#008: My Final Red Flag

This was my final red flag. It was late 2022, and my dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The COVID-era raised all kinds of red flags in my life. There’s nothing like quarantine to reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly of oneself.

But I wasn’t committing to major health changes. I was comfortable self-medicating with food and sweets. It was my go-to evening escape after our girls were asleep.

But my dad’s diagnosis was a foreshadowing. I see so much of my father in me: personality, tendencies, humor, triggers, virtues, faults. I knew I had the same fate if I kept my life on autopilot.

This was the fork in my road. Could I forge a path never before taken by an Arellano?

My answer is YES. It’s now or never. I choose the path to life, and life extended.

Picking a doctor took four months. Making an appointment took one month. And finally, six weeks ago, I had my physical exam.

Look at me. Adulting.

I expected the worse from the visit, considering my minimal exercise, late-night sweets, and ultra-processed food.

The conversation with the doctor went without a hitch. I was outwardly healthy. But I knew the blood test would reveal the truth.

Blood lab results came back a week later.

Yep, just as I thought: I have prediabetes, AKA Diabetes Highway.

Prediabetes is the condition where blood sugar levels are too high, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

According to the CDC, “Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.” As a prediabetic you are on your way to type 2 diabetes with increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Fortunately, prediabetes is reversible with certain lifestyle changes, but…

I had to ask: What kind of life do I want, really?

If we’re honest with ourselves, we all know exactly what we’re doing. At the very least, we play the fool, looking the other way as we reach for the Krispy Kreme.

To my girls, I'd become that "maybe later" dad. Fatigue, back pain, and availability were my usual excuses. And I hit my ignorance limit.

Was I going to miss out on my little girls' lives because I rather indulge in instant gratification?

Small choices don't affect our lives until they affect our lives entirely. This was my rude awakening: the snowball of small choices was consuming everything.

How long will my daughters get a “maybe later” from me before they stop asking to play?

It was time to chip away at my poor health snowball. This is what I did:

• Increased lean protein and vegetables - eliminated sweets, breads and starches (Here’s my post on meal planning for parents)

• Meals at 12pm and 6pm - eliminated late-night treats & fast food

• Weigh-in every day

• Exercise 20 min every morning

I’m eight weeks in and I feel the difference in my body. I’ve lost 15 lbs. and my wife can’t stop checking me out. But the best outcome to date happened last week.

As we were preparing to leave for Disneyland, our oldest announced she wanted to see the fireworks show.

This is a huge deal. Since birth, she’s been sensitive to loud sudden noises. And now out of the blue, our 6-year-old wants to see fireworks. We just went with it.

And she did not waver. Evening time came, we gave her ear plugs, and I lifted her onto my shoulders. I wanted her to have the best possible view of her first fireworks show ever.

I was proud of this brave little girl. And I was grateful to have been physically ready for this moment.

There’s no way my body could have done this five weeks ago. She sat on my shoulders the entire show.

No back pain. No cramping. No shortness of breath.

Only wonder in her eyes.

My health journey is personal, but I experienced its outward impact in front of the Disneyland castle that night.

Newton used this metaphor in reference to scientific progress, but I take it as a parenting principle. With every victory and good habit, I stand a little taller. The shoulders she's standing on get a little higher. My daily choices determine how far she can see. I'd give anything for her to see the limitless possibilities for her life, so I'm giving it now.

My hope is you don't need a diagnosis to give you the push you need. And if you're already there, this is me, giving you a push of encouragement.

If you're at a fork in your road, don’t let it overwhelm you. Life-change doesn’t happen in one fell swoop. It happens over time with one step at a time. Every choice is a vote for who you know you can be.

Whatever they are, each choice compounds. Will they prepare you for the joys your future holds, or will they keep you from the fullness of life?

The choice is yours.

As for me, I’ll follow up with my doctor in four months. Hopefully, I’ll have a positive update so I can stuff my face with Wingstop and Chocolate Chip cookies every night again. Jk.

As always, you can always comment to share your thoughts, insights, or feedback! Greatly appreciate it :)

Have an amazing rest of your week!

-Omar