A recent question on a pre-diabetes Facebook group reminded me of a misconception I had when first diagnosed: that after a few months of diet and lifestyle changes, the condition would be “reversed” and I could go back to “normal.” The concept of “reversing diabetes” is increasingly part of the lexicon and has the potential to mislead. What it really means is we can reduce or even eliminate the symptoms – high blood glucose and potentially some other side effects of the condition – but you cannot turn back the clock on your body’s metabolism. (*A caveat would be some studies on fasting, which show improved beta cell performance. See The Longevity Diet for more.) I will always consider myself pre-diabetic, no matter how many years I maintain a normal A1c.
This revelation was devastating to me at first. I wanted to go back to mindless eating – and by that I mean, ordering a hamburger with a bun just like everyone else. Accepting a piece of birthday cake at a party like everyone else. Not thinking about the carb count in my breakfast. Not checking my blood sugar every day. Not giving so much brain space to what I am going to eat and when.
It sounds lovely and freeing. But let’s delve a little deeper into what “normal” really meant:
–Inability to resist any dessert that came my way
–Worrying about my weight
–Needing bread at every meal
–Needing dessert to feel satisfied
–Being hungry between meals
–Feeling the pull of the vending machine every afternoon
–Indecision about which treats to consume and how much
That doesn’t sound freeing at all. Sugar and carbs actually have immense power over our behavior – but that power can be broken. The freedom of it is incredibly rewarding.
A few more side effects of “normal” that I experienced:
–Higher cholesterol, especially triglycerides
–More skin problems
–More aches and pains
–More empty calories, fewer colors in my diet
–Poor sleep
Every time I think about “going back to normal”, I remember the negatives and remind myself of the positives:
–Feeling satisfied after meals
–Lower cholesterol, normal blood sugars
–More energy
–Clearer skin
–Easy decisions at buffets, restaurants, and birthday parties
–Colorful fruits and vegetables at every meal
–More fiber
–Realizing I don’t need dessert and feel better without it
–Greater awareness in general of how food makes me feel
–Establishing good eating habits for my daughters
And that’s just a few… there are many more reasons to make the changes and stick to them. The “new normal” is so much better than the old. It’s not easy – the first six months of the new normal were a shock to my system, and I often felt deprived and rebellious (what, no more pancakes?). I’m not all the way there. I still struggle sometimes with treats and overeating. But I wouldn’t go back.