I had something pretty scary happen
a few days ago. I tend to like to keep personal things personal, especially
medical things, but after about three minutes on Facebook I noticed a trend
that worries me so I thought I should share.
I have a medical condition I’ve
been living with for years. It has a handful of side effects but the one that
gives me the most trouble is my insulin production. I take medication that
helps regulate my insulin levels. My doctor also has ordered me to limit my sugars
and to exercise daily. Did I do what my doctor asked? Well, I take my medicine
every day so that should count for something, right?
I live a busy life, like everyone
else I know. I have three two year olds that are my world. They ALWAYS come
first, no matter how I feel or what else is going on. This means that most of
my day is spent taking care of my kids, my house, and my husband. The one thing
I never seem to take care of is me and that is the trend I’ve noticed.
I usually get about four hours of
sleep a night. I drink diet coke and energy drinks all day to stay awake. I eat
whatever I can grab quickly and it’s usually high carb. Also, unless walking
around Target counts, I never get proper exercise. I am running on fumes most
of the time and I’m not alone.
Why am I telling you this? Well, a
few days ago my body said enough. I was packing for my very first trip to
Canada to go to a signing that I was really excited about. I had been busy and
grabbed a piece of key lime pie for dinner. I sat on the couch to take a break
and noticed my vision start to blur. I stood up from the couch and the room
began to spin. Next thing I know I’m waking up lying on the ground.
It turns out my insulin issues have
gotten worse. My blood sugar had spiked and then dropped so low I passed out. I
ended up missing my trip that I had been looking forward to for months and
learned a valuable lesson. Thank God it happened at home and not while I was
driving with my kids.
It really scared me the hell out of
me. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m listening to my body and cleaning up my
lifestyle. I’m doing my best to make my health a priority because I would like
to be there as long as possible for my kids. I keep reminding myself that I can’t
take care of anyone if I’m not alive. I know that it will be a challenge to not
fall back into bad habits but I’m making an effort every day. Please, do
something, even if it’s small, to take care of yourself today because you
matter.
Nicole xoxo
