Rosemary Parkinson, Gleaner Writer

BALL

Dr. Carol Ball, a medical practitioner in Kingston, sees many diabetic patients. From her detailed explanations about the disease, we came up with a diabetic recipe, using some of the knowledge, a pinch of the reading material in her office, blended with cups of words that once fully assimilated turned into the sentence, "Life has not ended for you once diagnosed with diabetes, the truth is that the real life has just begun, so drink it with gusto."

Dr. Ball shared the booklet Keeping Well With Diabetes distributed by Lifescan Inc, a Johnson & Johnson company. In it I found the words 'Coping with Diabetes'. I found the word negative and investigated further. Thesaurus describes cope as muddling through, getting by, dealing with, handling, managing, and surviving.

Positive message

So I came up with this positive message. After muddling through the dos and don'ts of diabetes, you will begin to get by, slowly reaching the point of dealing with it as the disease is accepted by the mind. The process of handling will then begin, and before you know what you are managing so well you have put yourself in a position of surviving.

To survive now is described as continuing to exist, carry on, stay alive and live to tell the tale. Existing with diabetes does not have to be drab if you carry on a sensible daily diet with exercise that will ensure you stay alive to tell the tale. Once you, the diabetic, can live to tell the tale, then your life will be fulfilled. Now you can spread the word to your children, your families, your friends and acquaintances. Talk openly about what happens if you do not eat healthy. Discuss ways of avoiding diabetes.

There is always a reason for everything. As a diabetic you have now the possibilities of becoming a 'healer'. You can now be part of the army that has been chosen to help eradicate this affliction. I also came up with another twist to the word 'power' found in the book.

P - problem: Problems are caused by bad habits in the eating and exercise programme. Diabetes can be one of these problems. Write down bad habits that require change. Stick it on the fridge. Change one per day. Example: I do not want fast foods. I do not want huge plates full of dumplings. I do not want to be lazy.

O - obesity: Obesity means fat. If you are overweight for your height, you are fat. Being fat increases the risk of diabetes and diseases. Start losing weight. Do not stop eating. Just eat less and only the right foods. For instance, if you eat oily brown stew daily, try pan chicken instead. If you eat four gizzardas, try one, eat it slowly, enjoying every tiny mouthful.

W - wanting: Think of ways to make change happen. Like exercise. Walk every morning, walk around the garden or neighbourhood - enjoy the scenery. Gather a group of people, exercise; later, sit with them and talk about positive things.

E - education: Ask your doctor every question that comes to mind about diabetes. Fully understand what diabetes means. Everything you learn, teach others, even if they do not have diabetes. Become a role model. Spread the good news about all the positive actions you are taking to help your body. Encourage family and friends to do so as well.

R - repayment: Repayment is yours as you and your family and friends get healthier. Repayment is a positive quality life that you can all now enjoy.

I once nearly did not hire a personable young man as a waiter because he came to the interview appearing drunk, tired and sleepy. When I got upset with him for his behaviour, he finally admitted that he had not taken his insulin that morning and was a diabetic. Once I got him to drink some juice, we talked, I hired him and he turned out to be one of my best waiters ever. If you are an employer, or even just a friend of someone who appears to have these symptoms, talk to them in a caring way and encourage them to get to a doctor.