Taking the bull by the horns - November thread

[CookinsForMe]

So, I got home this evening. He repaired a few pairs of eyeglasses (that's what he does for a living) then we went to WM to get his new medication and we went out to eat with his youngest daughter. All that was a little too much for him so when we got back he went to the back room and promptly fell asleep on the couch.

Tomorrow we have to talk about his diet and what changes, if any, will be made. The cardio said he can resume working out at the gym in two weeks but until then to just get up and walk around a little every hour to help prevent blood clots. So, when he's at work during the day he can go outside and walk in the parking lot for a few minutes every hour and enjoy the fresh air. He sees the cardio in early December. Until then, we're to just muddle through trying to figure out the diet issue. This is going to be fun, I'm sure!

When one researches coronary heart disease, one sees recommendations for a low fat diet. But we know that if you're diabetic, carbs are an issue, too. So somehow we're supposed to find a balance between low fat and low carb, one that works for him. I imagine its out there somewhere - we'll just have to create it.

Anyway, other than that all is well. I'm about to head to bed but wanted to give y'all an update.

[CookinsForMe]

My FBG this morning was 121. A little too high but the last couple of days it was 160 or higher so I'll take the 121 and work for lower! I have some leftover baked chicken and beef roast to use this week so I think I'll do some cooking, trying to come up with dishes the man person will like and will be okay for him.

Hope y'all have a great day!

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by CookinsForMe

I'm here but tomorrow is a big day (not in a good way) for the man person and I. He goes into the hospital for a heart cath, probable stent placement, and perhaps open heart surgery if a stent won't work. Please keep us in your prayers. My nerves are pretty ragged.

On the BG front, mine's been pretty good. His not so much but he eats more carbs than I do and doesn't check his BG as often. *sigh*

Welcome to the new folks and to the rest of you, bear with me. I'll be more active very soon, I hope.

Denise,
You and your "man person" are in our thoughts and prayers. Hope all comes out well!

EDITED:
I read the rest of the thread and see where he came out all right. I'm so glad!

[Marvin]

Quiet around here. I want to celebrate my week because I've seen my first readings in the 80's and had consistent readings in the 90's. Clearly low carb has been the main catalyst, as it has helped me lose over 60 lbs, but more importantly, it keeps my bg numbers in check. That's been the fun part--I've not really been preoccupied on the weight loss--but focusing on eating to keep my BG numbers in check. And weight loss has been the side benefit of the whole thing. Of course, losing weight helps the BG numbers as well....but low carbing has done it for me!

[chiody]

Marvin,

Excellent effort keeping levels in check and congrats on the 60 lb. loss!!

I too have prioritized the diabetes markers as the key indicators of concern with weight loss as a supportive function.

It's such a relief to hear of so many here on these boards able to affect BL's so significantly with LCing. If only the mainstream media and traditional medical / support teams would adopt some of it's principals, we'd have a lot more healthy people around.

[CookinsForMe]

Way to go, Marvin! Those BG readings are cause for a party!

It is pretty quiet...maybe everyone's preparing for Thanksgiving.

[shunsweets]

Wow Marvin great BGL's, great weight loss. You are really doing it.

Cookins- Hope your man is feeling better and recommitting to good diet and whatever exercise he's allowed. Do you all do very low carb as well as low fat? I couldn't do that 70% of my calories come from fat - probably not healthy but that's the only way I can do VLC. When I cut the fats I have to increase carbs. It must be a challenge trying to balance both.

I'm hanging in here. DH is sick with a very sore throat and fever - hope it's not h1n1. I'm doing great with exercise(joined the walking thread). Keeping carbs<30. BGL's are 90-150 depending on the day. Trying the apple cider vinegar can't judge if it's doing anything yet. Funny Marvin and Chiody I, too, have lost my focus(OK obsession) on
weight and now mostly just track my BGL although when the scale starts climbing I'm still not happy, but it's no longer my first concern since being dx in July.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. And Cookins do you have a LC lemon pie recipe for Thanksgiving? These will be my first holidays as a full blown type2 and I'm going to need some substitutes to get through them!

[BillB]

Originally Posted by Marvin

Quiet around here. I want to celebrate my week because I've seen my first readings in the 80's and had consistent readings in the 90's. Clearly low carb has been the main catalyst, as it has helped me lose over 60 lbs, but more importantly, it keeps my bg numbers in check. That's been the fun part--I've not really been preoccupied on the weight loss--but focusing on eating to keep my BG numbers in check. And weight loss has been the side benefit of the whole thing. Of course, losing weight helps the BG numbers as well....but low carbing has done it for me!

