ARGH! That's not meant to be a pirate "argh", but rather an incredibly frustrated "argh". I was looking forward to a support group tonight. I really was. Anyone that knows me, knows I don't really like these kinds of things and the fact that I wanted to go is a HUGE sticking deal.
Anyway, I tried calling and I got transferred to not one, not two, but three different people, ALL saying that they had no idea what I was talking about!! I got the information from off a website. I wasn't just calling a random number or anything. I mean Ridiculous! Well, if there was a support group tonight, I was unable to go. FRUSTRATING!
On a somewhat brighter note, I finally assured that the clinic FINALLY sent over my records. HOWEVER! I was told I was going to be called when that was done, but alas, there was no phone call to make me aware that they had even sent them over. UGH! I'm so glad I'm done with that clinic! Now onto finding a support group... I wonder if there will be any other young adults diagnosed with type 1...Here's hoping!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
People Do CARE!
This last week has simply been amazing! But before I get started on this post I just want to state that I do know that my dear friends and family care about me and what's been going on. But as far as doctors, pharmacies, etc... well, let's just say that most have not been so caring about everything. I have felt very alone. There have not been a lot of answers to questions. Also being a 23 year-old being diagnosed as Type 1 is extremely rare. It happens, but not that often. At any rate, that's why this week has been so awesome... so picking up with after my Dietitian appointment.
So a little background on Steve Jobs. Yes, we all know that he died of pancreatic caner. But did you know that he also had Type 1 diabetes!? Neither did I. Anyway, being Steve Jobs, he wanted something easier to help manage and track his test results, insulin intake, carbs... everything. So he took to creating a blood meter that hooks directly into the iPhone or iPod touch and has an app and everything.
It's so awesome! I have only had it for one day and it already is making life easier. I'm still doing a hard copy tracking but it's good for having the ability to email my diabetes care team my stats! How awesome! The app also allows me to set my meal time schedule. It's much better for diabetics to try and keep a schedule. It helps keep the blood sugars under control. So when I take my blood sugars, and then upload them to the app, they automatically dump into the right categories so I don't have to do it. Thank you Steve Jobs!
I guess buying the iPhone wasn't such a bad idea after all!
Anyway, the really awesome part of this story is the most awesome pharmacy EVVEER! My dietitian told me how I had the ability to get a free iBGstar. She told me about Medipharm. It's a specialty pharmacy that caters completely to diabetics. They work with manufacturers to get discounts and coupons on insulin, testing supplies, etc. It's a very small pharmacy, and they care about their patients. It's more than just making money for them. It's making sure that people are comfortable and getting the attention that they need. They let me rant about my experience with Dr. T and his office, about how I have felt so alone, everything.
One of the pharmacists brought me out magazines, pamphlets, a cook book full of diabetic recipes, glucose tablets, and glucose spread, etc. They were just so nice and so awesome! I'm excited about working with them with everything. I'm so excited that I have a care team that actually cares about me and what I am going through. YAY!
So a little background on Steve Jobs. Yes, we all know that he died of pancreatic caner. But did you know that he also had Type 1 diabetes!? Neither did I. Anyway, being Steve Jobs, he wanted something easier to help manage and track his test results, insulin intake, carbs... everything. So he took to creating a blood meter that hooks directly into the iPhone or iPod touch and has an app and everything.
It's so awesome! I have only had it for one day and it already is making life easier. I'm still doing a hard copy tracking but it's good for having the ability to email my diabetes care team my stats! How awesome! The app also allows me to set my meal time schedule. It's much better for diabetics to try and keep a schedule. It helps keep the blood sugars under control. So when I take my blood sugars, and then upload them to the app, they automatically dump into the right categories so I don't have to do it. Thank you Steve Jobs!
I guess buying the iPhone wasn't such a bad idea after all!
Anyway, the really awesome part of this story is the most awesome pharmacy EVVEER! My dietitian told me how I had the ability to get a free iBGstar. She told me about Medipharm. It's a specialty pharmacy that caters completely to diabetics. They work with manufacturers to get discounts and coupons on insulin, testing supplies, etc. It's a very small pharmacy, and they care about their patients. It's more than just making money for them. It's making sure that people are comfortable and getting the attention that they need. They let me rant about my experience with Dr. T and his office, about how I have felt so alone, everything.
