Did you know that 1 in 5 people will get diabetes, or are currently in pre diabetic mode?
That's truly scary. But alot of women think they are OK, because they are not considered obese, but that's untrue.
So here's a test for you: take your belly measurement (across your belly button please), and then measure your height. Your belly circumference should be less than half your height. If it's more, you are at risk of diabetes.
If you currently have diabetes (or pre diabetes), it simply MUST be turned around now. And those pills you are taking to manage it, it is NOT making it disappear, and unfortunately, the damage that has been done is still there...it can't be reversed.
I recently watched a special on diabetes in the U.S. and a woman (not an overly large woman) who was a self confessed poor eater as a child (sugar, processed, juice, alcohol) and thought it was OK because she was a bit overweight but not overly large... Her left foot is amputated, the right foot has open sores, she is on kidney dialysis 3x a week for 2 hours, to clean her blood... And she looks like she's 100 years old (she is 44).
She is tired, sad, regretful, and she used to be into all sorts of outdoor activities. She saw the signs, but thought, 'it's not that bad'...until it was bad.
I think the sad fact is that many people continue to live with diabetes, and not really making the necessary lifestyle changes (food, exercise, quit smoking, the 3 big determiners of a risk of diabetes) because, well, it's not that bad.
But what does 'not that bad' mean? Your blood sugars are high, but they're not above 100....yet? You have extra weight, but you plan on making changes....soon? You know exercise (especially weight training) is important, and you are looking into it...or you are doing it, but maybe not consistently (like 4-5 times a week, 30-45 minutes).
Diabetes takes no prisoners. When sugars can't be removed by the body's insulin (because there simply is too much floating in the blood stream, an unnatural event for the body), it acts like shards of glass, that cut the inside of the body: the heart arteries, organs, blood vessels, (hence, why heart attacks, amputations, loss of eye sight are so common...the scarring created by the rampant sugars that cut into the body cause the body to put a 'scab' on the
injured areas, but these scabs build up and block the vessels).
As one specialist said, it is a disease of attitude....meaning, for many people, they live with it because they think they are managing it, and, well, if it is in our families, then we are bound to have it too. Not true. But it becomes a way of life, a thinking habit that allows the onward march of high sugars in the body to continue on in a lifestyle set up to invite diabetes in.
What I often hear is 'we were taught to eat like this, it's in our family history.' OK, so, does this mean you are going to make change, or are you willing to continue on in the same destructive manner? Does this make sense to you? Or "I'm not much into weight, I do walk though'...OK, walking is great, but it does not have near the power of weight training to turn diabetes around.
Why? Because with weight training, it pushes the glucose (sugar) into the muscles for energy, so it's not floating around in your blood stream, ready to do harm (sugars are not supposed to be floating around in your blood stream. DANGER!)
Cardio and walking do not use near as many of the body's muscles, hence, the sugar remains floating in the blood. But yes, any movement is better than no movement. (Living a sedentary lifestyle is also a huge red flag pointing right towards diabetes).
The other challenge that I see, is that we are defined by who we surround ourselves with, and often, family members tend to 'stick together' in their patterns and habits, and if everyone else is still standing, it's not that bad.
So at what point do you wish to turn this around? It will not turn itself around. It takes changes in your food, your movement, and your mindset. Full Stop. Please don't sit passively with the prospect of diabetes. And even if you are not obese, check in with your girth measurement to be safe: If it is greater than half of your height, you are heading in the wrong direction (excess belly fat calls on the body to harbour more sugars in the blood...the danger
zone).
It's never too late, but the epidemic of diabetes is strong...1 in 5 are pre diabetic or diabetic in this country. Staggering. And the incidence of children with diabetes (something never really seen in history before) is staggering.
I am not meaning to scare you, but this is a real threat to women everywhere, especially the 40+ woman. So I want you to consider how you want to live for the next 10, 20, 30 years on this planet. Then move into some course of action.
Find a coach, a mentor or someone who can start a plan and keep you accountable until the new habits and new lifestyle become your 'new normal'.
I know I sound brutal, and perhaps harsh, but that is the reality of what millions of people live with... like walking time bombs in every state and province, when the solution is simple (I didn't say easy, but it IS simple): proper exercise, a solid food plan to build cellular health and to help draw the sugars down, tonifying the pancreas too, and a shift in our thoughts and beliefs, patterns, around ageing, health, vitality and how we want to spend the last
30 years on this planet.
Please decide today ladies. It's the only body and life we have. Let's live it well, into our 60's, 70's and beyond!
P.S. If you haven’t already, please watch my free
masterclass. It goes into this, and more, and how us 40+ women can turn that boat around, and get healthy, lean and happy from this day forward! And you are welcome to book a call with me, if you want to chat about your health, and what we can do about it! (My sign up is at the end of the webinar, but please know that my calendar is limited! Here it is again: Book a call.
Please take care, and know that this CAN be fixed! I've seen it countless times, and I am here to help!
