For the most part I am continuing to have what I think I remember normal days were like ;). It’s been so long, way before we started taking care of parents, that I’m not really sure I would recognize a normal day if I saw it. LOL!!!
I am continuing to check my glucose levels 5 times a day, but I’ve had more high readings of late than I did last month. I’ve even had a lot of morning fasting readings that were high, before I’ve eaten anything for the day. I have been trying to eat more of the meals that I really enjoy, and I’m finding that even when I think I’m cutting portion size and being reasonable with my choices – my glucose reading says I have not succeeded.
I am continuing to lose weight slowly but surely – down 13 pounds from when I found out I was diabetic back in April. I have a long way to go, and expect it to take until Summer of next year to reach my goal. I continue to use FitDay to log in my food intake for each meal, plus keep track of my activity level. I’m very impressed with this site, as I have a graph of my Weight Goal, and I can follow along to see if I am on track to meet the goal I set to lose 50 pounds. The graphs make it easy to see that I am doing just what I wanted to do, and that’s encouraging. It’s so much easier to stay motivated when I can find some areas that I am doing well on. It makes it easier to make myself be careful with my eating habits, too. Obviously this is not a short term diet I am on. I want to lose it slowly enough so that it will stay off, and if I’m lucky, I won’t have as much loose skin, either. I have plenty of time to get my eating habits in line with what is the most healthy for me.
I have an appointment this week to get my first pair of diabetic shoes from my Podiatrist. Medicare will pay for one pair a year, which helps to offset the pitiful amount they pay toward all the glucose test strips I’m having to buy. I needed a new pair of shoes anyway, although these are not in a style I would have chosen on my own. If they feel good, and I stop ending up with the huge callouses I’ve had trouble with for years, plus take the pressure off the tops of my big toes, I’ll be happy with the trade-off between style and comfort.
We’re supposed to get our car back this week from the body shop, and we’re both hoping it will be sooner, not later this week. These last few weeks having to use the van (AC does not work) has not only been Alabama hot, but it’s taking its toll on my muscles, climbing up each time I get in. There have been a few yard sale stops that I just stayed in the van and let hubby go look, just because I was too tired to haul my heavy self back up in the seat. LOL!!!
I continue to read everything I can find of interest about diabetes, but I’ve probably read most of the important stuff by now. And, since I don’t cook, I’m not interested in the recipe stuff, which is most of what is out there. Hubby takes care of lunch when we eat at home, but our meal consists mostly of a large raw spinach and vegetable salad, with canned beans and hard boiled eggs as our protein sources. We’re not vegetarians, as we eat meat when we eat out, but we don’t each much meat at home. That helps us keep our food shopping budget in good shape, and makes it easier to always have lots of fresh fruit in the house. We have added black beans and kidney beans to our diet as a result of reading a diabetes article about how they have a low Glycemic Index and lots of fiber. I do still try to get a lot of fiber each day to help with my elimination difficulties.
The Glycemic Index of foods gives a measure of how much a food will raise the glucose level, and how quickly it will do it. Every food that has been tested with real human beings is compared to the rapid glucose increase when pure glucose is eaten. It’s a complicated process to get the numbers, but, once the numbers are available for a food, it is very helpful in making food choices. For instance, white potatoes have a high Glycemic index, which means blood glucose levels will jump quickly after potatoes are eaten. So … no more white potatoes for me. The better foods in the list have a Low Glycemic Index, and don’t jump the testing readings up much at all. Most raw vegetables fit that category, although a few starchy ones, such as corn and potatoes don’t.
So, I’m continuing to read and learn, trying to develop healthy eating habits that I can continue from now on, and learning which foods send my glucose readings too high. I’m committed to taking care of myself, and I expect to be diabetes free within a year.