Another Shoe Falls

[willieandwinnie]

Well, My Primary care Doctor just called from the labs I had drawn yesterday and my AIC was 8.5. It was 6.1 in August. I have got to do some major lifestyle changes which are going to be difficult at best with the diet that Len is on.  Everything he is suppose to eat, I'm not. With the cost of food, I'm not sure how I am going to pull this off. I have to go to Doctor on April 7th and he said he'd make some medication changes and do another test sooner then I planned. This really sucks!!!!!!!!!! Of course, if I go into a diabetic coma, I won't be much good to Len. This is just a  I know what I need to do, it's just not going to be easy. So much for my attempt at stopping to smoke, won't be happening until I get blood sugar where it is suppose to be. Thanks for listening to me. Now I'm going to borrow kitkatz  and use it on myself.

[xtrememoosetrax]

Ugh.  I'm sorry w&w. I wish I had an easy solution for you, but all I can offer is my sympathy. This is definitely a tough situation to be in.

[rose1999]

  wishing you the best.

[paris]

Sometimes it never seems to end---one thing after another.  I am sorry.  My husband is diabetic and our two diets are so different.  It is hard to make a meal that works for both of us. And with the price of groceries going up; it makes everything hard.  Some days it can be overwhelming.  Hope you can get your numbers at a good level.  Let us know how it goes.

[MyssAnne]

oh, hon!!! As if you guys didn't have enough on your plates to handle, now this!!!!!  Ugh!!!!! 

 

[Mimi]

Awwww gee W&W I know how you feel.  My A1C got up to about 7 one time, but the last check was 5.8.  I
didn't do anything much except cut out breads and cut portion size.  I actually ate some of everything, but
cut down the portion  size of all that I was not supposed to have.  Also I was put on Lantus, one shot at night,
and I think that really helped me.  Are you on meds or insulin?  Let us know what the Dr. recommends.

Mimi

[kitkatz]

What is the AIC?

[twirl]

w & w please do not beat yourself up or go into a coma
I love reading your posts and looking at those adorable doggies of yours
can't wait to see their spring or summer pics
cook what you need to eat and add more salt?
I threw my low salt cookbook away -- yuck
I made butternilk fried chicken thighs tonight and took one big bite
actually, after frying-- I do not feel like eating it
I made carrots and rice and gravy
I'll eat some carrots and rice and a little gravy
and then do the worst thing----- drink a 12 ounce coke
on yes, and rolls with honey butter, husband loves honey butter
groceries here are unreal, even at the price cutting stores
I read an article that stated groceries costs more and sizes are getting smaller
don't try to buy fresh bing cherries----you have to get a loan
and my son drinks about 10 gallons of milk a week to bulk up for the Texas A&M football team
twirl

[willieandwinnie]

kitkatz, The A1c test is used primarily to monitor the glucose control of diabetics over time. The goal of those with diabetes is to keep their blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. This helps to minimize the complications caused by chronically elevated glucose levels, such as progressive damage to body organs like the kidneys, eyes, cardiovascular system, and nerves. The A1c test gives a picture of the average amount of glucose in the blood over the last few months. It can help a patient and his doctor know if the measures they are taking to control the patient’s diabetes are successful or need to be adjusted.

The A1c test is frequently ordered on newly diagnosed diabetics to help determine how elevated their uncontrolled blood glucose levels have been. It may be ordered several times while control is being achieved, and then several times a year to verify that good control is being maintained.

[kidney4traci]

W&W- I am sorry to hear about the news.  I know you must be frustrated.  We have controlled my husbands diabetes and would love to share with you what we call our "healing diet".  It is something we offer our patients and have seen amazing results.  IM me if you want more info, I do not want to be pushy or preachy here but am at your assistance if you are interested.  Peace.

[aharris2]

What is the AIC?

We call it the kiss and tell test. Even if you don't own up to having high blood sugar from time to time, this test tells all. Red blood cells store sugar and this test measures the amount of sugar they've stored over their lifetimes - your blood sugar jumps up to 300, you don't care to be yelled at by the doctor so you don't admit it. But there's this little red blood cell sucking it up and it will spill its guts, tell its story when captured in the A1C test tube.

Alene

[KT0930]

w&w, I'm so sorry. I can only imagine how frustrated you are. My husband is trying very hard to lose weight and put off diabetes (it runs very strong in his family), so he's doing a low-carb diet. It is nearly impossible to combine a renal/dialysis diet and low carb. Thank goodness I got the transplant, because now I can eat more of the stuff that's normally on his diet!

Anyway, a couple of the things we've discovered that would be ok for both diets: in the recipe section here, someone posted a roasted cauliflower recipe, and it's very good using rosemary! Roasted chicken is very good, for a little more flavor and moisture, cook it with the skin on, then cut the skin off before you eat; I made ratatouille for the first time the other day, and it was very good - a full recipe uses two tomatoes, but if it's just the two of you (I think?), a half recipe is more than sufficient, and is only one tomato in the entire pan.

I know Len can't have them, but if you keep a can of nuts or a block of cheese around to snack on, it might help a little bit (try to buy the store brand, it's like half the price!).

