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June 3, 2005
A day at the fair saves a life
Late onset diabetes is easily manageable through diet and exercise.
DVORA WAYSMAN
Diabetes, like life, is something that happened to me when I wasn't
looking. I may have been walking around with this disease for years,
because I had none of the classic symptoms you read about, like
a raging thirst. In fact I felt great, despite knowing at some level
that I was genetically disposed to Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes,
as it was in my family. But like the old motto, "If it ain't
broke, don't fix it," I didn't think about being tested. Why
go looking for trouble?
Then one day, about 10 years ago, there was a leaflet in my letter
box announcing a health fair in the suburb where I live. I now think
of it as the luckiest day of my life, because I am sure that if
I hadn't bothered to walk over to the local community centre where
the fair was being held, I wouldn't be alive today.
I went more out of curiosity than anything else. Lots of tables
were set out in the grounds, manned by doctors, and you could be
tested free for a whole range of illnesses. I had in mind to go
to the blood pressure testing but the line-up was too long and I
had no patience. Temporarily, there was no one at the diabetes testing
table, so I sat down and agreed to be tested.
The doctor asked me to fill out a medical history and seemed astonished
that I had never checked it out before. At that point, I'm embarrassed
to admit, I was even the spokesperson for a large hospital. She
took a drop of blood from my finger, placed it on a test strip and
measured my blood glucose level. I saw her face go ashen as the
result showed a reading of 375. It didn't mean anything to me. Then
she tested me again, with the same result.
"I think I must call an ambulance," she said. "You
must go to hospital." I laughed and told her I'd never felt
better. But after she'd talked to me for a few minutes, I realized
it was no laughing matter. I was a serious diabetic and a candidate
for heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, limb amputation and
premature death. I didn't want to go to hospital, but promised to
consult a doctor next day and make any lifestyle changes necessary
to bring the glucose level down.
So, at age 60, I began to live sensibly. I changed in two main ways:
diet and exercise. I had always had a love affair with food, especially
cakes, ice cream and chocolate. My most strenuous exercise was probably
playing Scrabble. It is a miracle I had lived as long as I had.
I didn't go on a crash diet or one that made me feel continually
deprived, but I thought about everything I put in my mouth. I made
choices – lots of salads and a piece of fruit when I needed
something sweet. Lower fat, achieved by buying one per cent milk
instead of three per cent; yogurt and cottage cheese with no fat.
High fibre breakfasts with porridge made from oatmeal and lots of
oat bran. Few nuts. Chicken and fish mostly replacing red meat.
Cooking creatively, using dates, raisins or small amounts of artificial
sweeteners when necessary.
The dietary changes had to be accompanied by exercise and, at first,
this was difficult for me. But now I leave home at 6 a.m. each weekday
morning and speed walk for at least 40 minutes. Gradually, I grew
to enjoy it. The traffic-free air is pure at that time and the only
sounds are birdsong. Most mornings, you meet the same people, walkers
like yourself, a few joggers, people walking their dogs. You don't
talk but you smile at each other as you pass. You understand each
other. In winter it's harder, but if you dress appropriately it's
still possible – although often it's dark when I leave home.
If it's raining heavily, I have an exercise bicycle and I work out
at home.
Paradoxical as it sounds, having diabetes has enabled me to appreciate
life so much more. There are things I want to do – a few more
books I want to write – and I'd like to be around to dance
at the weddings of our 18 lovely grandchildren. I try to remember
a saying I read many years ago. There is a beautiful Chinese home
in the heart of Beijing. The garden is enclosed by a high wall and,
on one side, surrounded by twining red and white flowers, there
is a brass plate about two feet long. The inscription has changed
many people's lives. Translated, it reads: "Enjoy yourself.
It is later than you think!"
Dvora Waysman is the author of nine published books. She
lives in Jerusalem.
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