My blood sugar was 126 this morning. It is a little higher than I wish, and I blame the Holiday season. Cakes and other goodies are around, and while I should simply say no, I am like a worm of the dust. I have no self-control. I see it, and I want it. Party on, big guy.
That is what caused my problems, but I am so weak willed that I just can't say no to the goodies, Holiday or otherday.
But I am working on it. Tomorrow, I'll have better news, I'm sure.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, December 09, 2007
It's been a couple days
I've been doing ok. Doctor said foot is looking better. Still not healed. It seems that every day I resolve to get my food under control, yet I never do as well as I want to do. For now, good enough, but I need better than that.
For tomorrow, I resolve to do it right, and to get in the exercise that I have been avoiding due to laziness.
For tomorrow, I resolve to do it right, and to get in the exercise that I have been avoiding due to laziness.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Today
Today was another good day. I did some minor exercise, and my sugar this morning was 107. I had pasta last night, so that may be why it was higher than it had been running. But I am still happy with the number.
The Mrs. has been running high, so I am pulling out all stops to keep her off insulin. She is taking the Cinnamon 6, along with all the supplements from Sportron. I also have her taking essential oils topically. She is under a lot of stress, so that may be hampering her also. She has been doing well and has been losing weight, which should help.
The Mrs. has been running high, so I am pulling out all stops to keep her off insulin. She is taking the Cinnamon 6, along with all the supplements from Sportron. I also have her taking essential oils topically. She is under a lot of stress, so that may be hampering her also. She has been doing well and has been losing weight, which should help.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Another good day
I got up this morning, and my Blood sugar was 95. I'm pretty happy about that. The only real change I have made recently is that I drink Twinings tea. The cinnamon and cherry flavor. It tastes a little srange but since I started my sugar has become even better. It was pretty good before, but this is a new consistent low for me.
I view my journey to getting off drugs as a 3 step process, so far. The first was that I started getting proper supplementation. While I believe the ones I have are the best, similar results can be attained by others.
The second phase was a major dietary change. I eat a vegan diet 6 days a week. I should probably follow through and do it all 7, but why oh why are the foods that are so bad for me so darn tasty?
The third phase has been the tea. This has brought me way down. Before, my sugars were around 100-120 in the morning, but this huge drop makes me happy.
I view my journey to getting off drugs as a 3 step process, so far. The first was that I started getting proper supplementation. While I believe the ones I have are the best, similar results can be attained by others.
The second phase was a major dietary change. I eat a vegan diet 6 days a week. I should probably follow through and do it all 7, but why oh why are the foods that are so bad for me so darn tasty?
The third phase has been the tea. This has brought me way down. Before, my sugars were around 100-120 in the morning, but this huge drop makes me happy.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Just catching up
It's been months since I posted here. I've been hospitalized 3 times, including a visit to Ct that landed me in a UCONN Hospital. I've had a bout with a basal cell carcinoma, and my anemia put me in once in June for 2 weeks. I had a colonoscopy, and of course, I'm using that picture as my Christmas card.
But every day, I'm getting better. My most recent a1c was 5.9, and this morning my blood sugar was 95.
I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I am working on it. Once I am able to exercise, the fat will melt away.
I am going to try to post every day to help keep myself on track.
But every day, I'm getting better. My most recent a1c was 5.9, and this morning my blood sugar was 95.
I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I am working on it. Once I am able to exercise, the fat will melt away.
