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    Skip to main content

    LIFE WITH

    LIFE WITH


    DIABETES AND HEART FAILURE

    LIFE WITH

    LIFE WITH

    The Way to Her Heart

    Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on February 18, 2022

    Video Transcript

    [MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER: In 2000, my husband died and I've been on my own all this time. I was always independent and I always did what I wanted, so I ate what I wanted. My eating habits was very something easy. I was 233 pounds and I wasn't moving right. I was finger sticking. My meter test was coming out to 280 in the morning, and I even saw 400s and 300s.

    My chest would hurt when I lay down to sleep. I got scared. I didn't want this to turn into a heart attack. If it's this point, I'm going to stop it. This is the first time I looked at my doctor seriously and said to him, I don't feel well, and it's serious, and it has to do it my chest. And on top of that, my diabetes.

    So I'm ready to do that bariatric, doctor. Please stop the paperwork. Immediately he replied to me, no, Leigh. No. You go to this program over there. And I said, well, what is the program? So he explained to me. It entailed four hours twice a week for nine weeks. That was my first time walking into a room of equipment to exercise, and that was wonderful. I could feel my blood just traveling through my body. And I didn't miss a session. Twice a week for nine weeks I went to exercise. The food, we were going to be eating vegan food. There was no steak, no meat, no fish, no chicken. Only vegetables. And what they did to it was amazing. The federal government gives senior citizens where I live powdered milk, powdered potatoes, mashed potatoes, spinach, beans, carrots. Having fresh vegetables and fruits is way better, so I decided that all that I have at home is going to be kept for emergency preparedness. I feel so energetic. I don't feel no chest pain anymore. My insulin units came down to 10 and 5. And the cardiologist said, everything looks good. EKG, the lab tests. He says, no more coming six months. You can come to me in one year. Every moment, you know, I'm trying to keep healthy, keep my house clean, move around, walk from my front door to my car, and that's hard for me. I parked my car that far away with the intention of getting exercise.

    That will be the rest of my life, because that would be the only way for me to stay as perfect as I can. And I want to be healthy, so I'm going to grab at it.

    With diabetes, I'm more cognizant now of healthier options, not just for myself, but in how I cook. I think about how I can add more flavor without sugar, without starches. I don't just load something down with butter or salt."

    - Chef Tim Magee

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    EXPLORE MORE

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    With type 2, you're more prone to heart problems. Show it some extra love with 12 healthy habits like going easy on the salt and keeping your cholesterol in check.

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    It's Not a Personal Failure

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    A 3D Journey: How Diabetes Damages Your Heart

    Diabetes, Your Heart, and Your Health

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