Son_of_Perdition
Senior Member
Being diagnosed as type II diabetic during a recent 4 day stay in the hospital getting my blood sugar under control, I was confronted with the realization that I wasn't bullet proof. I have a family history (maternal) with diabetics. My mother passed from complications as did several of her aunts, uncles and cousins. My older sister is dealing with it and has for 10 years, she is now my go to support mentor. Frustrations with diet, carb counting and discovering what different foods do to my blood sugar. Charting my BS, BP and injections and couple that with my financial budgeting I have created a part time career. I remember the Franklin day planner days and scoffed at the idea that I would need a structured road map to exist. That has all changed but works well with my OCD.
Things that have become reality is the fact that I had horrible eating and exercise habits and now must pay the piper. Dieting is a way of life for me, I wonder how I have been able to stick to something so restrictive for 6 weeks never ceases to amaze me. Only one time did I push the envelope and was sorry immediately afterward. What I thought was one tablespoon of peanut butter was closer to one third of a cup. Everything needs to be measured accurately. Nutrition labels need to be adhered to religiously and controlling calories and carbs are my guidelines.
First discovery was I can't consume many bites of bread and it must be 100% unbuttered whole wheat. I found I can eat oatmeal for breakfast so that has become my only source of grain. I also have spikes with bananas, potatoes/sweet potatoes, carrots and peas. Beans are great but only the plain white ones, less carbs. My only treat is two tablespoons of almond butter and cinnamon (supposedly controls BS & works for me) mixed with my oatmeal. I am allowed coffee but must add half n' half to cut bitterness. Water is my only liquid I drink now and need to drink at least 5 16 oz glasses. 1500 or less calories along with 130 carbs a day are my limits. Thank heaven I like eggs! My once daily serving of 3 ounces of lean meat (needed for the B-12) used to be an appetizer that precluded a 750+ calorie burger with a heaping mound of fries.
I had to take the best of many diets: Atkins, Mediterranean, Paleo, cabbage soup, gluten free, vegan,,,etc to develop something that controls my personal BS. It's a learning process, anger, arguments with my non-diabetic wife, watching her go out to restaurants with my children while I sit home eating my slim offerings is a way of life for me. I was going along poking fingers and watching my meter blink getting my BS down to an average of just over 100 thinking I was on the mend. I then run out of the strips, and after getting a fresh supply my BS jumped 10 points. What! I researched and researched for an answer only find out that the medical supply industry has limits and ranges it uses to produce the strips. Some use different chemicals and processes so you may not be getting an accurate score.
You can have a 30-40 point difference between the many meters sold or given away along with different variances even with the different lot runs of the same manufacturer. We can send men to the moon but can't create an electronic device that 24 million Americans rely on, does that make you feel safer with computer braking/speed controls in your auto at 80 mph? We wouldn't accept that shoddy production from our iPhones or tablets. It also seems that it doesn't matter how much you spend on the strips you have no way to depend on it's accuracy without meeting your co-pay and have an A1C done. That's more accurate but the usual schedule is once every 3 months. Something rotten in Denmark?
Clarification: I have nothing but repect for the hospital staff, I was kept informed, monitored and given the best care I could expect. The diabetic specialist visited several times with information, instructions and training devices to administer my injections, the doctors were professional and concerned about my progress it just seemed that the ball was dropped when I was released and had to purchase what turned out to be questionable equipment to begin my recovery. I was instructed to take my BS at intervals 4 times daily. They told me accurate records would be the best guidelines I could use, but using questionable equipment was counter productive and results were suspect at best.
Things that have become reality is the fact that I had horrible eating and exercise habits and now must pay the piper. Dieting is a way of life for me, I wonder how I have been able to stick to something so restrictive for 6 weeks never ceases to amaze me. Only one time did I push the envelope and was sorry immediately afterward. What I thought was one tablespoon of peanut butter was closer to one third of a cup. Everything needs to be measured accurately. Nutrition labels need to be adhered to religiously and controlling calories and carbs are my guidelines.
First discovery was I can't consume many bites of bread and it must be 100% unbuttered whole wheat. I found I can eat oatmeal for breakfast so that has become my only source of grain. I also have spikes with bananas, potatoes/sweet potatoes, carrots and peas. Beans are great but only the plain white ones, less carbs. My only treat is two tablespoons of almond butter and cinnamon (supposedly controls BS & works for me) mixed with my oatmeal. I am allowed coffee but must add half n' half to cut bitterness. Water is my only liquid I drink now and need to drink at least 5 16 oz glasses. 1500 or less calories along with 130 carbs a day are my limits. Thank heaven I like eggs! My once daily serving of 3 ounces of lean meat (needed for the B-12) used to be an appetizer that precluded a 750+ calorie burger with a heaping mound of fries.
I had to take the best of many diets: Atkins, Mediterranean, Paleo, cabbage soup, gluten free, vegan,,,etc to develop something that controls my personal BS. It's a learning process, anger, arguments with my non-diabetic wife, watching her go out to restaurants with my children while I sit home eating my slim offerings is a way of life for me. I was going along poking fingers and watching my meter blink getting my BS down to an average of just over 100 thinking I was on the mend. I then run out of the strips, and after getting a fresh supply my BS jumped 10 points. What! I researched and researched for an answer only find out that the medical supply industry has limits and ranges it uses to produce the strips. Some use different chemicals and processes so you may not be getting an accurate score.
You can have a 30-40 point difference between the many meters sold or given away along with different variances even with the different lot runs of the same manufacturer. We can send men to the moon but can't create an electronic device that 24 million Americans rely on, does that make you feel safer with computer braking/speed controls in your auto at 80 mph? We wouldn't accept that shoddy production from our iPhones or tablets. It also seems that it doesn't matter how much you spend on the strips you have no way to depend on it's accuracy without meeting your co-pay and have an A1C done. That's more accurate but the usual schedule is once every 3 months. Something rotten in Denmark?
Clarification: I have nothing but repect for the hospital staff, I was kept informed, monitored and given the best care I could expect. The diabetic specialist visited several times with information, instructions and training devices to administer my injections, the doctors were professional and concerned about my progress it just seemed that the ball was dropped when I was released and had to purchase what turned out to be questionable equipment to begin my recovery. I was instructed to take my BS at intervals 4 times daily. They told me accurate records would be the best guidelines I could use, but using questionable equipment was counter productive and results were suspect at best.
?