Pat deals with diabetes

Pat is 53 herself, and while working at Age Concern North Tyneside, found herself working alongside a whole range of special services and activities for people over 50. One of which, the 50+ ways to Health project, is a joint project with North Tyneside Primary Care Trust to tackle exactly the issues Pat faced. The messages are 

Pat’s story

“I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in August 2006. I had been to see my GP about something completely different - when a lump appeared in my breast and recurring cysts under my arms. I was sent for breast screening and blood tests. Happily, the lumps were just surface cysts but the blood tests showed that my glucose levels were high and that I had type 2 diabetes. 

I was totally shocked and devastated by the news as I had always considered myself to be very healthy. I had also given up smoking in early 2006 and had put on some extra weight which didn’t help the situation. 

An appointment with the diabetic nurse and research on the internet made me realize what an insidious disease diabetes is if left untreated. I was frightened, but determined to do everything I could to reverse the diagnosis, and as my case could be managed by diet only I became a “woman on a mission”. 

I immediately cut out cheese, butter, sugary carbohydrates, crisps and red wine and started seeing results quite quickly. I usually eat porridge for breakfast and wholemeal pasta, brown rice and wholemeal bread as my main carbohydrates, I get good fats from olive oil, avocados and pumpkin & sunflower seeds and I eat lots of fresh fruit & vegetables, with lean meat and oily fish. I certainly don’t starve and thoroughly enjoy creating and cooking healthy, unprocessed meals at home. 

In addition, I adopted a regular exercise routine of walking every day for about 1 hour. I’m lucky enough to be able to walk to work and back and with a half hour ‘power walk’ in my lunch break I manage about 10,000 steps a day. I also walk at weekends to keep up the momentum.

When I went back for my three month check up in November I had lost almost two stones in weight and was thrilled with my blood test results which showed that my blood glucose levels were back in the completely normal range and I had reversed the diagnosis of diabetes. My hard work had paid off and I now feel incredibly well. 

The changed diet and exercise routine have become a way of life that I enjoy and I am now tackling losing my third stone. I do have little rewards at weekends now and allow myself a couple of glasses of red wine again – well, they do say it’s good for you, so who am I to argue!”

Pat’s message is “Don’t wait to find out by accident – get it checked. Many people have diabetes without realizing it, and often only find out by accident when they are having a check-up for other things.”

Pat’s Recipes

Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables & Wholewheat Pasta

Chop into chunks: aubergine, courgette, red pepper, orange pepper and large red onion into a big bowl, chop a clove a fresh garlic and sprinkle onto vegetables, season with sea salt & black pepper and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Make sure all vegetables are coated and spread out on a large baking tray. Roast in a hot oven (gas mark 8 for 45 mins). Cook and drain 250g wholewheat pasta shapes and stir roasted vegetables in with a tin of chopped tomatoes and a large cupful of passata.

This makes enough for 3 or 4 good lunch portions, heat in microwave to serve. It also freezes very well.

Spicy Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

In a large, heavy based pan saute chopped garlic, 1 fresh red chilli (deseeded & finely chooped) 1 stalk of lemon grass (finely chopped) 1 onion and a sliced leek in a tablespoon of olive oil ‘til softened.
Peel and chop 2 medium sized sweet potatoes, 1 large butternut squash and 2 large carrots and stir into pan. Add 2 pints vegetable stock (made up with stock cubes) to cover veg and bring to the boil. Cover & simmer for 45 mins. 

Blend the soup to a smooth consistency and serve with a little swirl of plain yoghurt and sprigs of fresh coriander (optional)