I find myself musing about many things as I sit at my sister’s computer, in the wee hours of a sweltering not-even-Summer-yet morning, in Arizona! In climes like this, my Pacific Northwest body is screaming, and my resolve is easily undermined by being enervated by the heat. I wonder how many other people’s diabetes diet plan hopes and actions are similarly assaulted by what seem to be the overwhelming challenges of daily living.
I used to take the heat well when I lived in California daily for 20 years or so in the San Francisco Bay Area, but that was nearly 30 years ago. Except for a few weeks here or there, I haven’t been challenged as I have since arriving in the desert 4 days ago. Except when the air-conditioning is on, I get nothing done. No wonder there’s a tradition of siestas! It’s all your body wants to do.
So, I’m relearning another valuable lesson of working with one’s body and respecting it … as well as prioritizing money. Paying for air-conditioning just reached the top of the list. My Mum and I will use the A/C and just make sure my sister isn’t left with the extra fees, or we’ll get nothing out of this visit, and I am sure it’s not good for my Mum’s meds or for my vitamins, diabetes supplements etc., either.
The kitchen easily becomes the hottest room in the house. Along with the heat comes the realization that we have to keep up our water intake a great deal more and that salads are going to have to be the basis of all our meals. I want to keep them as low glycemic foods as possible, and as alkaline as possible.
Maybe some good will come from natural sweating to release toxins, too. We’ll see.
At the end of the week, we all tried out my sister’s pool for the first time, and I am off to Target to get some kick-boards in the hope that, in the pool, I can get an exercise program started. I certainly won’t be walking outside along these historic streets, as it is cool only too early in the morning for me to feel comfortable being outside alone. But my sister will be out for a walk too fast for me, as she exercises the dog. So, again, I have to find a way to accomodate.
I hope that you will find some valuable lessons here for your own travel plans and summer plans. Soaring gasoline prices may keep you closer to home and / or visiting relatives in different regions than your own, as I am, instead of seeing more famous destinations. Planning for changes, even before you leave home will help insure your success.
Successful diabetes management requires as consistent a schedule as possible. That was a lot easier in my Southern California sister’s balmy environment than here, but we’ll see how I manage the challenges here in the next weeks.
I do want to enjoy my time in the desert and appreciate its unique beauty, but right now, respecting my body’s needs come first, before letting myself get over-stressed by this demanding weather. I will acclimatize first. Later today, it is supposed to be 10 degrees cooler, and we will try to go to some air-conditioned stores while we can, to get necessities for ourselves and for the unpacking job I am here to help my sister with at her new home. We will keep up our water consumption every place we can along the way. At least the water tastes reasonable, which I had not expected.
So, we’ll see how I am doing next week. I hope I will feel that I am making progress, but until I get a personal tower fan, set about 3 feet from my bed, I think it will be too easy to be awake in the middle of the night, which comes as too little dark-time, as it is. I find myself waking at first light, and that can be as early as 4:30 AM or so! It’s a whole new regimen here, for sure. I think it will be easier if I go with the flow rather than buck it.
Any suggestions will be appreciated. Until next week, take care.
Best to all — Em
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