Danial Beinke of Goodna is one of our Healthy U readers who
contacted Diabetes Queensland after completing the type 2 diabetes
risk assessment tool (AUSDRISK). Danial wanted to share his journey
on how he's been working to reduce his risk through healthy
lifestyle changes. Here is Danial's inspirational story…
Learn from Danial how good life can be.
Danial Beinke is a rare expert in the construction of genuine
Chesterfield furniture, but it was a mid-life health crisis that
changed Danial's lifestyle and transformed the output and
profitability of his Brisbane furniture business.
"It was March 20, 2013. I was 126 kg with a degenerative hip
condition, premature arthritis and the muscle in my shoulder was
badly deteriorated," Danial says. "The doctor was talking about
getting me a mobility scooter. He said I could have a hip
replacement, but I'd end up in a wheelchair."
"That was it. It was the trigger within me," he says. "I was
only 44, but if I did not change, I would not be here much
longer."
At that time, Danial had to admit he lavished more care and
attention on his furniture than on his diet and exercise.
"I was drinking 10 vanilla cokes or three 750ML bottles of ice
coffee every day," he says. "At times, it was up to three litres of
this fatty, sugary milk. Then there was the food; too much fat,
potatoes and rice and no fibre. I was constipated, but I was eating
like a horse."
The new Danial has discovered portion control. "I have nothing
processed at all," he says.I am off the milk and dairy and get what
I need from spinach and other fresh vegetables. I keep my
metabolism fired up, but most meals are no more than 100 grams of
chicken and 120 grams of vegetables."*
After two weeks, Danial's new diet had his digestive system back
on track. After two years, he is down as low as 88kg. His body fat
is down from 36 percent to 14 percent and Danial aims to reduce it
further.
On day one, a short walk three doors away had Danial puffed.
Today, it's seven or eight kilometres in an hour. "My heart rate
used to max out at 180 or 190 beats a minute," he says. "Now, after
a walk, it goes no higher than 110."
Danial also gave up alcohol, apart from a couple of small
glasses of Midori and lemonade last Christmas. "In the past, I'd
keep light beer in an esky and often, I'd crack the first at work,
mid-morning," he says.
Diabetes Queensland says Danial's radical change of direction
will help reduce his risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic
conditions, like heart and kidney disease, stroke and asthma.
Today, more than one million Queenslanders are overweight or
obese and face increased risk of disease as a result. About 200,000
are diagnosed with diabetes, but another 93,000 (that's the
population of Bundaberg and Gympie combined) have type 2 diabetes
and don't even know it.
Danial has turned off his sleep apnoea machine, cancelled his
hip replacement and stopped taking medication for pain.
"I feel as healthy today as I was in my 20s, when I played
competitive roller-hockey and American grid-iron," he says.
For more information or support on how to reduce your risk of
type 2 diabetes call Diabetes Queensland 1300 136 588 and speak to
one of our Accredited Practising Dietitians, Nutritionists or
Accredited Exercise Physiologists.
*Diabetes Queensland recommends following the Australian
Dietary Guidelines. Speak to your GP or Accredited Practising
Dietitian for individualised dietary advice to help you achieve
your health goals.