One of the pharmacists brought me out magazines, pamphlets, a cook book full of diabetic recipes, glucose tablets, and glucose spread, etc. They were just so nice and so awesome! I'm excited about working with them with everything. I'm so excited that I have a care team that actually cares about me and what I am going through. YAY!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Crispy Oven-Baked Fish with Golden Potatoes
Oh my goodness! Dinner was AMAZING! Even Rob gave me the Best Wifey of the Year award for this dinner. Here's the shocker part of it... Rob doesn't normally like fish! And he LOVED it! I can't stress enough how much he loved this dish! But before I get to the recipe I need to make a plug for a product that was introduced to us:
We got these at Costco and they are by far the best things created ever! Ok maybe not that great, but they are pretty darn awesome! The fish come in their own packaging per loin and are so easy to manage AND they aren't fishy! What's even better about these is that you don't have to thaw them in order to cook them. You can pull them straight out of the packaging and put them in a skillet and cook them! AMAZING!
So a little thing about fish in your diet. Fish is rich in the GOOD fatty omega 3 oils. They help keep blood sugars under control as well as breaking down the bad fat in your blood! Fish= VERY healthy and good for you!
Now on to dinner! I got the original receipe from www.cornerstones4care.com. This has been my saving grace for the last 3 weeks. Without I wouldn't have done so well I think. Anyway I tweaked the recipe a bit the original. So I'm going to post my version.
And there it is! Oh so tasty dinner! Nommer Nommer noms!
And a close up for good measure!
Ingredients:
Potatoes:
1 tsp olive oil
5 cups red potatoes cut into thick wedges
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp of salt
Fish
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup rice krispies, ran through the food processor- or any means to get it crushed
2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese
1 1/2 tsp dill
1/2 tsp paprika
4 Tilapia loins
2 eggs
Sauce:
1/4 cup lemon jiuce
1 tbsp grated lemon peel
2 chopped green onions
1/4 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
Preheat the oven to 425. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray. In a large bowl, mix potatoes and olive oil. Mix potatoes until they are covered. Sprinkle the garlic powder and salt over the top. Mix the potatoes until the seasoning covers all of the potatoes. Spread on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
If you haven't already, crush the rice krispies. I like using my food processor to get it done quickly. Mix the cereal, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, dill and paprika. I like placing this on a paper plate (larger surface area, but also easier to clean up!) . In a small measuring glass or bowl, whisk the eggs. I like to transfer this over to a paper plate for the exact same reasons I like placing the breading on a paper plate. Cut the loins in half... if you feel like it. I always feel like I'm getting more when I have two pieces on my plate.... At this point, make sure you have another cookie sheet or cooking pan for the fish. Tonight I lined the bottom of my pan with parchment paper. It seemed to help keep the fish dry, unsticky and not coated in oil from the spray. Now that you have the pan ready, dip the fish in the egg wash first and then the breading. Place on the pan. Put the pan in the oven for the last 10 minutes the potatoes are cooking. (I've never had any kind of luck getting my timing right on this step. I just usually set another timer for 10 minutes)
Now while the potatoes and fish are finishing cooking, we're going to make the sauce. Grate some lemon peel, and chop two green onions. Mix the peel, green onions, lemon juice, yogurt, and sour cream. Viola! You have tasty fish sauce!
Serve the sauce over the fish. And there you have it! A tasty and healthy dinner! Add a salad or steamed broccoli and you have a well balanced and healthy meal! Here's the nutritional facts per serving (minus the vegetables):
Calories: 400
Carbs: 46 g
Fat: 5 g
Protein: 40 g
Fiber: 4 g
I'm not sure about the sodium only because the original recipe asks to use egg whites only and not the whole egg as well as a salt-free herb seasoning on the potatoes. but since I got this recipe from a site that caters to Type 2 diabetics, it doesn't apply to me completely. Most of the time Type 2 diabetics also have issues with high cholesterol, but I don't have the problem. In fact, that and normal blood pressure are what I have going for me right now.
