Friday, September 30, 2016

Dreaded Error Message on Glucose Meter

Can I scream? Can I say not very nice words?  Oh trust me, all kinds of stuff goes through my thoughts when I get this message - "!E13".  It might as well say *%$##$^&*## because error messages, though useful, basically tell you that you just wasted a test strip and that precious drop of blood.  Test strips are not cheap. Blood, although technically free since it runs through your veins, is precious too . Each poke is another little tender spot on your fingertip to get that drop. Although some meters advertise only needing a small drop in comparison to other companies small drops, it still needs a drop of blood. You do your best to not put the lancet on the 5 when using your pinkie finger but sometimes you just set it, let it go and OUCH! or OOPS!  Too much blood, not enough blood. When it isn't enough, you do it again wasting money and blood. When it is too much, you may have a small bruise or the soreness takes longer to go away along with wasting blood.  I can't wait until someone comes up with a different method than drawing blood so it can stay in my veins and not go in a test strip. Oh and my fingertips..... they would be grateful too!!
How about you? What error message makes you sigh?

Monday, September 26, 2016

Oatmeal and Blueberries: A 25 Carb Breakfast

I woke up this morning and tested at 92 mg/dL. Exciting!!  I am usually over 100 mg/dL so this was a chance to eat some carbs before working out.  I chose 1/2 serving of oatmeal, yes - I know - 1/4 cup, with blueberries and a splash of sugar free creamer. Although my breakfast only added up to 25 g of carbs, my usual breakfast is about 20. Fifteen minutes later at 7am  I tested at 133 mg/dL and I hopped on the Precor and did my 30 minutes. I try to break a sweat but not kill myself. I figure the interval training is probably the best for me!  So at 8:45am I was at 103 mg/dL. I really thought I would be lower after working out and then getting ready for work, but I have to say I'm okay with 103 mg/dL. At least it didn't go up, right!!??!!






Friday, September 23, 2016

Hiking the Keystone Trail


We decided to take a hike today. I started out at 108 mg/dL. The trail we took was fairly level. Supposedly we walked about 4 miles and at the end I had 8115 steps but I forgot to check how many steps I had already taken that morning. This is such a learning process and I hope you will stay with me on this journey as I figure out how to keep track of all the numbers that would help us!  After the hike I was at 98 mg/dL. I thought I would be a lot lower since we didn't eat while hiking, just drank from our water bottles.  Later that day I made the mistake of having a few bites of Boston Markets sweet potato casserole and tested at 142 mg/dL 30 minutes later. I jumped on the Precor for 20 minutes. Sweet potatoes are not my friend.
In my life it isn't Live and Learn: it is Eat, Test and Learn!!



Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Chili and 1/2 Cornbread Muffin

Chili. What says comfort food like a hot bowl of chili with cheddar cheese and sour cream?



Add a cornbread muffin and the perfect meal is sitting right in front of you!  I figured around 30 g carbs, 30 g protein, and 10 g fiber.  When I put the food in the program I almost cried. 53g carbs??!!??? NNNOOOOOOO!
Oh wait, I put one corn muffin in as a serving. I actually made a box that makes 6 muffins and made 9 muffins: 4 full size for the not-diabetic, I-can-eat-anything male person and 4 - 1/2 muffins for me. I ate my one, 1/2 serving, muffin which cut the carbs to 40g. WOW. That is a big difference in my opinion.  


Now the tests results:  (Drum roll please!)

Before


One hour                                                1.5 Hours                                                            2 Hours

I was surprised I didn't test higher. I wish I would have gotten a 30 minute test and I am going to try to improve on that by using the timer in my Gear. Still to stay under 150 made me happy. I am thinking fiber and fat may have helped. 
Keep on testing!!
Please comment if you have foods that you might want me to try so we can compare.



Monday, September 19, 2016

Chicken Cacciatore, Guessing Carbs and Oops, Forgot to Test

DINNER - oh yeah. I loaded the crockpot with gold potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, onions, eggplant, and garlic this morning. 
The house smelled so delightful when I got home and I was starved!  
We scooped up the yummyness and ate. 