I am going to try to post every day to help keep myself on track.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Natural/Alternative Treatments
The word natural has been used so much that it is nearly meaningless. Just because a product is all natural, it does not mean it is healthy. Even herbal remedies must be carefully monitored for two (at least) types exist. Medicinal herbs and food herbs are the most common descriptions. Medicinal herbs can be dangerous, ma huang is the one that immediately comes to mind. This is usually known as ephedra. And while ma huang is safe when used properly, it is easy to abuse. The one property that it has it it gives tremendous energy. That is why so many people have died from it. The herb gets abused because it is easy to build up a tolerance to it, and rather than go off it for a week, people increase the amount to get the desired effect. That is when trouble starts. No one would double up on presciption drugs without careful monitoring by a doctor, yet because a product is an herb, people just assume it is safe and healthy to use too much ma huang. The result, as we all know, is that it was taken off the market because a few foolish people overdid it. At least that is the story everyone was given. Prescription deaths account for thousands of deaths per year, so it is pretty clear that the removal of ephedra was all about the Benjamins.
Back to the topic at hand.
Since type 2 diabetes is a disease brought on by an unhealty lifestyle, it should be obvious that it can be reversed though a healthy lifestyle. I have been adopting some lifestyle changes recommended in Dr Fuhrman's book Eat to Live available at : http://www.drfuhrman.com/weightloss/reviews.aspx
As of today, I am pretty much a vegan. While not perfect, I would estimate that my meals are vegan around 90% of the time. I do take supplements from Sportron International because they make me feel good. I'm keeping my sugar under control with no diabetic medication. This is pretty remarkable because I previously was taking 4 mg of Amaryl, and it was not giving me sufficient control. I am a major proponent of alternative treatments. One caveat does exist, though, one must do a bit of research first. So many products exist that it is important to understand some of the science behind them. I was taking a supplement that helped lower my sugar because it contained the sugar busters that have been used for centuries. These are cinnamon, bitter melon, gymnema sylvestre, nopal cactus, American ginseng, fenugreek, and chromium. The product, Cinnamon 6, was very good, but did not meet all my needs. It is around $40-$50 for a month's supply. It would probably be good for someone who is a newly diagnosed diabetic who hasn't suffered all the complications yet.
Many simple things are available to help diabetics. For example, just a sprinkle of cinnamon on a bowl of oatmeal in the morning has been shown to help control glucose. Since many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a simple, inexpensive yet very effective treatment is available.
Using a bucket of warm water and one of cold, simply soak feet in one for 5 minutes, then switch to the other. Repeat 3 times. Cost is negligible, yet it helps so much.
Just be cautious and check the water temperature before putting feet in. Many diabetics have reduced sensation and could cause damage if water is too extreme either way. But doing this every night has brought relief to many.
Also, hot peppers are a good thing for reduced circulation so common in us diabetics. I've been eating them at 2 meals a day, and it seems as if I'm getting a benefit. It may be all in my mind, but at least I feel better.
Back to the topic at hand.
Since type 2 diabetes is a disease brought on by an unhealty lifestyle, it should be obvious that it can be reversed though a healthy lifestyle. I have been adopting some lifestyle changes recommended in Dr Fuhrman's book Eat to Live available at : http://www.drfuhrman.com/weightloss/reviews.aspx
As of today, I am pretty much a vegan. While not perfect, I would estimate that my meals are vegan around 90% of the time. I do take supplements from Sportron International because they make me feel good. I'm keeping my sugar under control with no diabetic medication. This is pretty remarkable because I previously was taking 4 mg of Amaryl, and it was not giving me sufficient control. I am a major proponent of alternative treatments. One caveat does exist, though, one must do a bit of research first. So many products exist that it is important to understand some of the science behind them. I was taking a supplement that helped lower my sugar because it contained the sugar busters that have been used for centuries. These are cinnamon, bitter melon, gymnema sylvestre, nopal cactus, American ginseng, fenugreek, and chromium. The product, Cinnamon 6, was very good, but did not meet all my needs. It is around $40-$50 for a month's supply. It would probably be good for someone who is a newly diagnosed diabetic who hasn't suffered all the complications yet.
Many simple things are available to help diabetics. For example, just a sprinkle of cinnamon on a bowl of oatmeal in the morning has been shown to help control glucose. Since many diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a simple, inexpensive yet very effective treatment is available.
