Tomorrow = a few days…

So, I’m not perfect. (You knew that.) In my last post I said, proclaimed, announced, that my attitude will be better “tomorrow.” Well my tomorrow took three days. Ugh! That’s the bad news. The good news is that my attitude is much better today!

I think I wasn’t eating enough. I ate and the food choices were appropriate, but my timing was WAY off. For instance, I may have skipped breakfast — I believe that it really IS the most important meal of the day. Eating that meal at ten o’clock is absurd, especially if you’ve been up since seven or eight a.m. That’s what’s been  happening. For some reason, I haven’t been hungry when I wake up, so I did some chores and then –POOF– it’s ten or eleven o’clock. Because it was almost lunch time, I decided to skip breakfast and just eat lunch instead. Then, later on when lunch time came around the corner, I wasn’t hungry…SO…I waited until around three or four and had a snack. Needless to say, dinner time came barrelling in and I couldn’t have cared less. Bottom line — I was eating dinner at eight or nine o’clock, if at all. THAT is not the route that a “Dedicated Diabetic” should be following. Okay, so that’s over!

I’m allergic to eggs, so breakfast has never been a nutritious meal for me, and since I was diagnosed, it’s been even more difficult. I actually spent years (pre-diagnosis) having a Boston Creme donut (or two!) to start my day.  It was an easy choice, terribly unhealthy,  but easy. 🙂

Breakfast is so important — it means BREAK the FAST! We need a nutritious meal in the morning to give our bodies the energy needed to start off the day. I’ve been so frustrated that the other day I bought a glucose daily diary/notebook. (Thank you Amazon.) Was that necessary? Not really, I’ve monitored my blood sugar with an online program, charts that I created, with tiny notebooks that fit into my purse, but didn’t have enough room to put the information I wanted to monitor. Oh, yes, I’ve been down this road before. Somewhere deep in the crevices of my brain, there’s a small voice that is SCREAMING, Why waste your time, you’ve done this before?  I scream back SHUT UP! and do what I think is necessary and correct. This journal/chart is about 6 x 9″ and will suit my needs. It  just seemed to be more coordinated, compact, and the information will be at hand when I need to make an entry.  Today will be my Day #One with this new “tool.” I’m laughing at myself, because I’m reminded of all the books on decluttering I’ve purchased — Do you know how much time I wasted reading those books instead of purging/decluttering?  🙂  🙂

Diabetes can often seem to be frustrating, even depressing. I think the only way to do battle with it, is to be prepared. An organized journal, healthy shopping list and a positive attitude might just do the trick. “Might” is not the appropriate term; it leaves space for failure. I’ll choose to say that these tools WILL do the trick.

The time to start (AGAIN) is NOW!!!!

 

All About Attitude…

Seriously — I walk, I don’t walk.

Exercise = IMPORTANT

 

I read the labels, I don’t read the labels,

 

I eat, I don’t eat.

 

I care, I don’t care.

            …and TODAY, mine stinks!

At an appointment with my doctor on Friday, she reviewed my blood work and was thrilled — my A1C was 6.1, down from 6.6 three months ago. I was disappointed, “I just want to see 5. something!”  [I know! I know! There are people who would kill for my numbers.] My reality is that I REALLY want to get off the Metformin. I’ve gone from three pills to two per day — I want NONE! Is that realistic? Well, when I asked my doctor (about six months ago), if she thought it was possible, her response was, “You’ve done it before.” NOT a huge vote of confidence but, she didn’t say it wasn’t likely. She loves my motivation — today is NOT one of those days. I’m allowed to have a miserable day, aren’t I? 😦

This T2D will keep moving on. I’ll walk this afternoon, make the right decision for dinner and start all over again — One day at a time.

I’ll have a MUCH more positive attitude tomorrow.

I swear I will! 🙂

 

 

 

 

BREAKING NEWS! “President Barack Obama quotes K. Keevins.”

At the end my last post (The Effect of Weather on Appetite), I stated, “We’re going to be just fine.” Of course I was directing my comment to Type 2 Diabetics and was talking about food and it’s consumption during the cold months of winter.

