My 1 Year Diaversary

So, one year ago today I was given my Diabetes Type II diagnosis. I don't know an exact date for when my Diabetes developed, but I know that it was sometime between April 2010 (had bloodwork done & my numbers were normal at that time) and January 2011 ( had bloodwork done & my numbers were not normal). And based on symptoms I can even narrow that down a little more. We took our grandkids to Disney World in late May 2010 and I had no symptoms but by Thanksgiving I was experiencing hypoglycemic lows. So I have it narrowed down to a five month span of time. I'm going to lean closer to the end of that 5 month span since my symptoms are probably a good indicator. So we could say Fall 2010. 


So much has changed in this past year with regards to my health and diet. I now know a lot of numbers regarding glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and the likes that I had no clue about before my diagnosis. I was already on blood pressure medicine, but I just took the pill every day - no real knowledge or concern what the numbers were or meant. I was also on meds for my triglycerides. And again, I was just taking the pill - let the pill take care of the number. But once I was told I had Diabetes I realized that any and all of the health issues I was taking meds for would all become more important simply because Diabetes tends to complicate most health issues.


I also now know how, when and why to test my glucose. Who would have thought that pricking my finger daily would become such a non-event? But after the first few weeks it pretty much became a non- event. I do it almost without thought now. In fact, my 7 year old grand-daughter does the finger prick for me when she is here. For some reason she loves helping me with my Diabetes - be it fthe finger prick or reminding me that I can't eat sugar (not that I do anymore, but she will ask for a snack and tell me she would like a Kit Kat Candy Bar end then say "But you can't have it cause it has sugar, right?").  


And, when first diagnosed, my BG and A1C were both so high that I was immediately put on Metformin and Insulin injections. And while the injections never became a non-event, it did get easier before it got better. Initially I had a herder time injecting myself so I had my husband do my injections, but God love him, I know he cared and I know he meant well, but I think he became too complacent after a few weeks and I started feeling the injections more than I thought I should. I knew that I needed to tough-up and do this myself. It wasn't all that bad and I actually got pretty good at it. But fortunately I was also making major changes to my diet and exercise and was able to get my blood glucose numbers into control well enough that I came off the insulin completely. 


With continued diet modification (I can't say continued exercise since that has more or less fallen to the way-side - but honestly, who wants to stand in their den and do exercises all alone day after day - it is just so uninspiring and un-motivating to me.), but anyway, with continued diet I have managed to keep my BG controlled well enough that I eventually came off the Metformin also. Coming off Metformin was primarily to address major hair loss I was experiencing. I was shedding worse than a sheep dog in the dead of summer in South Alabama. I could walk from my bedroom to my kitchen and drop no less than 10 hairs on the way - and that is a short stroll in my tiny house. And, having now been off Metformin for a few months my hair loss has subsided. If ever my BG becomes too hard to control without meds I will address the hair loss issue at that time. But until then, I will stay the course and hope my diet keeps my glucose in good control for a long long time.


So, that brings me to my One Year Diaversary - and I now consider my Diabetes to be a non-event. It is a fact of life and a pert of who I am, but all in all it is currently just the impetus behind my diet choices. I will never eat sugar as I once did and I will forever choose diet drinks over regular drinks (something I wanted no part of prior to my diagnosis) and I will  be selective and limiting in regard to carb foods. 


My next goal is to reach my 5 year Diaversary without having to get back on any Diabetes meds. Here's to the next five years being non-events! (clink clink)


I don't expect to have to update this blog for five more years, so, until then, Goodnight Moon. :D 

10 Tests That All Diabetics Should Know About (By Jralphs on Diabetic Connect)

10 Tests That All Diabetics Should Know About (By Jralphs  on Diabetic Connect)


1. Blood glucose self monitoring
Frequency: 4-6 times per day or as doctor instructs
Regularly checking blood glucose levels will help balance and maintain good diabetes control.  This test measures the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.  By testing you will know how much medication or insulin to take and how to balance your diet to help control those levels.
  
