First Diet Final Thoughts

This my first post not directly related to art but I felt the urge to write about this recent dietary experience because it affected my well-being and thus helps me on my journey as an artist. I hope to live healthily and be able to paint well into my eighties and beyond. I recently completed a three month Mediterranean Diet as part of University of South Carolina’s DG3D study. Last night we met in focus groups to discuss the successes and failures of the diet. Although I was able to convey some of my thoughts, I still felt the need to express final thoughts. There was a lot that this introvert needed to express in his own manner before moving on.

After our discussion I realized that I’d always been a participant of the Mediterranean diet but there were just a few things I needed to wean/weed out that were not components of this diet. I needed to weed out the excessive sodium content and excessive sugar content in my diet. I needed to weed out the french fries. I needed to weed out the unhealthy desserts I loved. I needed to weed out the unhealthy snacks I occasionally consumed. I needed to weed out the occasional 7.5 ounces of Pepsi. I needed to wean and weed those wonderful Sunday and holiday meals my spouse and I sometimes prepared and the delicious leftovers we would often enjoy for a few days afterwards.

You see all of these things supplemented the Mediterranean food I very often enjoyed. I was already cooking with olive oil, enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread, poultry/fish and less red meat, etc. I was already exercising regularly and maintained a healthy weight. I already lived a very stress-free lifestyle comparatively speaking. Yet, I take high blood pressure medication daily. Yet, I knew I was likely borderline diabetic. Did I have these health issues just because of my race or was there something beyond heredity that I was missing. When I ran across Mary Wilson’s interview on one of the local news broadcast about the DG3D study, I jumped at the chance to participate, hoping to find answers.

I am currently sixty-three years old but have been taking high blood pressure medication since my late forties/early fifties. To be honest, I really don’t know how long. I’ve always had yearly physicals and remember when my blood pressure was becoming an issue. My weight at the time was probably between 175-185 which I think is in proportion for a 5’10” male frame. I’ve always made exercise/weight training a part of my lifestyle since college. It was actually a way for me to put on bulk/weight. I was always that skinny kid. I was a little surprised to find that hypertension was becoming an issue for me. I was having some stress at work and in my career but it was manageable; after all, I was a professional librarian, not a stressful occupation. I really didn’t know what else to do other than reading the literature, tracking my blood pressure and following my physician’s prescribed medication. Since my three older brothers were also having high blood pressure issues, I thought that maybe it was just hereditary. Culturally speaking, I wondered if it were some kind of conspiracy. Did my doctor really care that I had high blood pressure or was it just another chance for him to push a new medication on another African American? My initial medication was quite costly even with insurance. Even though he’d given me some literature, I don’t remember him asking me about what I consumed regularly and why it might be part of the problem. Perhaps he was like me in thinking that my diet couldn’t be so bad since I was not overweight. Why didn’t he refer me to a dietitian initially? After I’d begun my medication regimen, I even wondered why his blood pressure readings were always lower than what I monitored at home. Were my electronic devices properly calibrated?

About five years or so before I retired in 2018, I’d begun to experience some lightheadedness around lunchtime, if I had cereal for breakfast. I didn’t know how harmful a spoonful or two of sugar could be with non-frosted corn flakes that already contained sugar. I didn’t consider the whole fat milk that might contain some sugar. I’m certain that I’d mentioned this to my doctor but don’t think that he was overly concerned. Although I made some changes to my quick morning diet, I now know that I could have considered some better options and better prepped for my morning rush to work. I don’t know what my glucose readings were pre-2018 when I begun having what I thought were prediabetic symptoms and I never really heard anything about A1C until my participation in this study. I noticed that my recent glucose levels were up and down but they stayed in the safe range 70.00-99.00 for the most part. My recent online readings were as follows:

92.00 1/10/18, 81.00 7/31/18, 100.00 8/1/19, 99.00 8/3/20, 104 4/20/21, 90 10/8/21 (Note: These recordings all occurred after I retired and had more control of what I ate. Also, note the 10/8/21 reduction and the fact this study started in September. Could it have already begun to make a difference?)

Nothing really confirmed for me that I might be pre-diabetic until I saw my pre-assessment A1C reading for this study. I had to do my research to find out what this number meant. My reading was 5.70. According to the literature, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes. I’ll be very interested to see what my post assessment A1C reading will be. I am positive that I will drop below 5.70. Since starting the study, I have not experienced the midday lightheadedness with the urgent need to eat something in order to feel better. By the way, I was always uncertain about what was best to eat. I generally went for the P&J sandwich as it was quick and seemed to work. I now know why I was having those fluctuations and how to avoid them after participating in the study. Again, I wondered if my doctor could have better advised me. Was it a conspiracy? Was he just waiting on me to become another statistic? I really don’t think so. It’s just that the profession does not take a holistic approach to our health. Often times, they just think we are predisposed for certain diseases and the crappy pharmaceutical industry in this country just aid them in medicating us with overpriced drugs. I feel that I am now on track to beating them at their game. Unfortunately, many African Americans wait until it’s too late.

When asked what we might suggest as a component of this study, I expressed the desire for a more culturally focused session since this study focused on African-Americans. I didn’t quite know how to articulate what I meant. Initially, we were given some of the demographic statistics but having narratives as to why we might be disproportionally affected with diabetes would be helpful. Testimonials/presentations from someone who has been affected like me might make a big difference for those we are trying to reach. Why does it seem that we are affected at a younger age more than ever before? What are we feeding our children? Are they getting a proper amount of exercise? What other health related ailments might be brought on by diabetes? Are doctors and insurance companies really concerned about our health or just the income we are generating? What can we do to help educate our people? Why aren’t there more overweight, young, nonprofessional, and prediabetic participants in this study? Can we not afford the incentives that might encourage their participation? What are we doing for those who don’t have wi-fi access or cars to get to studies or funds to prepare proper diets?

The DG3D study assisted me in reinforcing healthier lifestyle options. I realize that I could go on and on about this but I have gotten out most of what I wanted to express at our focus group. This post has been the mental medication I needed to move on. I really appreciate all those who assisted in making the study a success and hope you are able to continue your efforts for a healthier community. I will continue to monitor my blood pressure and glucose levels. I’ll seek answers as to why AlC levels are not part of my semi-annual lab work and hopefully be able to evaluate those levels as well.

What affects one of us affects all of us.

Thanks so much.