After bringing a plethora of diabetes horror stories over the last few months, I'm pleased to report that after seeing my diabetes Dr yesterday, I have some sensational news.
My HBA1C - a 3 month average blood sugar reading - was 6.9%, my best reading in 5 years. In layman's terms, an HBA1C, or Glycosylated Hemoglobin is a simple way of reading average blood glucose levels over 3 months. It is the best way of evaluating the risk for glycemic damage to tissues (eg. nerves and small blood vessels in the eyes and kidneys) and thus, risk of complications of diabetes. A non-diabetic's HBA1C is ideally between 4 and 5.6%, and diabetics aim for readings under 7%.
So after months of roller-coastering between levels over 20, to plumetting so low I've passed out in alley-ways, this result goes to show that when everything around you looks miserable, you can still find good things if you look hard enough.
Friday 29 August 2014
Tuesday 26 August 2014
126-Angela and Barnaby: the proposal story
When I was 15, I walked along Gap beach at South West Rocks and when I hit the north end, I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery at the bottom of the cliff face, I decided THAT would be the spot I would propose to my wife when the time came, and on Sunday morning, the time came.
The plan was so intensive I needed some wing men, so my mum and dad came down to the beach and pretended to go fishing - their presence and minute by minute movements were listed in my excel spreadsheet. The plan was that I would take Angela for a walk to the south end while my wing men planted a note that read "turn around, Angela" in the cliff at the north end, so when we walked back, I'd lead Ange to the note, and while she was reading it with her back to me, I'd drop down on one knee and open the ring box that had my Grandmother's engagement ring inside, before asking for Angela's hand.
The plan looked to be at risk the day before when torrential rain made the long, steep, rugged dirt road that leads to Gap beach almost impassable, but we stuck to the plan and Sunday morning opened with birds singing and the sun shining, so we jumped in the car with our wingmen, and went to "the Gap."
Things went perfectly when we hit the beach: the scene was set so all their was to do was to ask the question. Angela and I walked towards the cliff at the north end, had a quick chat to Mum and Dad, then I lead Ange towards the note. When I found the note poking out of a rock, I said to Angela "what's that thing, go and have a look," to which she replied "It's just a piece of rubbish." I convinced her to go and have a look, and as she was picking it up, I took out the ring box I'd been hiding in my beach towel and dropped down to one knee and took a deep breath. After she read the note, she turned around with tears in her eyes, and I said to her "Angela Guirguis, will you marry me?"
The answer was yes, the day was perfect, then later that afternoon we had a slow dance to John Denver's "For you." Ange and I were really happy and in love before the weekend, but that's all gone up a level now that we are going to get married.
Now our sights turn to planning a wedding!
The plan was so intensive I needed some wing men, so my mum and dad came down to the beach and pretended to go fishing - their presence and minute by minute movements were listed in my excel spreadsheet. The plan was that I would take Angela for a walk to the south end while my wing men planted a note that read "turn around, Angela" in the cliff at the north end, so when we walked back, I'd lead Ange to the note, and while she was reading it with her back to me, I'd drop down on one knee and open the ring box that had my Grandmother's engagement ring inside, before asking for Angela's hand.
The plan looked to be at risk the day before when torrential rain made the long, steep, rugged dirt road that leads to Gap beach almost impassable, but we stuck to the plan and Sunday morning opened with birds singing and the sun shining, so we jumped in the car with our wingmen, and went to "the Gap."
Things went perfectly when we hit the beach: the scene was set so all their was to do was to ask the question. Angela and I walked towards the cliff at the north end, had a quick chat to Mum and Dad, then I lead Ange towards the note. When I found the note poking out of a rock, I said to Angela "what's that thing, go and have a look," to which she replied "It's just a piece of rubbish." I convinced her to go and have a look, and as she was picking it up, I took out the ring box I'd been hiding in my beach towel and dropped down to one knee and took a deep breath. After she read the note, she turned around with tears in her eyes, and I said to her "Angela Guirguis, will you marry me?"
The answer was yes, the day was perfect, then later that afternoon we had a slow dance to John Denver's "For you." Ange and I were really happy and in love before the weekend, but that's all gone up a level now that we are going to get married.