2. Hemoglobin A1c
Frequency: every 3 to 6 months
This test reflects the average amount of glucose in the bloodstream over time.  This test gives you more insight regarding overall diabetes control than daily blood sugar checks can.  It is advised to aim for an A1c of 7% or less for optimal diabetes care and overall health.


3. Blood Pressure
Frequency: at each doctor’s visit (the doctor may have you check it more often if it is high)
High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels just as too much sugar in the bloodstream can.  The blood vessels to worry most about are the vessels in the eyes which are already at risk due to diabetes.  It is important to keep your blood pressure below 130/80 so as to not cause additional complications and increase the risk of heart disease.


4. Lipid Profile
Frequency: yearly
This is a blood test to measure the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.  There are two types of cholesterol that are measured in this test.  HDL is the good cholesterol that can protect against heart disease.  LDL is bad cholesterol that damages the heart.  Triglycerides are another fat that are measured in the bloodstream with this test.  Make sure to discuss the results of this test with your healthcare team and make adjustments in your lifestyle if necessary to achieve healthy levels of each.

5. Eye exam
Frequency: yearly
As a diabetic you should be seen by your ophthalmologist at least once a year for a dilated eye exam.  This is to check for retinopathy which is a much higher risk for those with diabetes.  Retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in the retina change.  This can cause the fluid in the eye to leak or for the vessels to close off completely.  Retinopathy can be treated if caught early so make sure you are diligent about getting this test done.


6. Foot exam
Frequency: yearly (unless you see changes in your feet, then ask your doctor)
Many diabetics have bad circulation and often develop neuropathy, causing reduced sensitivity in the feet.  In addition to having your doctor do a foot exam, make sure to check your own feet frequently for any wounds or irregularities.  By checking your feet you may be able to reduce complications with your feet by catching any problems early.

7.  Dental Checkup
Frequency: every 6 months
Along with poor blood sugar control comes the impairment of white blood cells that fight off bacterial infection.  If you do not take good care of your mouth you are at a much higher risk for gum disease.  Keep your recommended dental appointment in order to maintain optimum health for your teeth and gums.

8. Microalbuminuria check
Frequency: at least once a year (your doctor should request this test more often if there is reason for concern)
This is a urine test to verify if there is protein in the urine which would indicate whether or not you are at risk for a variety of kidney problems.  Diabetics are more at risk for kidney disease and if caught early the damage can be treated and slowed.


9. BMI
Frequency: Should be checked at each doctor’s visit to help you stay at a healthy weight.
The body mass index measures an individual’s body fat according to their height and weight.  A BMI that is above the normal range would indicate a person is at risk of obesity.  Obesity can be a huge risk factor for type 2  diabetes.  Also, diabetes can be much better managed if a person strives to keep their BMI within the recommended range.


10. Neurologic examination
Frequency: yearly (unless you are experiencing nerve pain, then consult your doctor)
Because diabetics often have bad circulation and are at a much higher risk for neuropathy, make sure you receive a complete neurologic examination in order to locate any areas that you are having nerve pain or complications.


source: Diabetic Connect

Day 22

2:00

BG still good. Doing my best to stick to the No Sugar - Low carb lifestyle. It has been a little easier than I expected since I found a few things I like, I have been trying to eat more fresh fruits and salads, both iceberg and baby spinach. I also tried a recipe for Diabetic Eggnog that is pretty darn good! 

Here is the recipe I found for the Diabetic Eggnog (found this on the Diabetic Connect website in the recipes section:

Ingredients

5 1/2 cups skim milk ( I used 2% milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (1 1/2 ounce) boxes sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
3 1/4 tablespoons Splenda sugar substitute
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine vanilla and milk
2. In another bowl, combine the dry pudding mix, sweetener, and nutmeg.
3. Whisk the dry mix into the milk mixture until smooth. Refrigerate until serving.