You rock and rule too.



--bill

[CookinsForMe]

FBG this morning was 63! One like that usually means I'm headed for a major hypo so I quickly made and ate breakfast. I had 2 eggs scrambled, about 3 ounces of turkey ham, 1/2 a slice of the whole wheat toast I made DH, and coffee with 1/2 and 1/2. We'll see how it is in about an hour.

Shunsweets, the diet is a real issue for us. I do lower carb than DH and he does lower fat than I do. He's still convinced that fat is responsible for a lot of his artery issues and although most of his meals are fairly low carb and he eats fewer carbs in a day than your average American, I think he still eats too many. He also goes to the little store next to his office and gets a brownie or some other garbage. Not daily but too often.

We talked yesterday about the diet issue and he finally said, "Denise, I have no choice" when I asked him about taking his nutrition seriously. We do try to balance both carbs and fat and its nightmarish, really. He's willing to try South Beach, though, and that might be a good option for him.

I don't have a recipe for LC lemon pie but I imagine there are some excellent ones on the net. Do y'all do pumpkin pie? If so, have I got a solution for you!

Denise

[shunsweets]

Yes pumpkin pie is my favorite (DH likes lemon). I've been trying plain sweetened pumpkin a la Bernstein but I find it yucky. Thw whole family is coming to my house for Thanksgiving so I'll be serving lots of carbs too - it's going to be tough.

63 wow. Are you still working with the NPH? Maybe a couple of bedtime carbs?

[CookinsForMe]

I'm still doing Novolin N twice a day and trying to get the 70/30 to work for me. I'm not having a lot of luck with it, though, and ordered some Novolog which should be delivered sometime this week. I don't know why I had the 63 FBG but won't try to fix it since that's a very rare thing and I think its better than 189!

Try making pumpkin pie like you normally do but using splenda or some other sweetener and instead of putting it in a shell, put it in a pretty baking dish and bake it. Top with some whipped cream and a little cinnamon and it's beautiful AND fairly good for you. I really like the sweetened pumpkin a la Bernstein but it's much better with egg and half and half or cream added. Mmm!

Do you know how to make low carb gravy? If not, you need to so that you can make some of that for yourself, even if no one else wants it. I do it at Thanksgiving every year and its a major hit.

[CookinsForMe]

Ugh, I woke up at 4:40 this morning and my FBG was 131! It's like a yoyo when it comes to mornings. I don't have to be at work til 12:30 but I couldn't get back to sleep so I started my day, took my insulin, and made breakfast. Breakfast was a turkey ham and cheese omelet. I have some leftover roasted chicken and beef roast that need to be used so I'm going to make beef salad for DH's lunch and use the chicken in vegetable chicken soup. The soup pot in the fridge is almost empty but it sure was good! I'd made broccoli cheese soup and it lasted several days. It makes a great quick snack or first course of a meal. Hope y'all have a great day.

[Mommy2aCutie]

Hi! Can I join you all? I have just recently found out that I am type 2 diabetic and I am trying to get all my little ducks in a row and get my bs sorted out.

I would love to try the brocoli and cheese soup recipe if you wouldn't mind sharing.

I look foward to getting to know you all.

[CookinsForMe]

Mommy2aCutie, you're more than welcome to join us! When were you diagnosed? What was your A1c result, if one was done? Do you need to lose weight in addition to getting the BG under control? I'll stop asking questions for a bit.

I'll post the soup recipe later for you too.

Denise

[2001MaryT]

Welcome, Mommy2aCutie. I'm new to this diabetic group and have learned a lot. Very helpful group! I'd love that soup recipe too!

[Desert Blossom]

Welcome, Momma2acutie! I am also a recently diagnosed diabetic (Sept) and have been doing Bernstein's diet since the beginning of Oct. I've lost 16 pounds and this morning - are you guys ready for this? - my fasting BS was 88
That's the lowest it's been since I've been monitoring!

If you haven't checked out Dr. Bernstein yet, google Dr. Richard Bernstein. He has part of his book up on his site - the part with the diet, so if you can't afford to buy his book you can at least see what he recommends. It works!

[CookinsForMe]

Way to go, Desert Blosom! That's a great FBG!!!

[BillB]

Jody's Pumpkin Bake is awesome. The recipe is easy to find, but if you don't find it, send me a message and I will send it to you.



