I wasn't sure whether I was going to talk about this on my blog but what the hell. Let's talk about my blood sugar deciding to slowly put that last nail in my coffin, shall we? How in order to tame that hungry bitch I've given up my one true food love, pasta and moderated my second (though some would argue that these should be reversed) wine. I have argued that wine is a food. I normally wouldn't get to freaked out about a diagnosis of pre-diabetes but, you see, I have most, if not, all the other risk factors for heart disease. Let's review them, shall we?
1.Blood cholesterol levels
At the present time my cholesterol levels are neatly controlled by medication. Why? Because I've had high cholesterol since I was 20. It wasn't until I was 45 and had that minor cardiac incident that I went on cholesterol meds. I've gone on every diet and exercise plan known to mankind and my numbers in this regard have never budged, so it's meds for me. Damn genetics!
2. High blood pressure
At 40 years old it was discovered, by my dentist of all people, that I had high blood pressure. Hey! they don't call it the silent killer for nothing, I had no idea. And, not your measly 'oh you should really try to add more cardio to your exercise plan' high blood pressure. We're talking nitro-carrying, take no prisoners, sit in the corner drooling after that stroke, high blood pressure. This new event changed my life motto from "I strive for mediocrity" to "go big or go home". FYI, you can't touch nitro pills. You have to shake them out of the jar (glass only thankyouverymuch) under your tongue. They dissolve like a fizzy. You foam at the mouth, just a little, then you get light headed as your blood pressure drops from 230 over 198 to normal. It's awesome scary. This is a family history thing. Get use to that sentence in this post. I've always said that there is no diving in my gene pool; it is for wading only. I should have never reproduced and back in the early 1900s the Eugenics people wouldn't have let me.
3. Diabetes. Yeah, another one of those sneaky diseases. You know?, when your doctor orders 2 tests for this a week apart that something is up. While my blood sugar level is just above the bar I've decided that this is one pole I just don't want to jump. So out with white food or as I like to say "all the good stuff" for me. No more white sugar, flour, potatoes (oh how I miss you) and rice. If it can be considered a 'carb' it's off the menu. Hence, my grieving for pasta (I have lost 8 pounds in the last few weeks it still doesn't make up for the loss). I think I failed to mention, this is also a family history deal. Thanks Dad.
4. Family History. Shall we discuss the last 2 generations in my family?
Grandmother on my mom's side = first heart attack at 38 while pregnant with my mom. 3 more before that 4th one got her at 70.
Grandfather on my father's side = dies at 48 from a heart attack. He really doesn't count though, he was an alcoholic, smoked and I'm pretty sure behaved badly with various other lifestyle issues.
Let's get a little closer to home
Mom = high blood pressure but other than that healthy as a horse. I predict that she will out live me by several years, especially at the rate I'm going.
Now, here is another one of those nails.
Dad = high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes which all added up to a heart attack and death at age 61. 10 years older than I am right NOW!
5. Age or post-menopause
Enuf said.
I'm patting myself on the back because while I've have or almost have all of the above what I do have going for me is my lifestyle. I don't smoke (never have); I'm not overweight (by much. I don't think 10 pounds counts); I'm not totally sedimentary (I walk over a mile a day just to get from my car to my office. Damn you expensive parking permits); my diet is pretty good (it's just gotten better); and my doctor approves my one glass of red wine a night (though that has gone bye bye also. 1 glass on Friday and Saturdays only. I can hear the wine industry complaining about their drop in sales already).
What this all boils down to is that my later years, (and yes it seems that I have hit them) I'll be that old person that watches everything she puts in her mouth, exercises daily and snugly I might add, and takes her meds like a good girl. I, also, plan to make everyone around me do the same (JR you've been officially warned).Oh, I plan to whine and bitch a lot also. Hey! We all need at least one vice.
Take care of your hearts folks.
Love,
M
