Beating Diabetes
One Step at a Time
by The Aroostook Medical Center
In November, to mark National Diabetes
Month, Donna Kinney celebrated the fact that she
is no longer insulin dependent for the first time in
over a decade.
Kinney, who is 48 years old, has worked
for The Aroostook Medical
Center (TAMC) as an
environmental specialist for
the past two and a half years.
She was diagnosed with
diabetes in her mid-thirties.
Growing up, Kinney has
always struggled with a weight
problem which affected her
diabetes in a negative manner.
Kinney said even after being
diagnosed she wouldn’t watch
her food intake.
“I ate what I wanted
to, even though I knew it
would affect my diabetes,”
said Kinney, “I ate what I
wanted and when I wanted to
eat it.” Her diabetes was out of
control and her typical blood
sugar range was between 150
and 220. To control such
high blood sugar levels she
was prescribed a variety of
medications.
“At one point I was on
the maximum amount of pills a diabetic is allowed
to receive,” said Kinney. “My body couldn’t create
enough insulin in order to use or store blood
glucose so I was prescribed two high doses of
insulin. I would take one before each meal and the
other twice daily.”
Throughout the day she would be consuming
pills: three in the morning, one in the afternoon,
and three before bed. This was the only way doctors
could keep her diabetes in control since she wasn’t
watching her diet.
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WINTER 2013
It wasn’t until this past year that Kinney
realized how important it was to maintain a healthy
weight to ensure that her diabetes wouldn’t spiral
out of control. This wouldn’t be the only thing
affecting her health since both heart and lung
complications are prominent
issues in her family history.
“I wanted to take back
control of my life. I can’t stop
what genetics will do to my
body, but I can take charge of
my weight and diabetes,” said
Kinney. “I didn’t want to die
from something that I could
prevent. It’s never too late
to start making life changes;
it doesn’t matter your age or
your size.”
To adapt to a new
lifestyle
Kinney
visited
a
nutritionist,
began
attending regular meetings
and appointments with her
doctor, began exercising six
times a week for 50 minutes,
and portioned out her serving
sizes. She said she never went
on a diet, but it was about
eating appropriately and to
never overeat. Kinney said
that it’s important to measure
your portion sizes, look over every label, and to
plan out eating habits.
“Before, I would never even think to look at
a label to see the amount of sodium, carbs, or sugar
in a product. Now I take into consideration all of
these factors to determine what is the better option
for maintaining a healthy weight,” said Kinney.
According to Kinney, you have to determine when
is the best time to eat meals or snacks when trying
to maintain a healthy weight. “If you were to place