I will also post a recipe I made Friday night that turned out to be pretty darn good. I found this one on Food.com


Crust:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 eggs (I used 2 eggbeaters cups)
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (you will need 8 more in the topping)


Topping:
1 lb ground beef (I used 1.5 lbs)
3 teaspoons taco seasoning (I used the rest of what was left from making the crust and 1 additional packet)
1/4 cup tomato sauce
4 ounces chopped green chilies (I didn't have any green chilies so I left this out)
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (you will need 8 more in the crust)


Directions (Prep Time: 25 mins - Total Time: 1 1/4 hr)
1. For the crust, beat the cream cheese and eggs until smooth.
2. Add the cream and seasoning.
3. Grease a 9"x13" baking dish; spread the cheese over the bottom.
4. Pour in the egg mixture as evenly as possible.
5. Bake at 375ºF, 25-30 minutes.
6. Let stand 5 minutes before adding the topping.
7. For the topping, brown the hamburger; drain fat.
8. Stir in the seasoning, tomato sauce and chilies.
9. Spread over the crust.
10. Top with cheese.
11. Reduce oven to 350ºF and bake another 20 minutes or so until hot and bubbly.
12. Serve with the toppings of your choice (add additional carbs accordingly)


It says it serves 8, but it was rather thin so Terry, Brett & I knocked out half the first night. I divided the leftovers in half and stacked it 2 deep in a small corning square bowl and the next night Brett & I knocked that out between us. So take the "Serves 8" as you may.

Next time I make this one I am going to bake the crust and then split it in half and stack it 2 deep in a 9X9 casserole dish. A bottom layer of crust followed by half the meat mixture and 4 oz. of shredded cheese. Then the other half of the crust topped by the remaining meat mixture & the rest of the cheese.  It will make the same amount, but it will be a smaller footprint, just a deeper dish. And since everything will be "cooked" when it is stacked it will just be a question of will the cheese in the middle get hot enough to melt. We will see. 

Day 18

9:00

BG looking good! I am trying new recipes (simple ones of course) and some so simple as to grate hard Parmesan cheese and bake it into crackers. They taste salty. They also smell funky when they are baking, but they don't smell funky when they have cooled and I eat them. This will be a "go to" when I need that salty snack. And, since I learned with baking chicken coated in Panko bread crumbs that even cooking spray does not prevent stuff from sticking to the pan, aluminum foil or wax paper, I ordered a silpat silicon baking mat and waited for it to arrive before I even attempted these cheese snacks. Wow! I love that silpat mat! Love it so much that I sat down last night and ordered me a larger version so I can bake Panko chicken in bigger batches.

I found a recipe on Diabetic Connect that I am going to try. It is called Taco bake. The crust is made using cream cheese, eggs and shredded cheddar. Other stuff too, but I don't have the recipe in front of me so I forget what else. But not flour or cornmeal - which reduces the carbs tremendously! It is definitely worth a try, even if I never make it but once.

Okay, exercise time. Hopefully I will do better today than yesterday and I will actually come back later to post more.

3:00
So, let me tell you what I learned today. I learned that Almond milk does not want to be chocolate milk. I had Terry pick me up some sugar-free chocolate syrup when he went to Wal-Mart earlier today and as soon as he got home I mixed me up a glass. I guess when it didn't want to dissolve easily into the almond milk I should have known. I just figured it had to do with the difference it the consistency of almond milk as opposed to dairy milk. I stirred long enough to get it to actually mix up. I certainly wasn't going to give up too quick. But when I had it mixed well and drank it I was really rather disappointed. Oh, it didn't taste bad. It just didn't taste good. It actually just tasted like the almond milk tastes straight from the carton. 

Well, nothing ventured - nothing gained. At least I have a bottle of sugar-free chocolate syrup and I can get some sugar-free ice cream one day and have a sugar-free sundae.