Dr. R. Asha Rajani,65, a retired professor at Madras Veterinary College has fought diabetes together with breast cancer and hypothyroidism. She talks about how she finally learnt to manage diabetes with running, exercise, diet and lifestyle changes.
Please tell us a bit about your condition - when were you diagnosed, the early symptoms?
I was diagnosed with Diabetes at 36 years of age. My mother had passed away due to a diabetic foot, and both my grandparents from my mom’s side were diabetic. I was over weight by 10kgs, which wasn’t much. I, however, refused to accept being a diabetic until such time when I went into a severe hypoglycemia incident. I then went for a full check up and my medications were altered and I was doing good for some time. But due to work tension and a serious lack of exercise, my diabetes slowly moved on to uncontrolled levels and it worsened when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to start on insulin. Initially it was 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening, and later I had to increase the dose to 30 units and 20 units.
Tell us about one of your hypoglycemia incidents
The first one happened when I had gone for training at Haryana University. My colleagues and I had gone to get something, and I was not feeling ok. I did not understand it was a Hypo bout. I started perspiring and I felt everything receding from me, also my anal sphincter muscle started relaxing and I thought I will literally pass faeces in my pants. The doctor next to me knew something was wrong and he started calling my name. He luckily had the presence of mind and he quickly got two chocolates and pushed them into my mouth. Within a few seconds I was back to normal. But this was a pretty shocking experience for me.
Please describe your experience of managing diabetes. What were the medicines you were prescribed and did they have side effects or complications?
I have been on the same medication throughout, and have had no complications till now. I was on Glymipride and Glyciphage. It was fine throughout, but I had to keep increasing my dose as the days went by. When I had breast cancer, I was put on insulin
How did the diabetes diagnosis affect your lifestyle, work life, personal choices. Did you make some changes to your lifestyle because of your condition? How has this changed your life perspectives and ambitions..
I was a go getter, nothing could stop me, every time someone said, ‘This is not a woman’s work” I used to love to prove them wrong. I worked with race horses, stud bulls etc. Later, I was observing that I was pretty tired most of the time and I slowly moved on to jobs that were less stressful. But as time went on,even that was a bit too much. I used to love travelling and going out etc. But slowly I preferred to just stay put, lost all inclination to move as I was always tired.
You also had a thyroid issue. When was that diagnosed? Did that complicate things and make diabetes management more difficult?
This happened when I was 33. I was moon faced and had put on weight. I had very low thyroid levels and was immediately placed on high levels of 200 Thyroxin. I took this very lightly, never considered it as a disease until I was diagnosed with diabetes. The combination of diabetes and hypothyroidism together proved a bit too much. With hypothyroidism, I had low blood pressure and constantly felt like sleeping. But I used to assume that I was hypoglycaemic and pull up my sugar levels!!! Which was already high. There was a lot of confusion and stress because of these .
The one problem that I faced with Hypothyroidism was my low BP 60/90 or 70/100, When it goes below this, the symptoms were like Hypoglycaemia. I used to immediately pop a chocolate and still feel very drowsy. I understood that I can’t keep doing this so we got a BP checking instrument and also one to check my sugar levels. This was fine when I was at home and at college too. But while travelling it was a problem. I knew that it was more dangerous to go Hypo, so I used to carry a chocolate with me. Later, in the evenings I used to have some biscuits and tea, which helped.
My life changed, I became very lethargic and lost all interest in life and living.
You were also diagnosed and treated for breast cancer? Did the cancer treatment impact your management of diabetes?
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.Yes it did affect my diabetes management. My diabetes was uncontrollable. It was then that I was put on insulin.
You said that your work life did not give you time to organize your life for diabetes management. Can you elaborate?
I had to be in college by 8 a.m, and I since live about 16km away from my college, I had to leave much early to be in class on time. I used to return home only by about 7.30 p.m. I therefore had little time for anything else as my profession and household chores took up all my time.
Tell us how you started running.
I was interested in running, although I had no idea about marathon running. My very good family friends were into it and kept calling me to join but I did not join them stating that I had no time for it. After retirement, I got worried about my diabetes and decided that I need to do some activity to keep it under control. By then my son had grown up and had started a job, and my husband had retired, so it worked out well for me! But, then, I had a small accident, a motorbike hit me and I had a cast on my left hand. I had to wait again to start running and finally started running when I was 61 years old.
I also started strength training by going to the Gym, although now I’m not allowed in the gym due to Covid., I had to strengthen my core and legs with strength training. I also started on weights, and other exercises.
Watch Asha talk about running in the video below
Did you consciously make lifestyle changes to address diabetes or was it just by chance? What were the changes you made?
I did try some lifestyle changes. I walked about 1km , then later joined the gym for about 6 months. It helped, and on and off I used to run about 1 or 2 kms.
My running has helped me to get out of insulin dependency, no more poking. Also my dosage with regards to my diabetic tablets and hypothyroid tablets have reduced. I was on 2 mg of Glymipride but now I’m on just one in the morning and one in the evening with 250mg of Glyciphage. My dose for Thyroxin was brought down to 88 from 200.
How does your diet change and lifestyle change impact your social engagements?
I was not a person who craved sweets, but after I was diagnosed with diabetes I started craving for sweets and ice creams etc. Every time my husband would be by my side preventing me from reaching out to sweets. But at college I was away from him and we have lots and lots of these meetings etc. I never did bother about my diabetes. I used to at least have half a sweet. Insulin, made a big change in my life, I hated poking myself, sometimes while travelling, at any social event etc. It was embarassing to do this in front of others.
After running I had to go in for more proteins. I had lost much of my fat and could now take some fatty stuff like cheese, butter etc. Otherwise there wasn’t a major shift in my diet.
Have you learnt anything in managing in your condition that you wish you knew before?
I knew what I had to do but I turned a Nelsons eye to it. I wish I hadn’t. I’m happy that at least at 61 I learnt to be active and brought my diabetes under control by exercising.
Looking back – do you think you could have found a way of making the lifestyle changes earlier? What is your advice to people in your situation
I have learnt the following:
- Never let go of yourself
- Never say I cannot
- Your life matters
- One hour of exercising is just 4% of your time out of the 24 hours you have in a day.
- My advice: Working married women take time out for yourselves to ensure your good health.
Complete the sentence
My motto in life : Keep going
I was inspired by : The story “Woman of Substance”
The most annoying moment : When I have to depend on someone
The best thing someone said : I inspire them
I love : To run
I hate : Sarcasm
I fear : Rats
My biggest support : My God
The best gift I got : A Positive Spirit
