By: Michael Moore, Chef
 This is an excerpt from Blood Sugar: The Family by Michael Moore, published by New Holland Press.
Many people have read about my story and the experiences that brought me to the point where I am today. For those of you who haven't, here's a quick recap! From a very young age I could cook. It came to me naturally. I thrived on stress and achievement. So when it came to a career, I naturally chose one that was a 'pressure cooker'-a dynamic, growing industry where I could be creative. I chose to be a chef. I loved the daily challenge of a kitchen, the preparation and then the madness of service. Long hours, tough conditions and adversity-it was all part of the game and a large part of why I chose this industry.
Going to work in the morning and putting on boots that were still soggy with sweat from the night before meant that I had worked hard; it was all part of the quest to push myself to the limit. I still feel the same way and I often meet people in other professions who feel like me. They are nearly always in creative industries-art, music, food and design. I would love my kids to find this joy in their lives as they grow. 'Rise to the challenge and beat the odds, the competition is standing next to you.' This was my mantra, and I hoped it was going to help me fulfill my dreams.
When I was 35, I had just opened our new restaurant and my wife Angela had given birth to our first child, Eloise. I had been working night and day. I was feeling tired and run down, with an unusual thirst I just couldn't satisfy. I drank about 10 litres of lemon cordial in one night and ate a massive packet of jellybeans in one go. My body kept craving for more sugar as the days went on. I realised something was wrong and when my doctor tested me the next day, my blood sugar reading was 29 (normal is about 4). I was sent to the endocrinologist and officially diagnosed as diabetic. I may even have had diabetes my whole life.
My doctor said I was the most unusual person to become a diabetic. I was very fit, active and healthy; I never smoked nor was I a big drinker. I had always looked after myself, even while I worked long hours in an industry full of vices like alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. In fact, sometimes the only way to get a break during the day was to go for a 'smoke'-even if you didn't!
This came as a great shock. I felt my life was in good order at that time. What could I possibly change to cope with this new diagnosis? For the first year or two it didn't seem so hard. I was just taking a couple of pills a day, increasing my exercise and laying off the sweet things. I was probably in denial, thinking it would just go away. Gradually my visits to the endocrinologist became further apart and less important. I was feeling fine and continued to pursue my very busy life.
I have since learnt this was a big mistake!
Gradually my drug regime changed as the degeneration took effect and I became insulin dependent. I was still unaware of the serious health risks that diabetes carried. Fast-forward ten years. One lazy Sunday I was out to dinner with my family. I remember it so clearly. It felt like I'd been hit by a truck. One minute I was standing at the barbecue, the next minute I hit the floor. My wife Angela was with me and at first she thought I was having a diabetic hypo. She called an ambulance immediately.
When I wasn't able to drink lemonade to bring my sugars back up because my face was paralysed down one side, she realised it was more serious. She looked me in the eyes and said 'I think you've had a stroke, there's an ambulance coming'. My kids witnessed the whole thing and it took a while for Eloise, my daughter, to get the vision out of her head. It was very confronting for our family. Angela's quick thinking saved my life.
From this day, my life changed forever.
I was really scared for the first time in my life. I began to read and study what was going on. Some of the facts were really confronting. Why did this happen to me? There is no clear answer. There is a link to diabetes, but in my case there is still no firm conclusion as to why I had the stroke. I was told the chances of another stroke occurring within days after the initial one were quite high.
I lay in hospital hoping that my body would not suffer another stroke. It was like waiting for the ball to drop into place on the roulette wheel; it seemed to spin forever. If someone had said to me at this point, 'Give me everything you own and I'll guarantee that you can walk along the beach at the weekend with your wife and kids', I'd have taken the deal. Luckily I did manage to walk along the beach with my family on the day I was discharged from hospital. It was the best day of my life!
In the weeks before the stroke I felt super fit-riding my bike, running, going to the gym. I just remember feeling great and strong. However, while at the gym a week before it happened, the floor did go soft and feel spongy under my feet and my legs gave way. I didn't fall over but it was a strange feeling. Maybe this was a small warning, but who knows? If you have experienced anything like this, go to your doctor-I wish I had.
The stroke was caused by a large blood clot that ran up my neck, through the clear veins of a fit young man. It fired into my brain and fortunately landed in a place where it did not cause too much damage. Obviously I had to rethink all of the food that I had been eating to manage diabetes and keep my health on track, but was determined to continue eating quality food, so decided to write the first Blood Sugar book, to provide some light into the 'gastronomic wilderness' of diet food. In September 2012, I launched my restaurant in Sydney, O Bar and Dining, where I have created a menu that is underpinned by the Blood Sugar healthy eating philosophy.
There is no cure, yet, for diabetes. In the meantime, I respect it and realize it is always with me, but do not become a victim or a sufferer. Recently I have been involved in the launch of the iBGStar Blood Glucose Meter that connects to your iPhone or iPod. It's a fantastic device that can connect you directly to your doctor and I believe it is going to be a game changer.
One of the benefits of writing books and being prepared to speak publicly about diabetes and stroke is that I have come into contact with many health professionals who are looking at and researching blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. They all have my ongoing support and appreciation. The result of all those conversations is this second book. I have not written a diet book-it is a lifestyle book, a collection of recipes my family and I love to eat that help to keep us on track.
To purchase copy click: here.
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