American Diabetes Alert Day

Today is the 21st annual ADA "American Diabetes Alert Day". I'm a *leeeetle* bit skeptical about people wanting to excavate head from sand regarding their risk for diabetes...but that's based solely on my own experience. For the longest time, and with all of the risk factors staring me in the face, I.did.not.want.to.know. Oh, I knew it was going to be "someday." I suspect that was part of the problem: because I felt it was inevitable, I went the "eat, drink, and be slothful, for tomorrow we shall have diabetes" route. Oy. [shaking head in self-reproach] Why are smart people so dumb sometimes?

I have to admit, though, facing up to my diagnosis was the catalyst for quite a lot of good changes in my life. I feel so much better now and way more energetic. I don't know what the future will bring with me and this disease, but my priority right now is best quality of life for as long as possible. Maybe, just maybe, putting some of the good stuff I've learned into play much earlier could have made "someday" a little later. While challenging at times, being healthy is not as onerous as I had previously suspected.

Anyhoo, I thought I'd share some items I've stumbled across....

Gold's Gym (Hey! That's MY gym!!!) has a new initiative for Diabetes Alert Day, including a free (and nicely done) guide to starting an exercise program. You can download it from their "Fighting Diabetes with Fitness" web page (http://www.goldsgym.com/healthy/diabetes.php). I like that they advised new exercisers to set goals, work up to their goals (rather than going gung-ho in the first session, getting sore and tired, and abandoning it), and to combine strength training and cardio. (In a way, it's kind of ironic, because I always associated this gym with the serious fitness nuts. But after I got over feeling intimidated--with much encouragement from my blog buddies--I've found it to be a really positive place.)

Excellent article on Diabetes Mine, highlighting various Alert Day goings-on. I like that Amy highlighted LifeScan's list of resources for those with little or no health insurance.
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/03/dismissed-on-diabetes-alert-day.html

And, if you did take the risk assessment, or have been recently diagnosed, there are some really great references available in these places:
Blood Sugar 101; especially Jenny Ruhl's "Lower Your Blood Sugar" flyer
UCSF Online Diabetes Education (Promotes higher carb intake than the lower-carb sites like Blood Sugar 101, but who says you can't do it in phases? This site has a lot of information you'd get from a diabetes educator, and if you're without one, it may help getting one closer to better blood glucose management.)

Hmmm...I also discovered today that the ADA "Tour de Cure 2009" has an event in Palo Alto, California...and it's on June 14. Mr. Handsome-and-Handy's and my 15th wedding anniversary and my diagnosis day. All together now with the eerie coincidence sound effect: wooooooWEEEEEEEwoooooooo! Oh, and they have a 25K (11.47 mile) ride. How doable! (I've gotta get me one of those hot, "Red Rider" jerseys!!!)