Anyway enjoy the fish!
We got these at Costco and they are by far the best things created ever! Ok maybe not that great, but they are pretty darn awesome! The fish come in their own packaging per loin and are so easy to manage AND they aren't fishy! What's even better about these is that you don't have to thaw them in order to cook them. You can pull them straight out of the packaging and put them in a skillet and cook them! AMAZING!
So a little thing about fish in your diet. Fish is rich in the GOOD fatty omega 3 oils. They help keep blood sugars under control as well as breaking down the bad fat in your blood! Fish= VERY healthy and good for you!
Now on to dinner! I got the original receipe from www.cornerstones4care.com. This has been my saving grace for the last 3 weeks. Without I wouldn't have done so well I think. Anyway I tweaked the recipe a bit the original. So I'm going to post my version.
And there it is! Oh so tasty dinner! Nommer Nommer noms!
And a close up for good measure!
Ingredients:
Potatoes:
1 tsp olive oil
5 cups red potatoes cut into thick wedges
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp of salt
Fish
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup rice krispies, ran through the food processor- or any means to get it crushed
2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese
1 1/2 tsp dill
1/2 tsp paprika
4 Tilapia loins
2 eggs
Sauce:
1/4 cup lemon jiuce
1 tbsp grated lemon peel
2 chopped green onions
1/4 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
Preheat the oven to 425. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray. In a large bowl, mix potatoes and olive oil. Mix potatoes until they are covered. Sprinkle the garlic powder and salt over the top. Mix the potatoes until the seasoning covers all of the potatoes. Spread on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
If you haven't already, crush the rice krispies. I like using my food processor to get it done quickly. Mix the cereal, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, dill and paprika. I like placing this on a paper plate (larger surface area, but also easier to clean up!) . In a small measuring glass or bowl, whisk the eggs. I like to transfer this over to a paper plate for the exact same reasons I like placing the breading on a paper plate. Cut the loins in half... if you feel like it. I always feel like I'm getting more when I have two pieces on my plate.... At this point, make sure you have another cookie sheet or cooking pan for the fish. Tonight I lined the bottom of my pan with parchment paper. It seemed to help keep the fish dry, unsticky and not coated in oil from the spray. Now that you have the pan ready, dip the fish in the egg wash first and then the breading. Place on the pan. Put the pan in the oven for the last 10 minutes the potatoes are cooking. (I've never had any kind of luck getting my timing right on this step. I just usually set another timer for 10 minutes)
Now while the potatoes and fish are finishing cooking, we're going to make the sauce. Grate some lemon peel, and chop two green onions. Mix the peel, green onions, lemon juice, yogurt, and sour cream. Viola! You have tasty fish sauce!
Serve the sauce over the fish. And there you have it! A tasty and healthy dinner! Add a salad or steamed broccoli and you have a well balanced and healthy meal! Here's the nutritional facts per serving (minus the vegetables):
Calories: 400
Carbs: 46 g
Fat: 5 g
Protein: 40 g
Fiber: 4 g
I'm not sure about the sodium only because the original recipe asks to use egg whites only and not the whole egg as well as a salt-free herb seasoning on the potatoes. but since I got this recipe from a site that caters to Type 2 diabetics, it doesn't apply to me completely. Most of the time Type 2 diabetics also have issues with high cholesterol, but I don't have the problem. In fact, that and normal blood pressure are what I have going for me right now.
Anyway enjoy the fish!
My second Honeymoon
Yesterday I wrote about how I was not feeling well at all and how I couldn't keep my blood sugars up. Well I most definitely spoke WAY too soon. After dinner, I dropped so low I needed something sugary. So I ate a mini snickers bar and a fudgiscle. I tested my blood... I dropped a whole ten points! What the crap!? So I ate a piece of bread and two peanut butter ritz cracker sandwiches... I dropped another 10 points! I was freaking out! Why on earth could I not keep my blood sugars up!? I was almost to the point of going to the hospital until I realized that I needed something healthy yet packed with sugar.... FRUIT SMOOTHIE!!! Geez... took me long enough!
