An unsweetened diagnosis
When I was told several months ago by my doctor that I had a cholesterol issue, I was surprised. I’ve never been much of a beef or pork eater, I don’t particularly care for fried foods or butter and I drink nonfat milk. Yes, I like ice cream, a lot, and was eating it, a lot, but I figured I could trade that for Greek frozen yogurt and I would be fine.
I was right. When I returned to the doctor last month with fresh blood tests, my cholesterol levels were acceptable, she said. The problem now, though, was I was a borderline diabetic, and unless I cut back on the sweets, I would become a full-fledged diabetic really soon.
When I was told I was a borderline diabetic, I was not surprised a bit. It was like a two-pack-a-day smoker finding out he has lung cancer after smoking for 40 years.
I’ve had a sweet tooth my entire life. While I don’t eat much candy or drink much soda, and don’t eat sugary cereal anymore – although I still frequently crave a big ol’ bowl of Cap’n Crunch? – I’m a maniac for cookies and all other pastries. I also love chocolate. When I ate a freshly baked chocolate croissant, or three, for breakfast three straight days in a curbside restaurant in Paris a couple years ago, I was in heaven in so many different ways.
And the truth is I’ve long known I have many symptoms of diabetes. Pee a lot? Check. Thirsty all the time? Check. Hungry all the time? Check. Feel very tired? Have very dry skin? Have sores that heal very slowly? Check, check and check. But since diabetes does not run in my family and I’m not particularly overweight at the moment, I rationalized in order to ignore those signs. For example, I know I’m not fat because I exercise a lot, not because of my eating habits, and I’ve often ignored that truth to eat whatever I wanted.
After she informed me of my diagnosis, I told the doctor that I would cut back on the sweets, that I would eat sugar-free cookies. She and her assembled medical staff scoffed at the idea of sugar-free cookies and such, as if it’s a cheater’s solution to the problem, but she conceded it was better than continuing to consume cookies packed with sugar.
What I soon found was that cutting back on sugar is not easy. Upon examining the labels of cereal boxes, I found even some “healthy” cereals are packed with unhealthy levels of sugar. And there is so much sugar in so many foods where you wouldn’t expect it. Some types of pizza are overflowing with sugar, for example. And I love pizza (which takes us back to the cholesterol issues, too, right?)
The thing is, like nicotine addicts, those of us who are sugar addicts don’t know how hard it is to quit until we try. I’ve found myself with endless cravings for sugar, particularly at the times when I usually would reach for a cookie or piece of chocolate. Going through the drive-thru at Starbucks and not getting the almond croissant is an ordeal. I fight myself to not order it. And so far I haven’t ordered it, other than that one time when I felt I deserved it as a reward for … something I don’t recall right now.
I’m 62, almost 63, and we are told as we approach our golden years that soon we’ll have more time to travel, relax and indulge our passions and indulgences.
But the sugar addict in me argues: “What’s the point in going back to Paris if I can’t enjoy a chocolate croissant, or three, in a curbside café every morning I’m there?”
Bret Kofford teaches writing and film classes at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley. His opinions about dealing with nascent diabetes don’t necessarily reflect those of SDSU or its employees. Kofford can be reached at kofford@roadrunnre.com