Thursday, August 29, 2013

Thoughts.....

Pickles, my walking buddy

It's almost 3am and i can't sleep. We ate out last night at Martin's BBQ and for me, although it was yummy, it was a huge mistake. I really can't do the eat-out thing anymore unless i am going to eat something clean. It just isn't worth it. My stomach feels like lead. This revelation is a hard one for me as i love to go out to eat. While we really have slowed down eating out, it was really a fun treat to do with my little family. I guess i really need to realize that spending time with my little crew is important, not eating out...

I am taking a diabetic class later on this morning. It's going to be an all-day affair with lots of learning the do's and the don'ts of how my life will now be. How i'll be eating, preparing meals, learning to use my nifty, new meter, and things that are important for diabetics to know. I had to stop reading on my online research; diabetes effects so many things in your body. That shouldn't really be a surprise as i know that everything in your body is suppose to work together so if one part is sick, well, other parts will follow if you don't make changes. I am actually looking forward to taking this class because i feel like i don't know enough to deal with my health right now.

One of the questions on the intake questionnaire is "How do you feel about your health?"

My answer?

Angry.

Angry because it is my fault and if i had cared more about my health, i wouldn't be in this position. I wouldn't be diabetic. I wouldn't have high blood pressure. I wouldn't have high cholesterol. I wouldn't have protein in my urine (still not sure what THAT means). I wouldn't be overweight. I thought i would just ignore my health, because, really, what could happen to me? (This is otherwise known as the "Head-In-The-Sand" approach....)

I know, my reasoning is something to behold, isn't it?

After all, if i don't take care of myself, how will i be around to take care of my husband and little daughter?

Pickles and i are now walking buddies. We walk Emma to her bus stop every morning (and continue to walk once the bus leaves) and then we walk to her bus stop to pick her up every afternoon (we leave early from the house to get our walk in before the bus shows up). It has done both Pickles and i good to walk together....she really is a great dog and exercise is good for her, too. The kids at the bus stop love to pet her and Emma giggles when they line up to get on the bus and Pickles lines up with them as if she is getting on the bus, too. Twice a day, i walk Pickles. I know that i will need to incorporate more exercise than just walking Pickles, but i am proud of the fact that i have started with walking which i have always enjoyed.

I really should get a bit more sleep as it's going to be a long day....


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sample Day of Food


"If you have diabetes you should follow a special diet. Here’s a sample diabetic meal plan that is about 1,600 calories and 220 grams of carbohydrates. Remember to drink two 8-ounce glasses of water with each meal."

Breakfast
(360 calories, 52.5 grams carbohydrate)

1 slice toasted whole wheat bread with 1 teaspoon margarine
1/4 cup egg substitute or cottage cheese
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 small banana


Lunch
(535 calories, 75 grams carbohydrate)

1 cup vegetable soup with 4-6 crackers
1 turkey sandwich (2 slices whole wheat bread, 1 ounce turkey and 1 ounce low-fat cheese, 1 teaspoon mayonnaise)
1 small apple


Dinner
(635 calories, 65 grams carbohydrate)

4 ounces broiled chicken breast with basil and oregano sprinkled on top
2/3 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cup cooked carrots
1 small whole grain dinner roll with 1 teaspoon margarine
Tossed salad with 2 tablespoons low-fat salad dressing
4 unsweetened canned apricot halves or 1 small slice of angel food cake


Snacks
(Each has 60 calories or 15 grams carbohydrate. Pick two per day.)

16 fat-free tortilla chips with salsa
1/2 cup artificially sweetened chocolate pudding
1 ounce string cheese plus one small piece of fruit
3 cups light popcorn


-Taken from WebMD


Friday, August 23, 2013

So, this isn't good news.....


....at all. Not that this news is unexpected; in fact, it's news that i was pretty sure wasn't "new" news at all. It was just that this news wasn't 'confirmed' by my doctor. Of course, it was mainly not confirmed because i chose to hide from my doctor, cancel my appointments and pretty much keep my head in the sand while singing 'la-de-da' while sticking my fingers in my ears.

Ready for the not-so-shocking news?

I am a diabetic.

In fact, i'm just not a 'little' diabetic, i am REALLY diabetic.

You know, the Type 2 kind?

Yes, that would be me.

The medicine taking, stabbing my finger for numbers, needing to eat correctly, exercise daily, losing weight kind of diabetic that needs to change her life style like NOW kind-of-diabetic.

Yes, that is me.

Apparently, i am NOT too cute to be a diabetic.

Another shocker, yes?

While i am not shocked, i am a bit a LOT scared. I have done what most folks have done: pretend that i am a "healthy-fat" instead of a not-healthy fat. I have pretended to be happy as i am, taking my body and my health for granted. I have pretended that carrying an extra oh, say, an extra 70 pounds is okay. I have pretended to be a healthy-fat for a bit too long.

Isn't that hysterical? I actually convinced myself that i was a 'healthy-fat'!

Not so funny anymore as this pretend game of mine has finally caught up with me....what a surprise, yes?

So, along with my life-style change, a blog overhaul is needed.

Welcome to the new...

This Little Diabetic Piggy Blog

And so i begin on this most important journey....no games, no half-way, no pretending to be healthy, no sneaking foods that are not going to help me.

Being a diabetic is serious, folks.....very serious.

Being a diabetic is a game changer.

I am just sad that it took this to wake me up.

Pray for me, please....or send good vibes my way as i start to navigate my new life.

And maybe even follow along?

I'll need all of the support i can get....