someone who grew up on Mamaw's fried chicken, homemade biscuits, and blackberry cobbler, this was pretty devastating! I came home and wallowed in self-pity for a few days, while I suffered through a real lulu of a carb/sugar detox. I won't lie...it was horrible. I didn't exercise in the beginning because, honestly, I had no energy. I was just lying around, living for the next meal, as unfulfilling as it was. The cravings were intense. Don't let anyone tell you that sugar isn't a drug. But unlike alcohol, cigarettes, or heroin, it's legal and socially acceptable.

I met with the Nutritionist, and she helped me create a food plan that didn't completely deprive me of everything I loved...basically a low-ish carb, Mediterranean Diet. The first things to go were sugary foods and drinks and processed foods. I was to eat healthy, whole foods...lots of vegetables...certain fruits, like berries, citrus fruits, apples and pears...legumes and beans...nuts and seeds...fish, poultry, the occasional red meat...and limited amounts of dairy, starchy vegetables, whole grains, and whole grain bread. Spices and herbs became really important for adding zest and character to my meals.

So, while I had a wide variety of foods to choose from, the trick was finding recipes that combined the ingredients to make interesting, flavorful, and satisfying dishes. I'm still experimenting but will share those recipes as we go along...

My doctor prescribed a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) so I could track the effect of various foods on my blood sugar. I highly recommend CGM's for new T2's, as everyone's body reacts to foods differently. For instance, oatmeal is considered a healthy food, and most people can eat it with no problem...but for me it's like eating a piece of cake.

After settling into my new healthier eating style, I started a regular 15-minute yoga routine most mornings and taking walks after dinner. Then I added a weight routine two or three times weekly. After a few months, my A1C had gone down dramatically, I lost 22 pounds...and as an added bonus...my triglyceride level dropped 100 points. And I feel great! More energy...less cravings. However I realize, this is no temporary fix. It is an ongoing, healthy lifestyle change. 

The moral of this story is, most of us have far more control over our health than we realize. Our time here on Earth is fleeting, so why not make the most of it, by maximizing our health span to match our life span? 

So far, my life has been a joyful adventure (with a few glitches here and there). And the story is far from over. I'm so excited to share with you my journey to a healthier, more vibrant quality of life.  

But, I am not a physician or medical professional, and I'm not here to tell anyone what to do regarding their own health journey. Please consult your doctor for the best plan for you. 

My story though, is about way more than just health, diet, and exercise. It is about art, books, design and travel...Lifelong learning...Quality time with friends, family, and alone...Going through life with style...kicking it up a notch...avoiding ho-hum existence and practicing the art of living well.

The meaning of life is to just be alive. Fully, marvelously, spectacularly alive. Don't make it complicated...🩷