Biffster’s WeightJournal.com

There is a new, alarming (to me) study that suggests a link between Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea:

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention has warned that recent research demonstrates that type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are closely related…

The study is quick to point out that this is very preliminary, and requires a lot more testing and study. Of course, they easy link between the two is obesity: People who are over weight are prone to OSA, and those who eat enough sugar-rich foods to become over weight are on the track towards type 2 diabetes. I am assuming this study takes this into fact, but it is always dangerous to make assumptions.

The study also makes screening suggestions:

While people with OSA should be routinely screened for metabolic disease and type 2 diabetes as screening tests are inexpensive and easy to conduct, people with diabetes should be screened for OSA particularly when they present classical symptoms such as witnessed apneas, heavy snoring or daytime sleepiness and poor workplace performance.

I think that this is very responsible. And is directed right at medical insurance companies. Insurance companies are normally fast to pay for diabetes screening/treatment. But OSA is another matter. Sleep studies are expensive, as are CPAP machines and supplies. This study says up front that the insurance companies really should pay for these to avoid further complications. I think that is a very responsible tack to take.

As for me, I’m in trouble. I most definitely have OSA, and it went untreated for a long time. I am also pre-diabetic. The combination of the two could lead to big health problems in my future.

I know, everyone is getting tired of my constant paranoid posts about heart disease. I am still terrified of heart disease, and am very worried about the health of my ticker. So any kind of news about heart health gets my interest (I even have a news alert set up on Yahoo about this topic). Last week, there was the story about how great the Mediterranean Diet is for a person’s health. This week, it is green tea:

Now, I don’t know why this surprises me as much as it does. After all, sleep apnea leads to a whole lot of medical issues. Heart problems, lung problems, high blood pressure…. sleep apnea is Bad Stuff. But I am totally and completely freaked out to find out that sleep apnea can lead to brain damage:

‘The findings make it all the more imperative that OSA be treated as soon as possible to prevent further injury,’ said Harper. ‘The long-term effects of OSA are terribly damaging to memory and thinking processes. Moreover, control of blood pressure is heavily impacted by the breathing condition, and if multiple areas, each connected with one another, are affected, regulation of blood pressure will be all the more difficult if OSA continues.’ (via Medical News Today)

All I can say is: HOLY CRAP!!!

Current weight: 288.5
Difference from last entry: -2
Difference from 2008 starting weight (290.5): -2

Well, that is certainly better. And what is even better than that is the fact that I knew this was going to be a good weigh-in. I worked extremely hard this past week to lose weight. I stayed within my daily food range most days, and I stayed well within my weekly range, too. I made sure I got at least 30 minutes exercise 5 days that week. I basically did everything perfectly. And it showed in my weight loss.

I have been making some changes to the foods I eat to try and orient myself with the Mediterranean diet. I’ve changed my breakfast to two slices of light, whole-grain bread (1 pt. for two slices) with cheese (2-3pts) melted on top. When I have time, I’ll put a couple of tomato slices on top of that. I have a lot of fruit throughout the day. I make a big salad to go with my lunch. I have a snack of whole-grain cereal and yogurt. It is hard doing some of the needed changes for the Mediterranean Diet – reducing the amount of poultry I eat is actually much harder than I imagined. I have migrated towards chicken and turkey for most dinners and a lot of lunches. It’s hard getting off of that!

On the other hand, some of the changes are pretty easy. Like I said above, the breakfast change was easy. As is adding in more hummus and other protein-rich veggies. For the most part, I love to eat most of the foods on the Mediterranean diet. As soon as I figure out how to get myself to reduce my poultry intake to two meals or so a week, add in fish for that same period, and then come up with other foods on the other days, I should be fine.

My main problem right now is the heat. It is going to make it hard for me to get in my daily walk. My big ol’ body isn’t so good with heat. I overheat with exercise; add in 95+ degree weather, and I’m in trouble. I am toying with the idea of taking an alternate train into work in the morning, then walking from that train station to the office. That’s about 25 minutes or so. I’ll still have to find a way to make up the other 25 minutes of exercise, though.

Anyway, all in all, this was a Very Good Week.

“The key that unlocks energy is desire. It’s also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited.” — Earl Nightingale

Current weight: 290.5
Weigh-in for June 11: 291.5
Weigh-in for June 18: 291.5
Weigh-in for June 25: 290.5
Difference from 2008 starting weight (290.5): +/- 0

So here I sit again, at the same weight I started the year at. All told, I have to say that I am happy with that. Considering all of the stress that I’ve been through in the spring, along with the addition of our daughter at the start of the year, I have had my share of times when I could’ve either given up completely, or went into a massive tailspin. Instead, I have ended up where I started the year. That’s not a bad thing. Especially now that I have a lot of motivation back.

I am definitely not saying I am back to being able to follow the Weight Watchers program without thinking about it. I still have to struggle against myself, and my urge to over-eat, especially sweets and other bad things. It’s a battle I fight every day. But it is also a battle that I am starting to win on most days.

I have made one change here: I now weigh in here the same day that I weigh in at weight watchers. That just seems easiest.