Anyway, I drank about 16 oz of the fruit smoothie and I finally was feeling better. I wasn't shaky anymore and I actually had some energy. Needless to say, last night was very scary and was NO fun whatsoever.
Fortunately, I had an appointment today with the diabetic dietitian. She was amazing! Answered my questions, gave me helpful tips and websites and apps, all to help me control and track my diabetes! AWESOME! However, the most important thing that I got out of my appointment today is that I am currently on my second honeymoon...
No not the kind of honeymoon you're thinking of. My pancreas is saying it's last hoorah, which is technically called the honeymoon period. Since I have been taking insulin to help my body out the last couple of weeks, my pancreas is finally getting a chance to take a breather. So once it's all rested it goes, "ok, let's do this!" and it produces insulin on it's own one last time. This period can last anywhere between 2 weeks and 3 months. There might actually come a time during the honeymoon phase that I won't have to take any insulin at meal times! That's exciting! I will only have to stab myself once a day... right before bed.
I'm thinking that I might want to have a last hoorah to my foods that I loved so much while I can. As Rob put it, I can have a proper goodbye to the foods that I love so much. I'm thinking that I might to get some friends together and cook a whole bunch of things, like cookies, brownies, cakes, etc. and have a little bit of everything. I don't want to use my hoorah day on just one thing. I need to get on this quick since I'm not sure how long this is going to last.
Also, there are going to be two posts tonight. I'm going to post about tonight's dinner. It was SUPER tasty.... stay tuned!
Anyway, I drank about 16 oz of the fruit smoothie and I finally was feeling better. I wasn't shaky anymore and I actually had some energy. Needless to say, last night was very scary and was NO fun whatsoever.
Fortunately, I had an appointment today with the diabetic dietitian. She was amazing! Answered my questions, gave me helpful tips and websites and apps, all to help me control and track my diabetes! AWESOME! However, the most important thing that I got out of my appointment today is that I am currently on my second honeymoon...
No not the kind of honeymoon you're thinking of. My pancreas is saying it's last hoorah, which is technically called the honeymoon period. Since I have been taking insulin to help my body out the last couple of weeks, my pancreas is finally getting a chance to take a breather. So once it's all rested it goes, "ok, let's do this!" and it produces insulin on it's own one last time. This period can last anywhere between 2 weeks and 3 months. There might actually come a time during the honeymoon phase that I won't have to take any insulin at meal times! That's exciting! I will only have to stab myself once a day... right before bed.
I'm thinking that I might want to have a last hoorah to my foods that I loved so much while I can. As Rob put it, I can have a proper goodbye to the foods that I love so much. I'm thinking that I might to get some friends together and cook a whole bunch of things, like cookies, brownies, cakes, etc. and have a little bit of everything. I don't want to use my hoorah day on just one thing. I need to get on this quick since I'm not sure how long this is going to last.
Also, there are going to be two posts tonight. I'm going to post about tonight's dinner. It was SUPER tasty.... stay tuned!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I need a hug
Today was probably the worst day since being diagnosed that I have had. This also includes my emotional breakdown that I had almost 2 weeks ago now, and trust me, that was bad. That day was only bad because I was dealing with a weeks worth a suppression of everything that I was going through. I didn't try to let it show that first week, but by the time I realized Dr. T wasn't going to give the attention I needed, that's when the reality of the severity of my condition hit me. I cried for almost an hour straight.
I have not cried today, but it's still easily the worst day that I have had. I have stuck to my diet really well, and have had great results. I was starting to get a bit more comfortable with the insulin injections, the food portions, not having sugar, etc. But today, I could not for the life of me keep my blood sugar levels up. I dipped so low, so quickly, it's like a roller coaster. I have felt so sick all day. Dizzy, nauseated, headache... All I could think all day was, "I need a hug". I still need a hug, and I'll get it from Rob at some point tonight. Maybe when he gets home from the store...