Moments ago, while watching our President’s last press conference, I heard him quote me — yes, ME! He wasn’t discussing food. He was speaking about the (future) state of our Union, when he said, “We’re gonna be okay.”   [copy cat! :)]

Then he went on to sprinkle words of hope at us, the way he does in that patriotic manner. I agree with him — HOPE is where it’s at.

 

I’m injecting HOPE into my Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Plan as the PRIMARY factor in my success. Hope is such a positive word, isn’t it? I don’t mean, “I HOPE I’m successful.” I DO mean that, no matter if I slip and slide along my journey, I’ll always hold the hope that I will succeed — I WILL succeed ONE DAY AT A TIME.

President Obama also used the word vigilant. That’s a term that fits into my plan perfectly! I will be vigilant — about monitoring my blood glucose, about exercising, and I will be most vigilant regarding my food intake — healthy choices are the way to go.

“The absence of hope is despair.” Who said that??? There will be no despair on my part, no matter how I may struggle along this journey. I’ll win the battles and eventually the war against diabetes. YOU will too!

Thanks, President Obama, for your last minute words of inspiration.  I needed the reminder to be hopeful and vigilant in life (in general), as well as in my life with diabetes. Timing is everything!

Keep the faith, folks!

I CAN DO IT!

 

There goes July…swoosh!

Saturday, July 30th, 2016

That went fast!  July just flew by — August still ahead, and I’m going to take advantage of it. Living in the northeast is a treat at this time of year.  Everything’s is bloom…

The colors are beautiful and invigorating.

Healthy eating!!!

RED onions, YELLOW onions and WHITE garlic from Meyers Farm!

Produce from Meyers Farm in Woodbury, NY

My heart races when I enter the fruit/vegetable market.

Soon, my “Dental Dilemma”       will be at an end (HOPING!), and I can get back to eating properly.  Can’t wait!  Dental issues can be a real problem for a T2D, but it’s almost over.  Thinking positively.

It’s all good — or at least it WILL be. One day at a time.  Here’s where I go to reclaim my serenity.

Have a great day, folks!

Falling Flat on My Face!

That’s pretty much what I’ve done so far. Falling, getting up, falling again. I’m basing that statement on my numbers. My blood sugar levels hover around the same area, but why, when I’m walking, am I gaining weight? SO frustrating. I’m monitoring my food.

I’d love to attribute this to my not feeling well, but what does that really have to do with it? I’m not “sick sick,” not “go to the doctor sick,” I just feel crummy. No energy. I do know that, at least with me, sometimes when something inside my body is “brewing,” this is how I feel prior to it actually hitting me. Kind of lethargic.

This too will pass.  I bought a get well card for a friend of mine the other day. She has a great sense of humor.  It read, This too will pass then, when you opened the card the words printed were, Kind of like a kidney stone — but, it WILL pass!  🙂  I thought it was pretty funny and, apparently she did as well. A few days later she called me to thank me for the chuckle, and to let me know she’s feeling better.

Doesn’t that statement sum up life beautifully? Whatever is going on in our lives, no matter how we feel, It WILL pass. Sometimes on the fast track, oftentimes, the problem has to creep along before it’s over. The bottom line is it WILL end. It will pass.

So, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I’m picking myself up, and moving on with my regime one day at a time.

Hope you’re doing well.

P.S. Sorry about the lack of photos. Still having computer issues. But, I know it will pass.   🙂

ll4 = Blood sugar            152.1 lbs.  😦

Taking the “Leap”

Monday, February 29, 2016

Happy Birthday to those of you who were born during a leap year!  (Click on that link to check out the history.) Celebrating one’s birthday every four years seems strange to me. I guess I can’t imagine doing that. How must you feel on March 1st when February 28th was the day before, and there was no recognition of your entry to this planet?  Sad? Abandoned? Invisible? I don’t get it.

I have a friend who celebrated her birthday yesterday. She told me that she ALWAYS wished she had been born on the 29th — “A Leap Year birthday is awesome,” she exclaimed! She felt cheated, because the year she was brought into this world was, in fact, a leap year. “One more day! Just one more, and I could feel unique.”

