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My “Low-Carb Pandemic Life”

In this trying and highly-stressful time of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I have to admit, I got caught up in the panic of it all.  Being 53 years old with Type-2 Diabetes, even though the disease was in remission and I was healthy and strong, I realized the virus could potentially knock me out of remission pretty quickly, and possibly lead me into the hospital.  Which, I wanted to avoid at all costs.  In the middle of March, my job as a Substitute Teacher at a local day school was put on indefinite hold, and my children were delegated to finishing their last semester of school remotely at home.  My husband’s job was considered essential, my children’s part-time jobs in grocery/coffee shops were considered essential.  Which left me, being non-essential, in my home.  Or, so I thought. My condo, however, never looked so clean!

It was at this time, while watching a lot of TV, listening to the radio and looking at social media, that I noticed a common theme.  There were many people out there who were using this time of crisis as an excuse for not practicing good self-care.  Many people, not all, of course, were seeking out unhealthy outlets in hopes of managing higher-than-normal stress levels.  Maybe eating and drinking too much.  Maybe choosing recreational drug usage.  Resurgence in domestic violence and child-abuse cases had arisen.  This wasn’t good.   It got me thinking.  I had been toying with the idea of starting an online blog to chronicle my two-year journey into diabetes remission for a while, going back and forth with myself.  I quickly realized, I have some extra time on my hands, this might be an advantageous time to start!

Basically, my online blog is about trying to inspire and help others.  Even if I can reach just one person, one person who is struggling with physical or mental health issues during this time of crisis, then all I have experienced would be worth it.   I am not a doctor, nor do I proclaim to be.  Maybe my plan won’t work for everyone.  But, if it inspires someone to reach out to their doctor, a nutritionist, a therapist, a personal trainer, or just to take a 5-minute walk outside, then wonderful!

Finally, I have come to realize during this Covid-19 scare, that it is extremely important to have internal and external support systems.  Even if the support comes from 6-feet away, texting from 30 miles away, IPhone apps and DVD’s.  My husband is the “In-House Chef and Kitchen Manager of Chez’ Cross”.  During this pandemic, not only does he work 50 hours a week, but he also goes to the grocery store 2, maybe 3 times a week, and makes sure all the perishable, low-carb foods I need to have on a daily basis is stockpiled.  Including toilet-paper, but we won’t go there!  He also cooks the meat I need for the week in a crock-pot so that I can divvy up my meals for the week.  This has definitely helped me keep on track with my nutritional needs.  He walks with me after dinner and on weekends, to keep me on track with my exercise, and my daughter has even started taking up walking!  I also make sure I work out to my aerobic walking DVD’s every single day, at least 2 miles every day, (thank you Leslie Sansone!), and I meditate 20 minutes a day using my Headspace app.  Daily meditation has helped me come to terms with, and let go of, past pain and suffering that surely helped enable my eating disorder. 

Which has led me here, to this point.

I now realize that Type-2 Diabetes was a gift.  A gift to show me my true potential in life.  Sometimes we need to hit rock-bottom before we realize that we all have the power within us to change for the positive.  I am hopeful the Covid-19 Pandemic might enlighten others to start their own positive journeys.  Maybe, just maybe, I can help.

Donna Cross
Diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes in 2018 with a blood sugar of 510 and an hba1c of 12.3. Adopted a low-carb, low-fat, high-protei diet and eliminated all grains and processed sugar from my diet. Started walking 2-3 miles every day. In two years, lost 185 pounds, removed all medications from my system and brought my diabetes into remission with an hba1c of 5.4. The online blog chronicling the journey is Anewdelicious.blogspot.com

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