My name is Robert Jørgensen, I am 71 years old and retired from Post Nord. I live in Copenhagen. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2009.
Over the years, I have been on and off medication and still manage to control the disease through diet, exercise, and occasionally taking Metformin. I have participated in various research trials related to diabetes, gaining insight into how researchers work, which I find extremely interesting. I have also studied diabetes through academic articles, research reports, and other sources of information.
There are still many misconceptions and views about diabetes, such as it being our fault and that we can simply eat healthy and exercise it away. One of my methods for dealing with the more stress-related aspects of diabetes is to be very physically active and set myself challenges and goals to strive for, such as:
Exercise:
I have always been active, but while I was in the workforce, time (and energy) often ran short, especially in the winter. Since retiring, I have had enough time for exercise, and it has actually meant that I exercise almost every day. I alternate between cycling, running, and strength training, with one day a week dedicated to lighter activity or rest, where I simply cycle or take a leisurely walk in the nature reserve near where I live, Amager Fælled. This usually amounts to 12-15 hours of exercise per week.
From my working life, I have always been accustomed to setting goals and managing results, which has influenced my way of living even now. I always set goals for my sporting activities, such as a target for deadlifts, number of kilometers run, and number of kilometers cycled. When I reach a goal, I set a new and higher one. I also always set goals for my HbA1c (long-term blood sugar), which the doctor measures during check-ups.
This July, I set myself the goal of cycling 1,000 kilometers in total, which is approximately 33 kilometers per day on average. I have focused on cycling this month due to the time commitment, and have had to reduce my running and strength training. As of writing, I have passed the 800-kilometer mark, including a new personal record of 110 kilometers in one ride, so I am nearing my goal.
Other Challenges
At times, I challenge myself with things other than exercise. In January, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which is perhaps the toughest challenge I have ever given myself. A month before the trip, I suffered an overuse injury in my right heel, a heel spur, which set back my hiking training, but I persevered. I made it to the top and safely descended for the awaiting safari trip on the Serengeti plains. It was an absolutely amazing trip in Tanzania.
That was a bit about me and my way of managing the diabetes condition. Of course, I have many other activities, such as diet, but more on that in a later post.
I hope that together we can create a good and lively blog with posts, debates, and good discussions.
Comments