Now comes the hardest parts of counting carbs, putting in the food and estimating what is on the plate and what the program tells you a serving is. I came up with this:
36 g carbs, 29 g protein, about 5g fiber

As I write this is I realize I spaced testing at the 30 minute, 1 hour and 2 hour mark.
UGH UGH UGH SO....
at the 2 and 1/2 hour mark I test.... 102 mg/dL!  Whew!
I am happy with the 102 mg/dL, since I started at 84 mg/dL,  I probably and hopefully didn't get too close to or over that 150 mg/dL mark I have set for myself.

I think I need to use a timer...... 



Friday, September 16, 2016

Yogurt Snack

So awesome when you find a snack that tastes pretty good and doesn't mess with your number.  Carbmaster yogurt became one of my go to snacks about 2 years ago.  I found it at Smiths/Kroger.  Got to love 60 calories, 4g carbs, 8g of protein.  Maybe next time I'll add fruit, nuts, and whipped cream. YUMMY!
Before

One Hour After



Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Headache and Numbers

Today I had a headache. One of those headaches where the dull pain just sits behind your eyes fogging up your brain. I read everything twice, sometimes even 3 times, just to semi-comprehend what is in front of me. Not a good thing when you are trying to program a small machine to tune a 2.8L Duramax for the first time!!

owwwwwwww.

My breakfast and lunch were the usual so at 3:30 pm I tested and was at 119. High number since I ate at noon but not high enough to get all fired up over but I am HUNGRY. I have pecan halves and 1/2 cup blueberries. Not enough to fill me up, that's for sure!! Still, the starving part of hungry was gone. 14.5g carbs - 3.5g protein - 5.5g fiber. An hour later I am at 108 - YAY!!  Doing the happy dance because the number didn't go up.


Now I need to make a happy dance video...  After I find something else to eat




Monday, September 12, 2016

You Don't Look Like Your Blood Work or The Sort-of Diabetic

I looked at the doctor, questioning look on my face. "What do you mean?" She looked up from the lab report. "Your numbers. You. What I see on the lab report and what you look like. They don't match."

She explained to me that my A1c of 7.5, glucose of over 100, high cholesterol - both good and bad, and under active thyroid didn't line up with my 5'3" 105 pound frame. I work out everyday by running, walking or on the Precor. I use weights to keep my arms toned. I eat what would be considered healthy with salads, vegetables, fresh fruit, and chicken or fish with an occasional red meat meal thrown in.

So the blood work says that, technically, I should be heavy?  That my diet is junk food or fast food?  That I am sedentary?  I don't look diabetic.  The normal reply to someone with all of my numbers would be: lose weight, watch what you eat, exercise but now what? I can't afford to lose weight, I exercise, and I eat pretty healthy.  So I am Sort-of Diabetic... Blood work says yes, looks and lifestyle says no.

Is that why, when I had gestational diabetes, the doctor wasn't very concerned because on the outside I didn't look diabetic? I was sent to a nutritionist and given food with eating suggestions with some monitoring for sugar in my urine at visits but never once was told to check my glucose numbers or had an A1c done. 3 pregnancies. Same thing.

The assumption diabetes is a "fat" person disease is wrong and I hate to even say it. I don't want to perpetuate the lie.  Even now when people find out I am diabetic I get the look and usually a "Really?" Sometimes I even get the "You don't look you have diabetes" comment. I try not to get defensive and shout, "Yes, really! My insides, okay I'll point the finger, my pancreas, just doesn't work like it should. Maybe all those years of regular soda in high school overworked it. Maybe genetically I am predisposed because of my dad. Maybe it was 3 pregnancies.  I don't know why I have it but I do!!"  Instead I smile and give them the benefit of the doubt, that until you have the diabetes diagnosis, people are just uneducated about the disease and that's okay.  I don't know very much about lupus, cancer, gluten intolerance, or other medical issues but I try to be sympathetic when someone tells me they are suffering with a hidden issue.

I just want the same.  What about you? What assumptions drive you crazy? What do you wish people would know?

P.S. I have seen the discrimination with those who are heavy and say they have diabetes, the looks and comments as if you deserve it, caused it and can cure it. The stereotypes are alive and well but I would love to shatter the misconceptions!  More thoughts on that later....

