Nutrition Effects on Diabetes

I’m wondering just what the stress factor has to do with glucose numbers. There must be a way I can “test” stressful times against times when I am more relaxed. Trouble is, I am one of the many whose job has been affected by the current economy. So my stress level seems to be consistently high! Glucose readings are higher…not out of sight but higher.  My blood pressure is up as well.

Seems like I should be able to control the stress since I am aware of it, right? Doesn’t work that way, at least as far as I can tell.  I’m trying to exercise more. Any readers care to comment?

I may be getting a little ahead of myself, so pardon me. But I came across a site I am trying to link to THIS site for my readers.  Without giving too much away, this site would provide a little survey and  determine nutrition advice for each individual. When honest input is given in a survey, honest output comes to the reader. Let’s all cross our fingers for the approval of this site for our application. YaY!!

In the past few months, our female cat just about 20 years old, has been “missing” the litter box. Now, if any of you are cat owners, you know that the last thing you want in your home is cat urine on the carpets! Keeping a scrupulously clean litter box is a given…no kitty odor there!  But knowing the changing habits of a senior pet can be challenging.

You might wonder what this has to do with nutrition effects on diabetes. We took “kitty” to the vet Saturday morning when daddy was available to hold her…she’s a one man cat. The veterinarian’s staff and doctor herself raved about her general health, but agreed her symptoms indicated tests for the obvious problems of bladder infection, diabetes and kidney failure. Not so different than human symptoms, she had been drinking more water than normal, and of course, peeing more than normal as well.

The vet performed a thorough physical exam and believe me, I was so impressed with our cat’s behavior! You see, she is an indoor cat…never outdoors except for breaking through the screened porch about 10 years ago when the screen was rotten. Along with good genes, I’m sure that is why she’s lived this long. Tests showed nothing conclusive for diabetes but she is close to kidney failure…primarily due to old age. We’ve been told to change her diet to give the kidneys relief from processing proteins. Also, we’ll add a litter box in the home so she has access if she can’t quite make it to the usual box.

Incontinence in pets is not unusual and not fun. Call your veterinarian for more information on your pet’s needs.

The time has come to decide what I’m going to do to help others in my situation….I’m a type 2 diabetic. Thing is, it’s much more than just “doing” diabetes.

I, like many others, I’m sure, feel they are doing all they can to get their blood sugar under control. So what can explain the glucose reading of 168 tonight BEFORE dinner? AND, I had been outdoors for several hours off and on, doing physical labor, cleaning out landscaping, bending and lifting, sweating in the sun. As I have said in previous posts, I am my own guinea pig. There must be ways I can experiment and use those results to help others. I also realize, we are all different. I’ll be reporting several different things that I’m persuing, hopefully, to help us all in beating diabetes. Not as simple as  it sounds, but any little thing will help…don’t you think?

Even before I found out I have diabetes, I enjoyed the motivational tools of Anthony Robbins and Dr. Wayne Dyer.

Dr. Dyer has had many messages that touch me. I believe the universe truly is conspiring with me, not against me. To me, the universe is God. God provides only good things in my life. How I choose to use them is another matter.

I’m trying to make the best choices I can. Stick with me and see how I do!

Guess I should be glad some things never change. My glucose levels are down and I feel great. What bothers me is that my weight hasn’t changed more than 1 or 2 pounds! How can this be??? Is this still an insulin issue??I know that exercise is SOOO beneficial…and I do exercise. I need to do more. Why can’t I seem to commit to more exercise? It has to become a priority.

Yeast infection. It’s not the most pleasant subject to talk about, but, unfortunately, it is one that effects millions of people. It is also a disease that can be associated with diabetes. And, yeast infection is not only a woman’s problem. Men can have this too.

Yeast and other microbes live in everyone’s bodies, usually coexisting in a healthy way. But when an overgrowth of yeast (fungus) occurs, so do health problems. One of the most common of these is a vaginal yeast infection in a woman. The symptoms can be really distressing (itching and odorous discharge), but what is more distressing is the fact that even when prescribed antibiotics by your doctor, most times, the problem isn’t gone. Perhaps, you just made it worse! Men may have infection in the genitalia, under the arms, or between the toes. This may be common, but it’s not normal.

Doctors will tell you that yeast infection can be related to other underlying conditions, such as diabetes, leukemia and AIDS. Yeast and fungi feed off sugar. Through the combination of a diabetic’s body not handling starches and sugars properly, and the body building up a resistance to antibiotics, you’ve possibly just set yourself up for one doozey of an infection! Or recurring infections!

There are natural and effective ways to rid yourself of yeast overgrowth. No, we don’t hear about them but a few actually exist! I believe the drug companies want to keep us popping pills and spending tons of money on treatments that are actually hurting us. For some of the best and most complete information on natural cures for yeast infection, click here and it will take you right to what YOU need to know for yourself or your family. Don’t suffer any longer.

Today wasn’t a particularly good day, physically. I’ve been experiencing tenderness on the left side of my stomach and ribs. I’ve been checking out pancreatitis and it appears the symptoms are similar to what I have. But before I jump to conclusions, I’ll do more research. Next doctor’s appointment is in a month.
Why would these symptoms appear now when I’ve been on insulin for a little over a month and am diligently watching what I eat? I added enzymes for digestion to relieve some of the bloating and gas I was getting from the broccoli and cabbage. If I don’t eat a lot of vegetables, I’m good. I did have a little piece of cake after dinner last night (3 bites) for my mother’s 85th birthday. Even though my sugar measured 188 after that, it was back down to 124 by bedtime.

Before the diagnosis of diabetes was made, I had no symptoms that I payed much attention to. Looking back,  there were a few times I felt some twinges in the left side of my stomach area. Of course, I thought I had a muscle spasm since I’d had those in my back before and that’s what it felt like.You’d better believe I am paying better attention to my body and what it’s telling me!

I spent so much time online today looking at sites on diabetes. There must be thousands of them! I’ve always been interested in nutrition, but this isn’t the way I wanted to get more involved in it! Okay. That attitude has got to stop. I have diabetes. I take insulin. I have changed my diet, eliminating sugar and flour. The carbs in my food are largely from vegetables now. I take supplements to support the pancreas and adrenal glands as well as a vitamin for a healthy heart.

The doctor gave me a prescription for lisinopril for protecting my kidneys. Apparently, diabetes effects so many parts of the body and kidney damage is a common side effect. My goal is to get off all prescribed medications. I’ve got to keep reading and searching for ways to use food as my medicine. The glycemic index is interesting. I think I’ll go check it out.

Nineteen days ago, I got a real shocker. After going to the doctor for a health certificate to teach, (TB test…they want to be certain you have no communicable diseases for the children) I was informed I had diabetes. Full blown, insulin injecting diabetes. I know there are many people my age, yes, I’m a baby boomer, that have type 2 diabetes. But not me! How could this be happening to me???

I pleaded with the doctor to let me try diet and exercise or even pills, but was told my numbers were so high, it probably wouldn’t be effective. Well tough. Okay. I will shoot up with insulin!  THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING TO ME!!

Here I begin the online search for HELP. I am famous for telling people to go online. “You can find anything online”!