i Run Diabetes (iRD) is a site focused on helping everyday people like you and me think differently about managing our health. Through my own experience with managing type 2 diabetes, I’ve learned that making and sustaining small, healthy lifestyle changes is achievable, even for ordinary people. It’s not as hard or as complicated as we, or the experts make it. A series of small changes will produce significant results in our overall health and well being.

It’s not that we don’t want our health to be a top priority in our lives, it’s the reality of a moist, double-patty burger dripping with melted cheese and extra mayonnaise being more appealing than a kale salad, or a 12-mile run. Those are the choices that we make as adults.

There are no shortcuts to health and wellness, but there are smart and sustainable lifestyle changes that can be made by anyone. We don’t have to strive for a perfection to get the results that we want and need, we only need to make continuous progress in our personal health journeys.

My Diabetic Running Story

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2011. It should not have been a shock. I was overweight, overworked, under constant stress, and my bio metric indicators had been screaming you’re gonna get diabetes for several years. Despite being told I was pre-diabetic a few years earlier, my diagnosis hit me like a speeding freight train and was the wake-up call I needed to take control of my health, and my life.

One of the first things I did to commit to a more active lifestyle was sign up for a half marathon, and tell everyone I knew about the commitment. I couldn’t run half a mile at the time. I spent 9 months training, and completed the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January 2012 (still my personal record). Running became a habit, and the habit stuck to me like a sweat-soaked, moisture-wicking tee shirt.

I am not one of those runners who throws temper tantrums over my race times – I’m usually happy just to finish a race without injury. I do not post pictures of myself in spandex shorts on Instagram, and I don’t publish weekly miles because I could never take the pressure that comes from that kind of public accountability. I just run, and occasionally complain about it to anyone who will listen.

Why I Write iRD

I’ve had several starts at writing iRD, and nearly gave up on many occasions. Today I post on this site because I love to write, and I want to share my thoughts and stories with you with the hope that you may pick up a nugget of truth to help you in your health journey. In addition to sharing information that I hope is helpful, I freely distribute sarcasm and share my love for writing satire. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please share them in the comments sections. You can also contact me directly at irundiabetes@gmail.com.