By Annette Campbell
Linda McRae knew she was on the verge of developing Type 2 diabetes and had every intention of not letting it happen.
“I’d had a pre-diabetic condition (was glucose intolerant) for a while and had been warned that it could develop into diabetes,” Linda explains. “It did scare me a lot, so I started to watch what I was eating to try to get my blood glucose levels under control.”
But life threw a few twists and turns her way and Linda lost the control she thought she had over her health.
“My marriage broke up, I stopped working full-time and I also started studying, so I was far more sedentary than ever,” explains the 43-year-old mother of three and part-time law student from Newcastle, NSW.
“Also, my daughter got really sick last year — we nearly lost her. So it probably wasn’t that I was eating more or differently, it’s just that I wasn’t exercising and was under a huge amount of stress.”
When Linda was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in October last year, she says she was, “Pretty upset but thought, ‘It figures’. Self-pity took over for a couple of days, then I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something’.
“I knew immediately that I didn’t want to die or worse, have a stroke and need someone else to feed me for the rest of my life.”
So Linda re-gained control.
She admits she is still technically overweight but has already lost an impressive 14kg since the August prior to her diagnosis. She’s now determined to keep slimming down and is on a four-dose-a-day medication for her diabetes.
“I test my blood glucose levels four times a day as well and thankfully they’ve gone down considerably. Someone once asked me if it’s a hassle, but I feel more in control because I can monitor this myself and do what I need to, to stay healthy.”
Linda’s recipe for her own health is moderate exercise, a sensible diet and plenty of stress relief.
“It wasn’t just my eating habits but my lifestyle, including being under an enormous amount of stress, that was unhealthy for me,” she says. “So now I combat stress by taking time out for myself. I go for long walks or read a trashy book as a break from my legal texts!”
And her message for others who might think diabetes won’t happen to them is simple. “It can. So talk with your doctor and heed his or her advice if they say you’re at risk.”
Do it for diabetes
The Great Australian Bite is on throughout April, to raise money and awareness of diabetes. Invite some guests to share a bite to eat and to make a donation to Diabetes Australia. For more information about the Great Australian Bite or to learn more about diabetes, visit Diabetes Australia’s website: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au or phone them on 1300 136 588.
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