Steemit Engagement Challenge / S11W2 - “The worst enemy, sugar."

Hey Sugar lovers! This topic probably bittersweet topic for you 😅 (Including me!)

Let's imagine that day you're about to dig into that delicious chocolate cake on your friends party, and just as you're about to take a bite, an angel voice in your head whispers, "Do you know how much sugar that piece of cake has?" 😈 and the mood is suddenly off!

👉 Do you know how much sugar you consume per day?

This is hard to track, isn't it? because all carbohydrates we eat finally become Sugar! The sugar we are about talking here is glucose, fructose, and galactose, not the one we just put into tea. So, when we think about our favorite foods like rice, noodle, pasta, macaroni, burger, submarine.. you name it, they all contain sugar. Even our go to drinks like tea, coffee, and fruit juices.. still the same! Basically we can't escape from sugar. In our modern society, sugar is everywhere!

However, to limit my sugar intake I totally avoid my morning tea and also my morning meal. Yes, you read that right, empty stomach till noon. Over these recent few years I have adopted the approach of consuming as little sugar as possible and now took a further step in the process. Why do I do this? Well, you're about to find out!

👉 Do you have a family member who has problems with diabetes?

Unfortunately, my grandpa lost his life due to diabetes, and currently one of my aunts lives with it. That's just two in my bloodline and guess what I got it genetically. What an inheritance to have!

👉 Have you had a problem with sugar?

Now you know why I'm spending my whole morning without food or drinks. It is simply to control my insulin boost. I was diagnosed with a type 2 diabetes five years ago, and since then, managing my blood sugar levels has been a continual struggle. No matter how hard I try and how many treatments I do, it seems like my efforts always never enough.

^{The first time I got to know that I've type 2 diabetes. My result was 179.1}

Being 16 hours hungry and allowing just 08 hours window to eat is my new experiment. For those who haven't heard of it can do more research on intermittent fasting. I have been doing that for the last 02 months hoping that it would help me regulate my sugar levels. The journey has been challenging, but I must tell you that I have also witnessed some positive changes. While it's not a magic cure, intermittent fasting has provided some relief in managing my diabetes to some extend.

^{My medicines. Today morning my reading was 118}

👉 What do you think about sugar as the worst enemy?

There's no doubt, sugar is like the worst enemy EVER for people like me who have diabetes 😥 It will change how we live our lives in general for ever. It's not just about satisfying our sweet tooth, the choices we make about what we eat can seriously mess with our health. Diabetes demands us to be super careful about our diet, exercise & even sleep routine.

Living with diabetes means I gotta keep a constant watch on what goes into my mouth. Sugary foods and drinks are a no go or at least in small amounts only. And it's not just the obvious sugary stuff I have to worry about even innocent-looking food like water melon has hidden sugars lurking inside. Within this five year, I've become a pro at reading labels and understanding what's in the things I eat and drink.

It's like I have to be disciplined and consistent 24/7, Because any fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to some long term serious health problems such as kidney damage. It's a lot to handle, but have to stay strong and take charge of my life.

So as a conclusion, all I want to say is always monitor your blood sugar levels constantly (at least every 06 months) and consult with a healthcare professional to ensure you make the best dietary choices for your individual health needs. Also it is important to exercise regularly and have a good 07 hour sleep to balance your hormones'. With correct steps most of you can lead happier, healthier lives.

Thank you for this interesting contest Healthy Steem. Looking forward to taking on the third week challenge. I would like to invite @sailawana, @ruthjoe & @vickyson to participate in this contest.

Thank you.

Peace to all 🙏

^{All the images have been developed by Midjourney / Dall E and photoshoped by me. Proper sourcing has been ensured for any other pictures used in the content.}