--bill

Originally Posted by shunsweets

Yes pumpkin pie is my favorite (DH likes lemon). I've been trying plain sweetened pumpkin a la Bernstein but I find it yucky. Thw whole family is coming to my house for Thanksgiving so I'll be serving lots of carbs too - it's going to be tough.

63 wow. Are you still working with the NPH? Maybe a couple of bedtime carbs?

[shunsweets]

Welcome Momma2acutie. Feel free to share how you are doing.

Cookins and Bill thanks for the pumpkin pie suggestions. (printed out the Jody's pumpkin bake and have a cup of half'n half in the fridge I need to use up so these are perfect!) I'm going to experiment when I'm off on Thursday and see how I do. Then I'll be ready for Thanksgiving as far as pie anyway.

Hope my BGL will tolerate the pumpkin. Lately anything but meat, fat, and eggs seems to spike me 30-50 points. And I have to keep protein servings small - 2 eggs or 3 oz of meat. These sudden changes really throw me. One week I think I'm getting a handle on this and the next my BGL's go wacky without any diet changes.

Wow Dessert Blossum you are rocking with Dr. Bernstein! I watched his interview on Jimmy Moore's site and he is such a nice, self effacing man who has helped so many. Wish the ADA would get behind him and aggressively support LC. Every diabetic I know who does LC has improved even Type 1's can reduce their insulin use sucessfully and avoid developing IR with LC. It can be a challenge but is so worth it.

FBS 109 today - high for me. Spiked to 161 last night after eating just chicken for dinner - probably ate too much. Not due back to the Dr until Feb but may try an OTC A1C test to see how I'm doing.

But I'm sticking with my jog/walk plan 4 miles a dayreally well so that's a positive!

Monday - so busy - I'll check back later.

[hpjrt]

It's so great to read of everyone's successes ... and it reinforces my resolve that I'm on the right track.

I've been doing well the last few days ... keeping my BGLs between 104 and 115 ... which is good for me at this point. A couple of months ago, a reading of 133 was an improvement ... so I'm happy with my progress. This does seem to be a progressive approach with improving results over time ...

I had to go this morning for a Fasting Blood Test ... which is always trying. I hate not being able to start my day with coffee. Fortunately the test doesn't take very long and right after I hit the local Tim Horton's for my morning cup of coffee!

I have a doctor's appointment next week, so I'll find out my A1C then.

Baby granddaughter is doing well ... and her parents are getting a little more sleep so that's good too.

Keep up the good work guys ...

[chiody]

Originally Posted by Desert Blossom

Welcome, Momma2acutie! I am also a recently diagnosed diabetic (Sept) and have been doing Bernstein's diet since the beginning of Oct. I've lost 16 pounds and this morning - are you guys ready for this? - my fasting BS was 88
That's the lowest it's been since I've been monitoring!

If you haven't checked out Dr. Bernstein yet, google Dr. Richard Bernstein. He has part of his book up on his site - the part with the diet, so if you can't afford to buy his book you can at least see what he recommends. It works!

Spectacular BS for so early in your diagnosis. And the 16 lbs. lost in a month is no chump change as they say. Keep up the great effort! You're doing great!!!

[7littleangels]

This seems to be the best place to ask a question. I am having huge extremes in my BGL. The other night I had 3 slices of Gluten Free/Sugar free pizza and my BGL (at 2 hours) went up to 190. Before I ate it was at 62. So, that is clearly a no go for eating. If I eat a Steak ( 12 ounces), 2 cups of broccoli and a 1/2 cup of yogurt, I go from Before dinner 95 to two hours after dinner 52. Eating Low-Carb seems to be dropping me to Hypo levels.

What should I add in to keep the numbers down ,but not sooo down?

I hope that makes sense.

Jeanie

[CookinsForMe]

Jeanie, I wouldn't assume that eating steak, broccoli, and yogurt brings the BG down all the time unless you've tried it several times and it's done it each time. When I get what seems to be a weird result like that I try the combination several times and often (though not always!) it seems to be a fluke. If that combination continues to result in BG that's a tad low, I just add a few more carbs - for me it doesn't take many. Throw in 1/2 a sweet potato, maybe, or some green beans or even a whole wheat cracker or two and see if that helps.

What was in the pizza and how many carbs did you get from it?

[BillB]

Originally Posted by 7littleangels

This seems to be the best place to ask a question. I am having huge extremes in my BGL. The other night I had 3 slices of Gluten Free/Sugar free pizza and my BGL (at 2 hours) went up to 190. Before I ate it was at 62. So, that is clearly a no go for eating. If I eat a Steak ( 12 ounces), 2 cups of broccoli and a 1/2 cup of yogurt, I go from Before dinner 95 to two hours after dinner 52. Eating Low-Carb seems to be dropping me to Hypo levels.

