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How I Panicked, Googled, and Slowly Got My Blood Sugar (and Life) Together

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It started with one of those regular checkups where you’re just hoping your doctor says something like, “You’re doing great, just keep it up!” Instead, she looked at my bloodwork, raised her eyebrows, and said,

“You’re pre-diabetic.”

I blinked. “Wait, what? But I eat salads.”

She gently explained that my fasting blood sugar and A1C were creeping up, and while I wasn’t diabetic yet, I was definitely walking toward it — maybe speed-walking, if I’m being honest. That moment hit hard. My mind jumped to every sugary iced coffee, every late-night cookie binge, and those “I’ll go to the gym tomorrow” moments.

But instead of spiraling (okay, after spiraling), I decided to do something about it. Here’s how I got my sugar under control — without turning into a rabbit on a lettuce-only diet. And yes, Amazon was my best friend through this whole saga.

Step 1: Know Thy Glucose

First things first, I needed to see what was happening with my blood sugar in real-time. I bought this Free Style glucose monitor and started checking my fasting glucose in the morning and post-meal numbers.

Not gonna lie, pricking your finger every day is not exactly fun, but seeing the numbers gave me power. Like, that oat milk latte I thought was “healthy”? Yeah, it spiked me into orbit. That boring-looking egg scramble? Smooth as a jazz playlist.

It was honestly like putting subtitles on my body — suddenly I understood what foods were helping me and which ones were quietly betraying me.

Step 2: Spike-Proof the Plate (Without Going Sad)

One of the best pieces of advice I got was this: eat your veggies first. Apparently, fiber helps slow the sugar rush from carbs. So I started doing a little food foreplay: I’d eat a few bites of salad or sautéed veggies before the main course.

To make life easier, I bought this mini veggie chopper (because let’s be real, no one’s got time to chop onions after work) and started batch-cooking veggies like it was my new religion.

I also upgraded my carbs — swapped white rice for cauliflower rice (don’t knock it till you try it), and replaced pasta nights with chickpea pasta that didn’t spike me like the real deal.

And get this: I didn’t even have to give up sweets completely. I found these low-carb peanut butter cups that don’t mess with my blood sugar and still taste like a hug in chocolate form.

Step 3: Walk It Off (Literally)

Another thing that shocked me? Just walking after meals helped lower my glucose. Like I didn’t have to run or do burpees — just a 10-15 minute stroll around the block.

I got this cheap little step tracker that clips onto my waistband because I’m a grandma who still loves a physical gadget more than an app. It kept me honest.

And here’s a trick: I made it fun by listening to spicy podcasts, pretending I was the main character in a crime drama as I strutted through my neighborhood. Honestly, it helped me process the day too — like a mini therapy session with movement.

Step 4: Sweeten Smart

I didn’t want to live a sad, flavorless life — I just wanted to be smart about sugar. So I swapped my brown sugar habit for monk fruit sweetener and honestly? I couldn’t tell the difference. Even in coffee, it still gave me that little “mmm” moment without the glucose rollercoaster.

And for baking (because giving up banana bread felt like a crime), I found almond flour and started making lower-carb versions of my favorite comfort foods. They’re not exactly grandma’s banana bread, but they’re close enough to keep me happy and healthy.

Step 5: Chill Out (Stress = Sugar, Who Knew?)

Turns out, stress can spike your blood sugar too. I had no idea until I saw it happen live on my monitor. Like, after a stressful meeting with my boss, I hadn’t even eaten — but my glucose jumped.

So I added some calming rituals. I started diffusing lavender essential oil before bed, doing short guided meditations on my phone, and taking magnesium glycinate at night to chill me out and help me sleep deeper.

I used to think stress management was just fluff — now I treat it like medicine.

Step 6: Keep Snacks (Smart Ones) on Deck

Pre-diabetes doesn’t mean never snacking. It means snacking smarter. I started carrying these roasted almonds in my bag and keeping protein bars in my desk drawer for emergencies.

They keep me full, balanced, and most importantly — out of the vending machine at 3PM.

Final Thoughts: From Panic to Power

Look, when I first heard “pre-diabetic,” it felt like a diagnosis. Now? I treat it like a warning light — something to guide me, not scare me. I didn’t have to become a keto bro or give up all joy. I just had to pay attention, make a few swaps, and be kind to myself through the process.

Honestly, I feel better now than I did before this whole wake-up call.

And if you’re reading this, wondering if it’s too late or too hard to start making changes — let me tell you, it’s not. It’s one Amazon order, one veggie-first dinner, one post-meal walk at a time.

You’ve got this. And if no one’s told you that today? Well — I just did 🙂

Affiliate Love Note:

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, I might make a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It helps me keep writing these little life logs — thank you for the support! 💛