People, especially women, often tell me, "you are so sweet....oh Leonardo,....you are such a sweet fellow". I never grasped the concept of such words until I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 about 2 months ago; my sugar level was way too high.

I had my third, same knee, arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 3rd but the healing process did not go well. The first week in March I had my vitamin levels re-checked, it was then that my glucose level was 415. I was immediately put on meds to lower it. After 2 months following a strict diet and exercise I have managed my glucose levels to fluctuate between 90 an 127 and without meds.

A week a go, during my first visit with the diabetes specialist, the Doc. informed me that I must get back on the meds because My A1C level of 8 is way too high, 6 is acceptable. I said, Doc., at the moment my condition isn't life threatening that I "must" take said medication. So I would like to challenge myself to do it the natural and difficult way rather than the easy way out. If in 3 months my A1C level is not satisfactory then I will have no choice but to get back on the meds. The Doc. stood up, shock my hand and said, "challenge accepted, good luck, see you in 3 months."


I left and went straight to wall-mart and picked up the mountain bike seen on the pic. down below for 150 bucks. I'm now ridding the trials with my bicycle 10 miles a day; today was my 6th day. 2 months ago when I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 I weight 215 lbs. This morning I weighted @ 191; I feel energizer and have returned to work doing what I love best, building and constructing things.

Any sweet guys out there, whatz the story behind your story?

 

Naw, I've never been accused of being a sweet guy. LOL

 

Leo,

On behalf of the medical community I want to applaud you for your efforts. In todays society, many people are looking for the easy way out. They want a pill they can take every morning to make their problems go away. The problems is, the is often just dealing with the problem, and not correcting it.

I see many diabetics on a daily basis. Most are on a host of meds to control their blood sugar and keep their lab work in check. Unfortunately many do not understand that with some simple life style changes and hard work, they can manage their BGL levels and improve their quality of life.

The body has an amazing ability to heal itself. It looks like you are truly harnessing that ability and making it work for you.

Congrats on taking this problem head on, and not taking the easy way out.

-Ben

 

well said, I agree. good job!

 

Thanks Ben but you are right, if only people would realize that the forces behind the real problem lies within; they wouldn't waste their time fixing blame on others for their own problems but rather invest their valuable time in finding a solution to "fix" what is wrong with oneself.

I strictly abide by this philosophy:

"Never sit and expect for anyone to make life easy or happy for you, only you can do that for yourself."

 

Good for you Leo! That's how it's done

 

Thanks for the diabetic cookbook ad now Leo

 

I do not know much about diabetes. It does run in my family however. I just want to commend you on challenging yourself to get it back to where it needs to be. I'm sure its not easy but anything in life worth doing isn't easy. If it was easy everybody would be doing what you are doing. Good luck and hopefully
you can get to where you need to be!

 

First of all, congrats to you! Both my father and my best friend were diagnosed in the same month 6 years ago, my buddy was 26 at the time. Both are slaves to their medicine. I'm going to let them read this and hopefully it will inspire them in some way. As for me, you have inspired me to get my lazy butt on my bike tonight and ride, I could stand to drop a few pounds myself! Congrats again, keep on fightin!

 

You're headed in the right direction riding that bike. The main thing is to keep riding and don't stop now that you have lost a few pounds and are obviously in better shape/condition. It's easy to skip a day or 2 and next thing you know it's collecting dust in the basement/garage.

I'll be praying for you OG.

 

Me neither.

I get called an *** hole nearly daily

 

That's not what I've heard.

 

I ride trails from time to time and when I'm done I have to ice my knees just to get over the pain. Is riding not affecting your bad knee any?

 

Pfft... you didn't have to tell us that.

 

really