Now our sights turn to planning a wedding!
Monday 11 August 2014
125-Barnaby Howarth motivational speaking on the map
With a booking for 250 guests at a dinner in March next year, my motivational speaking has gone from a nice, "good on you" story that people liked hearing ABOUT, to a fully-fledged, professional presentation that is giving audiences valuable insights into living a happy life that should be booked.
When I speak to a Murray Business Network dinner next year, I will be telling the audience that I am not a business expert, a leadership coach or an SEO guru, I'm an expert in getting bashed and having a stroke, so I'm not professing to change business dynamics to ensure a company exceeds their KPIs, I just want to reach individual employees and try and make them feel good about the life they're living - I want to encourage people to be proud of living a decent, honest life.
When I was launching my speaking career I did presentations in a kitchen for my family, and apparently I looked like a caged lion while I was practicing my "stage work" in front of friends - then when I started doing public presentations, I spoke to the Coolamon Football Club (who went on to win the premiership) at the invitation of a former teammate, Marian College (a school in Sydney's north west), about 10 of the Hornsby under 18s soccer team members (who are coming into the finals), and the Sydney AFL rep teams (who went on to beat Canberra for the first time). From there I've gone onto to do speeches for the GWS Giants (who haven't won a game since!), Toshiba, Chubb Insurance and I'll be hosting a diabetes fundraiser for Sydney University next week.
When I started speaking, I was just a young diabetic bloke who'd played AFL for the Swans then had a stroke, but now I'm all of those things plus an author, a film maker, I've climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and I'm a member of the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame. I've gone from being a salesman with a stack of ideas, but nothing to market, to someone with a product to sell that is impacting people's lives.
If you are after a proven keynote speaker at your next event, OR
If you think your boss/team leader or CEO could use a speaker to make their staff feel good about working for your company, OR
you know somebody who is a business owner, teacher. sporting coach or is part of a community group, please send them this blog, or direct them to my:
Website: www.barnabyhowarth.com.au
YouTube: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=barnaby+howarth
Email: barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au
To feel good about being an everyday mother, father, employee and tax payer, email barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au.
"Rain falls on the just and the unjust alike,
but there comes a time when you just have to get over it and go and
play in the puddles"
When I speak to a Murray Business Network dinner next year, I will be telling the audience that I am not a business expert, a leadership coach or an SEO guru, I'm an expert in getting bashed and having a stroke, so I'm not professing to change business dynamics to ensure a company exceeds their KPIs, I just want to reach individual employees and try and make them feel good about the life they're living - I want to encourage people to be proud of living a decent, honest life.
When I was launching my speaking career I did presentations in a kitchen for my family, and apparently I looked like a caged lion while I was practicing my "stage work" in front of friends - then when I started doing public presentations, I spoke to the Coolamon Football Club (who went on to win the premiership) at the invitation of a former teammate, Marian College (a school in Sydney's north west), about 10 of the Hornsby under 18s soccer team members (who are coming into the finals), and the Sydney AFL rep teams (who went on to beat Canberra for the first time). From there I've gone onto to do speeches for the GWS Giants (who haven't won a game since!), Toshiba, Chubb Insurance and I'll be hosting a diabetes fundraiser for Sydney University next week.
When I started speaking, I was just a young diabetic bloke who'd played AFL for the Swans then had a stroke, but now I'm all of those things plus an author, a film maker, I've climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and I'm a member of the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame. I've gone from being a salesman with a stack of ideas, but nothing to market, to someone with a product to sell that is impacting people's lives.
If you are after a proven keynote speaker at your next event, OR
If you think your boss/team leader or CEO could use a speaker to make their staff feel good about working for your company, OR
you know somebody who is a business owner, teacher. sporting coach or is part of a community group, please send them this blog, or direct them to my:
Website: www.barnabyhowarth.com.au
YouTube: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=barnaby+howarth
Email: barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au
To feel good about being an everyday mother, father, employee and tax payer, email barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au.
"Rain falls on the just and the unjust alike,
but there comes a time when you just have to get over it and go and
play in the puddles"
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