“I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes (Type1 Diabetes) in 1990 two weeks before I turned 23. I believe I developed diabetes sometime in late 1989, after my marriage, because that’s when I started to show symptoms.
I first had my blood glucose levels tested at a local health care center. I went to the doctor the following week, where they confirmed the diagnosis and gave me my first glucometer and medication. I was devastated. I was in a terrible state of mind, and had lost all my confidence in life.
Diabetes runs in my maternal family, so this was not unexpected. However, I still had to learn to live a better lifestyle before starting a family. That’s when I started practicing yoga along with my husband. We both took training in Sidda Samadi Yoga center and I had even attained BST level training in Yoga.
In 1991, when I was 4 weeks pregnant with my first child, I met with our family’s doctor and began following a strict diabetes-friendly diet. I even kept a diet journal. I mainly ate sprouts, green leafy vegetables and dry fruits. As I learned more about diabetes, I realised I could still live a long and happy life, just like anyone else, by following healthy lifestyle practices. I was even put on multiple insulin injections. The next seven months were tough. But in the end, my hard work paid off, as I gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby.
Lately, I have also discovered that yoga and meditation have a great impact on controlling my blood glucose and stress levels. I was lucky to be surrounded by my husband, who was always supportive and encouraging of my new yoga-centric lifestyle.
Today, I teach yoga and meditation to people of all age groups in our locality, and I’m so happy that I can pass on these life-enriching experiences to other people.
I am still dependent on insulin injections every day but yoga, meditation and a simple vegetarian diet have been my mainstay for many years. Practicing yoga has certainly moulded me as a better person and I am in the best shape of my life, even at the age of 52!”
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