It has been pretty clear that my life has gone through some changes both personally and professionally in the last few years. I’ve built, have gone through a huge blogging learning curve, and adjusted the focus on this blog from professional to more personal reflections…and back again.
With my days being divided up between health program consulting/contracting, employment and actually having some free time for fun and family, blogging has clearly been way down on the to-do list. In the past, I’ve apologized and made promises to return with the best intentions at heart. Today, I’m not going to do either – but best intentions are still present. Short and sweet posts – about whatever, whenever – to whoever still stops by.
I spend most of my time now working in the arena of prediabetes support and facilitation, which is a little more of a shift away from my origins of lupus and chronic illness advocacy…or is it?
I knew that focusing on lupus, for example, wasn’t the message nor the service that I wanted to provide through My Life Works Today! , primarily because chronic disease isn’t something that will go away. Looking at ourselves individually and learning the most about ourselves as we can is the key to regaining the sense of loss of control we feel when our health concerns arise – no matter what the condition.
When it comes to prediabetes, however, it is an opportunity that many of us with lupus never had – a clear warning call. This health challenge is your body’s way of giving you a heads up on what is down the road, if you don’t take the time right now to notice what is going on in your days. It isn’t an evil lurking in the shadows nor is it an under-funded disease that deserves recognition. It is a chance for change that will offer you a little more control for better days ahead.
Just as I supported others with and based my life and professional service/name on, I continue encouraging taking each day as an opportunity for small changes and reaping big benefits, knowing that things can be different once we see health as an experience through learning and action.
The link below is one of the National Ad Council’s new prediabetes campaign ads that we in Oregon will soon be seeing statewide on billboards, flyers and public service announcements on TV. Notice some of the real-life points that come up through the messages – busy lives, parenting demands, food preferences, humor, and individual priorities. It isn’t about doing the right thing for public health. Prediabetes starts with and can change with you being in charge.
Here is a quick and basic video on a risk assessment. Of course, if you haven’t already done so, check in with your medical team/provider and get your blood work done to get a good baseline to start from.
Are you living your days with your health as the priority? Without it, what do you really have?
Know where you stand. Visit http://www.DoIHavePrediabetes.org and take the short online risk test now. You can also take the risk test through your phone or mobile device by texting “RISKTEST” to 97779.