Using a bucket of warm water and one of cold, simply soak feet in one for 5 minutes, then switch to the other. Repeat 3 times. Cost is negligible, yet it helps so much.
Just be cautious and check the water temperature before putting feet in. Many diabetics have reduced sensation and could cause damage if water is too extreme either way. But doing this every night has brought relief to many.
Also, hot peppers are a good thing for reduced circulation so common in us diabetics. I've been eating them at 2 meals a day, and it seems as if I'm getting a benefit. It may be all in my mind, but at least I feel better.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Happy Valentine's day
Tomorrow is a day when everyone seems to enjoy exchanging gifts like candy. Most diabetics I know either ignore that candy is loaded with sugar, and undulge, or they buy that dreck known as sugar-free candy.
It is like neither one is a good choice.
The choice I make is to use very high content dark chocolate. I don't mean the regular dark chocolate but the really bitter stuff from el rey (I think that's the name) is 73.5%.
It is pretty low in sugar and has an undeniable chocolate taste.
This ain't your momma's milk chocolate.
I find that this "high test" chocolate is very satisfying and I can eat just a little bit of it. I don't need to eat a whole bar. In fact, I buy the discs. These are little discs, similar to coins that are more used for baking. I like them because they are easy to portion control. I hate breaking up bars.
It is like neither one is a good choice.
The choice I make is to use very high content dark chocolate. I don't mean the regular dark chocolate but the really bitter stuff from el rey (I think that's the name) is 73.5%.
It is pretty low in sugar and has an undeniable chocolate taste.
This ain't your momma's milk chocolate.
I find that this "high test" chocolate is very satisfying and I can eat just a little bit of it. I don't need to eat a whole bar. In fact, I buy the discs. These are little discs, similar to coins that are more used for baking. I like them because they are easy to portion control. I hate breaking up bars.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I haven't been around in a while
I haven't been around in a while. I have been shirking my duties. I'll start with an update.
My sugar has been well controlled, but because my wound is in a very difficult place to heal, it hasn't in a year.
In January of this year, I got very ill, and had to have my 4th toe cut off. That's the one little piggy that got no roast beef, for anyone who remembers that old kid's nursery rhyme. I'm trying to recover, but I am more committed than ever to try to help others avoid the pain that I have gone through.
Diabetes has destroyed my health. My feet are scarred. My kidneys are barely functioning. And, career wise, well, imagine what it is like to change careers every few years or so.
I used to be a truck driver, delivering home heating oil, and working on boilers. I could no longer physically do that due to diabetes, so I entered social services, direct care.
I went to school and got my degree so I could do something less physical.
I became a certified teacher. And due to my physical disability (I've been in a wheelchair or used a cane) it has been very difficult to get a position. So, I went back to school and got an even more valuable advanced degree. My health has stopped me from using it, though.
Anyway, I'm back and I hope to keep providing quality information so everyone can make informed decisions about health care.
My sugar has been well controlled, but because my wound is in a very difficult place to heal, it hasn't in a year.
In January of this year, I got very ill, and had to have my 4th toe cut off. That's the one little piggy that got no roast beef, for anyone who remembers that old kid's nursery rhyme. I'm trying to recover, but I am more committed than ever to try to help others avoid the pain that I have gone through.
Diabetes has destroyed my health. My feet are scarred. My kidneys are barely functioning. And, career wise, well, imagine what it is like to change careers every few years or so.
I used to be a truck driver, delivering home heating oil, and working on boilers. I could no longer physically do that due to diabetes, so I entered social services, direct care.
I went to school and got my degree so I could do something less physical.
I became a certified teacher. And due to my physical disability (I've been in a wheelchair or used a cane) it has been very difficult to get a position. So, I went back to school and got an even more valuable advanced degree. My health has stopped me from using it, though.
Anyway, I'm back and I hope to keep providing quality information so everyone can make informed decisions about health care.
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