“You’re unique, trust me,” I responded. Still unsure of  her logic, I asked, “Why? I don’t understand — you get ripped off with every passing year; no cake, no presents. How can this be a good thing?”

Laughing, she responded, “It’s simple. I’d feel SPECIAL!” she insisted. “Not abandoned or invisible. And by the way,” she smiled, “I know I’d feel younger. Think about it, with each birthday celebration, I could subtract 3 years!”

Not sure her math was accurate, I went with her theory. “I guess LEAPING from one birthday to the next (four years later) has some advantages.” So, to those of you who have that SPECIAL Leap Year Birthday, I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating today! And just think, four years from now you can do it again.   🙂

I digress — moving on to DIABETES!  The “LEAP” to which I’m referring, is a bold jump,  into making even better choices and a healthier lifestyle.  Are you thinking, “Weren’t we working on that already?”

“Yes, we have been, but I’m suggesting that we take a giant LEAP forward in the management of our diabetes.  MY LEAP will include:  testing more for the next two weeks, watching my patterns more closely, monitoring what goes into my mouth more carefully, paying strict attention to exercising (in my case, walking my butt off). LOGGING ALL OF IT.  What a pain in the …  Maybe, but this T2D can do it for the next two weeks.  I can do that. TWO WEEKS — one day at a time!  C’mon…

At the end of my two week marathon of healthier living, I’ll review what I’ve done. If my numbers are better, and I feel more energetic, my plan is to keep going for the rest of the month. When March comes to an end, I’ll determine if I’m committed enough, dedicated enough, to take the LEAP into April with the same regime. I’m counting on ME.

Let’s face it, what’s more important than a healthy lifestyle?

Want to join me?  TAKE THE “LEAP.”

Blood Sugar = 109      Weight: 150.9   WHAT????

 

 

Reassessing Acceptance

Second Post for Jan. 28th, 2016

So, I’ve been contemplating whether or not I REALLY accept the “fact” that I have diabetes, OR am I in denial?  Hmmm.  I thought I had this down pat.

I remember well, when I accepted that I had this disease and that I could manage it, and that it wouldn’t be a big deal. Doing EVERYTHING right, I called myself the “poster person for diabetes.” But that didn’t happen until I went through many stages, some of which I’ll mention.  These are all very normal and typical, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

The anger, (This is crap! Why me?). I actually ate AT the diabetes. (While stuffing cake and cookies down my throat, I remember thinking,  I’ll show you!)  Needless to say, that didn’t work out well.

The bargaining (O.K., so maybe I have it.  I’ll just cut down on the carbs, and I’ll be off the hook.  I’ll be fine.  C’mon God, work with me.).

The denial stage is wicked (NOT ME; NO WAY! NO, NO, No!  The lab made a mistake.) …and the beat went on and on and on, until FINALLY — ACCEPTANCE!

WHY then, after all this time, am I floundering, doubting? Why is acceptance even an issue or something that I would be discussing, at this point?

Simple. What I didn’t realize was that because you HAVE acceptance, does NOT mean you’ll keep it!  Acceptance, it seems, is fragile. If I’m not as vigilant as I should be, acceptance can slip away.

Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of education in relation to diabetes. I spent a great deal of time today reading about diabetes.  I have LOTS of what I refer to as “spiritual reading,” on the topic.  🙂    Books — TONS of them.  Article, after article (including the ones noted, via the links on this page).  It helped. It clarified what I already knew, and brought it right to the front of my mind where it belongs. The information is important, it’s a tool, sometimes a weapon, to defend my health. If you are struggling, I highly recommend going back to the resources that you have. Read, read, read.

I know, we all know, that we have to keep our diabetes management right at the forefront of our minds.  I HAS to be the most important thought that enters my head.

Are you familiar with Steve Harvey?  I’ve read his books, and I love his positive attitude. Today, I heard him say, “Inch by inch, everything’s a cinch!”  Isn’t that the truth?  One step at a time, one meal at a time, one day at a time.

** Now that I’ve “reassessed” whether or not I really have diabetes, I’m laughing at myself.  How absurd! Of course I do. But, trust me, that denial just creeps in when you least expect it.  BE AWARE!

Moving on — tomorrow will be another Day #1!

