MEET ARIANA
Living with a chronic illness like diabetes can be overwhelming. How do you cope with the constant battle of trying to maintain a proper balance with your blood sugars?
Kiki explains, I don’t really have a coping method just some lifestyle modification. I just know that if I don’t take care of myself, I could die. That scares me enough to want to take care of myself and think of life in a different way.
There are days that I’m “mad at the world” and frustrated because of this illness but also it has taught me many life lessons on how to appreciate the little things. The most scariest moments for me was when I woke up in the hospital.
I had a seizure in at my local supermarket due to my blood sugar levels being so low. A challenge for me was the excess scar tissue which appeared on my left leg after a minor deep cut, making it more difficult for my body to readily heal well.
I wasn’t born with it, I just noticed some symptoms which wasn’t normal for me: Like I was always tired, frequent urination especially at night and I was always thirsty.
When I went to see the doctor, he requested that I come back for a blood sugar test, on checking my fasting blood test, its was so high.
My doctors placed me on medication immediately to help my body use the excess insulin in my body (which was the problem). It took me over 2 years before I got the hack of modifying my lifestyle by eating healthier diet, avoiding sugary drinks and doing exercise.
This is Kiki’s story, I met Kiki in 2018 when she came to our store in Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. Looking for a supplement and homegrown teas to help improve her lifestyle further.
She meant business when she said she wants to stay alive, to see her future grand kids. So I recommended supplements that have high chromium level because it helps reduce cravings for sweet foods and then the homegrown teas I recommended for her was 100% ALKALINE : soursop and nettle herbal teas on days when she feels her blood sugar level, is high.
Over time with inclusion of this supplement and teas, she could reduce her medication dependency, which I strongly recommended would be at her doctors recommendation.
So I asked Kiki if there was any positive side to diabetes and she said ” Rashida I have become a healthy rabbit , bouncing and eating healthy”.
Exercise is vital for those suffering from diabetes because it reduces the need for insulin, so just walking for 30mins daily is enough to save your life.
Walking has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose management. So with exercise, better nutrition, minor healthy lifestyle changes, you can become a healthy champion for diabetes.
So on a positive note, it can be exhausting but there is light at the end of tunnel for this disease.
I hope this helps someone struggling with diabetes or a caregiver of someone with the illness.World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus and is held on 14 November each year.