What should I add in to keep the numbers down ,but not sooo down?

I hope that makes sense.

Jeanie

If I were eating such extreme (high and low carb) meals, I would expect to have extreme results with my blood glucose readings.

Are you on any medications which might affect your results?

--bill

[7littleangels]

Originally Posted by CookinsForMe

Jeanie, I wouldn't assume that eating steak, broccoli, and yogurt brings the BG down all the time unless you've tried it several times and it's done it each time. When I get what seems to be a weird result like that I try the combination several times and often (though not always!) it seems to be a fluke. If that combination continues to result in BG that's a tad low, I just add a few more carbs - for me it doesn't take many. Throw in 1/2 a sweet potato, maybe, or some green beans or even a whole wheat cracker or two and see if that helps.

What was in the pizza and how many carbs did you get from it?

The pizza is a very thin crust with cheese and meat. The sauce is sugar Free. At most 25 carbs.
The low-carb meals always bring me down. I was at 52 this afternoon after eating the same kind of meal. I did have some cheese and that brought it up to 74.
Thanks for the help. I guess it is something I am going to have to work on and figure out on my own.
Jeanie

[BillB]

If I ate 3 slices of thin crust pizza, my blood glucose would shoot up to at least 300. There's a world of difference between the pizza meal you ate, where a large part of the meal is refined carb, and the steak / broccoli / yogurt meal where there is some carb, but relatively little, and there is a LOT of fat and protein in your tummy at the same time to slow the absorption of carbs. What you drank with either meal could make a huge difference as well.

Lots of things that are "sugar free" are still loaded with refined carbs. That sugar free sauce could have had corn syrup in it.

It sounds to me as if you are very new to managing blood sugar. You really should check out the website bloodsugar101 for a lot of really good information.

I'm not going to tell you that thin crust pizza is an OK food for you, or that your readings after eating either of those meals are bizarre. I am surprised that the steak/broccoli/yogurt meal rendered the result that you got, I wish I could eat the same meal with the same result.

Read Griffen's thread "Diabetes Begone" to see how one person has completely managed his condition and brought his numbers down to the normal (and extremely stable) range. You may not want to do the same. But if you want to stabilize your blood sugar and normalize your blood sugar, you will probably have to rethink what low carb means.

You'll probably think I am being unkind, but if you have diabetes, the choices you make about how you handle your eating will, to a great extent, determine the duration and quality of your life.

I wish you the best.

Bill

[CookinsForMe]

Well, I can't eat 25 grams of carbs in a sitting without a huge spike so don't feel like the Lone Ranger, okay? I also can't eat 12 ounces of steak, broccoli, and 1/2 a cup of yogurt and end up with a lower reading like that. I'd reduce the steak to about 6 ounces, omit the yogurt, eat the broccoli, and have some spinach and then I might have a good PP reading but it wouldn't be in the 50s, I don't think. I agree with Bill about the differences in those two meals and I don't think the results are really that odd. Also as Bill said, check out bloodsugar101 and read Griffen's thread. Both are very educational.

I will say, however, that this is a very individual condition and yes, you're going to have to figure it out. We'll help if we can, though.

[Merski]

may i ask how many of you write your foods and b/s readings? I was never good at it and I have heard many times that seeing the results would assist with consistency.

What do you think?

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by 7littleangels

This seems to be the best place to ask a question. I am having huge extremes in my BGL. The other night I had 3 slices of Gluten Free/Sugar free pizza and my BGL (at 2 hours) went up to 190. Before I ate it was at 62. So, that is clearly a no go for eating. If I eat a Steak ( 12 ounces), 2 cups of broccoli and a 1/2 cup of yogurt, I go from Before dinner 95 to two hours after dinner 52. Eating Low-Carb seems to be dropping me to Hypo levels.

What should I add in to keep the numbers down ,but not sooo down?

I hope that makes sense.

Jeanie

Are you on insulin? I can't imagine having a 52 reading and still be standing?

[CookinsForMe]

Ohh Marvin! I've been to 23 and was able to walk. Barely but I could walk. It was walk to the kitchen for quick carbs or pass out so walk I did!

Merski, do you mean how do we keep track of the data? I put mine in a file maker database my husband created for me ten years ago. It works beautifully!