PROGRESS — One-day-at-a-time

Every day is Day #1, but progression, in a positive sense, feels great!

This morning, I took my blood sugar — before I put on my sneakers.  Post-breakfast, and Pre-walk it was 156.  Post walk = 67!

That’s an 89 point drop, PEOPLE!     A round of applause, please.  🙂

Worth celebrating, I’d say; but not with a cake, that’s for sure.  Instead, I poured delicious, clear, spring water, in a cold, frosted, stem glass, accompanied by half of a shiny, bright red, with a tinge of yellow, Gala apple — sliced really thin!  Refreshing and delicious, and I’m NOT being sarcastic.

               Water in a “stem.”
                        (Paris)

Celebrating with a Gala!

Progress = one-day-at-a-time.    It’s all about attitude, right?    

 

BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy that 2016 has arrived?  I sure am.

My last post was December 4th.  I’ve been slightly distracted — a brief hospital stay (thanks to my wacko heart), and side effects of a new medication, kept me from posting.  BUT, I’m back in action and really happy and grateful to be writing again!   

So, dare I bring up Resolutions for the New Year?  If you made any, have you kept them?

Many moons ago I stopped making resolutions.  Why, you ask?  Simple. I rarely kept them and then suffered remorse, which resulted in doing MORE of what I had resolved to do LESS. 🙂   I decided that a more positive path would put more balance into my life. Focusing on BALANCE — that’s the answer!  Every area of our lives, food, exercise, family, work, all require balance.

The question is, How do we manage this juggling act, we call life?  I have some ideas on this topic. I’ve tried many methods to get this miss-mosh of a life in order. Some have been somewhat successful, others might be referred to as a dismal failure. What’s imperative is that we KEEP ON TRYING!  Here’s a suggestion, based on something that I always need to do:  MAKE A LIST…

There’s no way to have balance in our life, if we don’t know what it is that we value. So…

1.  MAKE A LIST— not in any specific order.  Do you value Work, Fun (recreation), Health, Friends, Spirituality, Family?  Any others?  Write them down.

2.   O.K., now take another sheet of paper and place it next to the list you’ve just completed.  Write PRIORITIES, at the top of this page.  Don’t rush.  Think carefully.

3.  Now, take your first list and write those things that you value, on your PRIORITIES LIST, in order, of course, of priority! How important is each one to you, and where should it fit in on the list?  Don’t worry, you can’t make a mistake — this is YOUR list.  [Actually, I found this the most difficult part — What?  You don’t want FUN to be your #1 priority???]   🙂

4.   Next, take your list of priorities, and and create a chart that will allow you to manage your time in relation to your priorities.  Write the amount of TIME (hours, minutes) that you are willing and able to devote to each. Hmmm, is this exercise starting to make you feel uncomfortable?  Don’t panic, you’ll figure it out, and nothing is written in stone. Time is fluid, and sometimes we’re forced to make adjustments.

At this point, you’ve carefully examined your list of priorities — you’ve committed, in writing, those things, tasks, and people that you value the most AND, you’ve established the amount of time that you’re able to devote to each.  GOOD FOR YOU!        

I CAN DO IT!

For ME managing my diabetes HAS to come FIRST on my list, and I imagine on yours, as well.  Most of us Type 2 diabetics have learned that, if we don’t put management of our diabetes first, nothing else falls into place.

Reflecting at the end of the day (I journal) has helped me to see what area(s) need to be improved.

My journal helps to keep me on track!

Making time to do those things that make us happy, bring enjoyment to our life, is IMPERATIVE.

We only go this way once, folks!  At least, I think so…

HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear readers, and may 2016 bring laughter, love, and good health into each of your lives — Oh, and BALANCE too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rollercoaster Ride We Call —– Diabetes

It has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, that’s for sure.  Diabetes really is like riding a rollercoaster!  I proved it to myself today, by perusing my old posts.  WOW!  Some days were perfect.  I kept myself right on track.  Others were an abysmal failure, pointing out the nature of this disease.

I guess what counts is that we keep getting back on the train.

I may keep slipping and sliding — but I’m not giving up. I can do this one day at a time, and so can you!

😀