Hi, I feel it’s time to give an update on my diabetes journey for my
concerned friends and followers
About a month ago, I shared that I had been
clinically diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. At that time, I persuaded my doctor
to give me three months to try managing my blood sugar through diet and
lifestyle changes—without starting medication immediately.
Unfortunately, the results have been
disappointing.
During this “grace period,” I committed myself
to a strict routine: only two meals a day, skipping breakfast entirely, with
about sixteen hours of fasting between dinner and lunch.
For lunch, I usually had low-carb bread with
fried egg, canned tuna, tomatoes, smashed avocado, and spinach. Sometimes, I’d
switch to porridge or steel-cut oats cooked with pork belly, liver, century
egg, and cuttlefish, like a hearty chok moy.
Dinner was a small portion of rice with
chicken or pork, fried egg, fish, and vegetables—always accompanied by a large
salad. After dinner, I’d have a glass of apple cider vinegar with lime juice.
Overall, I ate a low-carb diet, rich in
protein, healthy fats, and plenty of fibre. My weight dropped from 77 kg to 74
kg, but my HbA1c stubbornly remained at 8.5%.
At my age—nearing 80—Type 2 diabetes is sadly
common. My pancreas is weaker now, unable to produce enough insulin to clear
excess sugar. Perhaps my liver is also overproducing glucose. Whatever the
cause, I know diabetes can be managed if tackled early.
Ignoring it, however, can be deadly. Diabetes
can damage the kidneys (leading to dialysis), cause amputations, blindness,
strokes, and many other complications.
I’ve seen the worst happen. Two close friends
died because they refused proper diabetic management. One, an ex-taxi driver,
rejected medical advice and relied only on Chinese herbs. He eventually had a
legs amputated and passed away in hospital at 60. The other, my former
supervisor in Saudi Arabia, ignored his condition until he needed kidney
dialysis. He returned to Singapore in a wheelchair and died at 70 after
prolonged suffering.
I’m scared—and I’ve decided not to gamble with
my health any longer.
A simple pill like metformin can go a long way
in controlling blood sugar. At my next polyclinic visit, I will ask my doctor
to prescribe it.
2 comments:
Thank you for sharing this update. I am 68 and have been pre-diabetic for over 10 years. I don't think skipping a meal is a good idea. Just concerned 😟..perhaps a small meal, but skipping entirely especially breakfast...I wish you all the best.
Hi Linda, Thanks for your comments again. I'm a confirmed diabetic and will take metformin when given on my next doctor visit. With medication, I'll get on to my nornal 2 meals/day with strictly low carb diet. Hopefully, my A1c will stabilize at between 6.5/7.0. Anyway, taking an addition pill with the 5 pills daily is easy and affordable. God Bless!
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