I hope this helps a little. Please take care of yourself...Len needs you, and so do we! 

[KT0930]

Ok, I spaced. About an hour after I sent that reply last night, I realized Len has had a transplant, but he's been having stomach problems.  Sorry about that!

I don't know what bothers his stomach and what doesn't, so if my diet suggestions don't work for him, still know that I'm thinking of you and hoping all is well. Sorry again!

[willieandwinnie]

KT, That's alright. I have so many brain farts lately.    Len is on a low fiber-low residue diet. We both love cauliflower, but it is not on his diet at all. That is was has got us both frustrated, everything that Len can have and is good for him, is the worst possible thing I can eat.  . Len has a dentist appointment this afternoon and then we are off to the grocery store. Oh what fun. I want to know why everything that is marked diabetic friendly cost double of other stuff. They get us coming and going on food. OK, I feel better now.

[Psim]

W&W, I wish I had words of wisdom, recipe hints or big ideas for keeping the grocery bills down! All I have is  but I'm sending that out to you. You are such a caring, warm person, and your love for Len is lovely to see. I wish all the best for you.

[okarol]

It's no wonder you don't have time to quit smoking, get more exercise, work on your diet and focus on YOU!
It's been a stressful time these last months. I hope as things are more stable you'll be able to do what you need to get healthier.
 

[KT0930]

wow, w&w, that would be difficullt to combine with a diabetic friendly diet! I think I had it pretty easy when I was on dialysis! Sorry you're dealing with all this.

I have a friend at work who was recently told to switch to a diet that sounds a lot like Len is on, and he seems to "get it" about different types of diets. I'll ask him if he has any ideas for you. Until then, 

[annabanana]

WW, I have the same situation going on at my house. It seems like everything good for Randy is bad for me as I have recently been diagnosed pre-diabetic. Plus we have a 12 year old son who needs an altogether different diet than either of us!

I wish I had some tricks to share with you but I don't. It's difficult. And expensive. And time-consuming.

The only thing I've come up with that's not too difficult is a taco or wrap type dinner where everyone fixes their own. I have all the different ingredients laid out and I usually fix Randy's to make sure he doesn't put tomatoes or salt, etc. on his.

Need more research on this one! 

A. 

 

[willieandwinnie]

Thanks everyone, you guys are  I took Len to the dentist yesterday, and after him laying in the chair for almost an hour, he wasn't in the mood to go to the grocery store, so I went alone. God, this is going to give me a headache. Has anyone really read food labels? How damn confusing can they get. I already have to read them pretty carefully because of Len's diet, now I have to also check ingredients for myself.  I just made sure I bought a bunch of fresh vegetables meats. That should get me started until I can do 2 separate grocery list, one for Len and one for me. Hopefully, this isn't going to drive me to drink.  I've done a bunch of reading this morning on diabetic diets and they all kind of suck. 

KT, if you can drag any information out of your co-worker, I would be forever grateful  . I need to get my head around this stuff and right now I seem to be in a fog.

Thanks again everybody. 

[thegrammalady]

booo, hisssss, hope things get better.

[petey]

willieandwinnie -- My God, Kathy!  How much more does God think you can stand?  Do you ever think, "I've maxed out, God!  Give this to somebody else?"  I know I do.  Marvin and I have never had to deal with sugar problems (that's one small blessing for us), but my dad is diabetic (not insulin dependent yet -- just meds).  Mom always struggles with what he's supposed to eat and when.  Daddy does better when he eats six-seven small meals a day rather than three.  But, he still has problems controlling and managing his sugar, glucose, carbs, etc.  I have no help to offer you in this situation. 

I can just say I'm sorry you're having to deal with this on top of everything else!   

About the prices of food, Marvin says if we didn't have to eat, we could live really, really good.  (Of course, if we didn't eat, we wouldn't live long now would we?     Those grocery stores know they've got us!)   I can't believe how much they charge for stuff in the grocery store.  It's ridiculous!

I'm going to offer you some advice that nobody will agree with, but here goes!  Go outside, light up a cigarette (hell, have a beer or a glass of wine if you want to), and just sit there and enjoy it!  I think when I finish this post, I'll go outside and light up and think about you!  Hang in there, Kathy! 

[lola]

W&W I wish I could help you out. How frustrating for you guys. 

[twirl]

Petey     I like your advice.......gulp......cough,cough ( don't smoke)

[willieandwinnie]

petey, I took some of your advise,  I went out on the deck and sat by the hot tub and smoked a cigarette and drank a glass of ice water. Len had a doctors appointment this afternoon and the doctor was really great, he said that he would talk about my problems on the 7th. Works for me, at least I won't have to listen to his words echo in my mind all weekend. I did tell him that when Len had his transplant and was in and out of the hospital that I didn't take my medications. He fussed at me over that, but I think deep down he understood where my priorities were at the time. I am trying to eat smaller meals more often and if it kills me I will stay away from sweets. (Sluff, we need a hangmans noose). I keep telling God, that I have passed every test he has given me, what's up with that. 

[kidney4traci]

 Stevia is a natural sweetner that does not effect the glicemic index.  Same with Zylitol, which is what we use.  It tastes more like sugar and comes granulated like sugar also.