Friday, September 9, 2016

Not Today


40 minutes after 61 carbs
I started this blog in hopes it would help me manage my diabetes. By blogging, I would test, carb count, exercise, and write what worked and what didn't. Today, I didn't want to play. I didn't want to test. I didn't want to log food, exercise or numbers. So I didn't until tonight when I wanted sweet potato casserole from Boston Market where one serving is 80 carbs. Pretty much my entire carb count. So I tested ..... 105 mg/dL at 7:50pm. I ate 1/2 of the sweet potatoes,  some of the chicken, and all of the steamed vegetables. 61 carbs.  Yeah - I know.  Steamed vegetables to ease the guilt!! 164 mg/dL 40 minutes later and 197 mg/dL an hour and 30 minutes later. Ok, high enough glucose!! Hop on the Precor for 20 minutes and dropped that number to 136 mg/dL. Although I feel like I failed, I succeeded in getting the number down the only way that really works for me - exercise.  Tomorrow is another day.
1:30 after eating 61 carbs
After 20 minutes of working out






Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Lunchtime Frustration with Low Carb and High Glucose

Totally frustrated!!  I was at 92mg/dl when I grabbed my lunch.
 Low carb, low calorie, full of fiber and protein.
 Here is my healthy lunch:                                Wait...Where did this # come from?
                                                                                                                     
 30 minutes later+


 2 hours after lunch. 


 30 minutes later - 1 hour after lunch
Do I need to add more calories?  More salad? Was it the grapes? I don't like testing over 150, EVER.
*sigh*  Only more testing will let me know - Maybe


What do you think? I am thinking grapes. Next time I will have a walk planned just in case.
Have you ever had a meal surprise you?




Monday, September 5, 2016

Holiday Mayhem

Today's a holiday!  Yay, I think. Sometimes holidays are difficult depending on the food involved.  So far this morning I have done great. Woke up to a 113 mg/dL number after sleeping in until 8am. What a pleasure it is to sleep in!  To top it off, the morning was beautiful so my bf suggested a walk.  Once he mentioned walking I was in the kitchen grabbing a thin piece of banana nut bread (I estimated 20-25ish carbs as homemade with a few tweaks). That is my sneaky way of eating stuff I love but spike my numbers. I eat then walk or precor!!  I got in 9018 steps - wow!!  I came back and tested. 120mg/dL but an hour later, 96mg/dL. YES!!
After Walk
One Hour Later




















Tonight will be smoked ribs, coleslaw, frog-eye salad, baked beans and peach cobbler. I will need to pick my food wisely. I'll keep you posted.

Let me know how the holidays affect your eating and how you cope.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Is Type 2 Making Me Tired or What Is Up?

Are you tired?  Do you feel weak?  I was reading up on reasons for fatigue as I feel like my energy levels and strength are slowly decreasing.  What do you know!!??!!  Diabetes and fatigue go together! According to the American Diabetes Association extreme fatigue is a symptom of diabetes

Read Here:  http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

I like to hike and this is one of my favorites. The hike is about 6 miles round trip and this waterfall is at the top.  Last year we hiked the trail and stopped a few times to look at the scenery and have a drink. This year, about 15 minutes into the hike, I tanked. My energy plummeted. I just wanted to sit down and not get up. We stopped. I drank. I ate. I tested. 97mg/dl. Not low not high. I made it but I felt awful, I felt like I had hiked 40 miles without a break. Not good. Took the joy out of a day that I was excited about.


I work out almost every morning but my energy is gone after about 15-20 minutes depending on how hard I work. Lifting weights? I try but not able to do what I was doing.

Tomorrow I am having blood drawn for my upcoming check-up.  He added a few more tests to the usual tests. I am excited. Isn't that crazy? To want to have your blood drawn but I think that is part of having diabetes. You know the sayings: You know you are diabetic when.... you want blood work done. When you cut yourself and grab your meter so you don't waste any blood. Test strips plug the vacuum. and many many more... Add your own in the comment box below.

Follow me to keep posted on blood work outcomes and food testing fun.