On the only bright side of the day is that I have had two very thin pieces of pumpkin pound cake, and a raspberry jelly filled donut. Yes that's right, I intentionally spiked my sugar. Like my doctor said, better for my blood to be high than I drop and slip into a hypoglycemic coma. Oh the joys of being diabetic! So now, I feel like crap because my blood sugars are too high. I'm so frustrated that I've been doing so well with my sugar levels that today sucked. I haven't been able to control it. I know there are going to be days like this, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating.
Some of you may be thinking, "hey, be happy! You get to have sugar to elevate your levels"... What I did today was stupid and not the right way to try to get my sugars back up. But I was desperate to feel better, but to no avail. I can't wait until tomorrow and I can see my dietitian. I'm excited to gain a better knowledge on how to control this. I'm sure there are going to be some food blogs coming soon. (Of course when I say some, I mean a WHOLE lot) I think it's important that people know that eating healthy can be delicious. You wouldn't believe it! And lastly, something to help me cheer up... one of the cutest picture of Autumn (though every picture of her is so darn cute!
I have not cried today, but it's still easily the worst day that I have had. I have stuck to my diet really well, and have had great results. I was starting to get a bit more comfortable with the insulin injections, the food portions, not having sugar, etc. But today, I could not for the life of me keep my blood sugar levels up. I dipped so low, so quickly, it's like a roller coaster. I have felt so sick all day. Dizzy, nauseated, headache... All I could think all day was, "I need a hug". I still need a hug, and I'll get it from Rob at some point tonight. Maybe when he gets home from the store...
On the only bright side of the day is that I have had two very thin pieces of pumpkin pound cake, and a raspberry jelly filled donut. Yes that's right, I intentionally spiked my sugar. Like my doctor said, better for my blood to be high than I drop and slip into a hypoglycemic coma. Oh the joys of being diabetic! So now, I feel like crap because my blood sugars are too high. I'm so frustrated that I've been doing so well with my sugar levels that today sucked. I haven't been able to control it. I know there are going to be days like this, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating.
Some of you may be thinking, "hey, be happy! You get to have sugar to elevate your levels"... What I did today was stupid and not the right way to try to get my sugars back up. But I was desperate to feel better, but to no avail. I can't wait until tomorrow and I can see my dietitian. I'm excited to gain a better knowledge on how to control this. I'm sure there are going to be some food blogs coming soon. (Of course when I say some, I mean a WHOLE lot) I think it's important that people know that eating healthy can be delicious. You wouldn't believe it! And lastly, something to help me cheer up... one of the cutest picture of Autumn (though every picture of her is so darn cute!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Frustration, Negligence, Manners, and Big Scores!
So today's post is going to be a bit more on the ranting side. As a new diabetic, there are going to be some of these kind of days and posts. So as I have stated is previous posts, Dr. T hasn't talked to me since essentially he diagnosed me. This is still frustrating to me, especially since I still have to deal with his office. ARGH! I went into the office today to ask for my records. I need them for Dr. W. He asked for them at our last appointment to see what Dr. T did. I don't really blame Dr. T for all the office side of this, but he is responsible for the negligence. Anyway, I asked for my records via this patient portal thing that the clinic offers. I did that last week, and well I haven't had any response; hence, my going into the office today. So there I am at the counter asking for my records and the receptionist gives me this spill of "Well, legally we have 30 days to process that request." GREAT! It's going to be one of these transactions! I curtly, but no rudely tell her that I am seeing a different doctor and he needs my records. She can see that I'm frustrated and that it's most likely Dr. T's fault why I am going to a different doctor. So she tells me to have a seat and that she'll see what she can do.
10 minutes pass... Yes, you read that right, 10. She finally calls me up to the desk to hand me a form for me to fill out. Now I'm angry! I mean seriously! First, she couldn't have just given that to me first!? Even if she didn't know that I needed to fill that out, she could have preemptively given me the form to fill out while I was waiting those 10 minutes. Second, WHAT IN THIS WORLD takes you 10 minutes to check if I have that form filled out. Third and final thing, why on earth do you think it's ok to be rude and to talk about me to the other receptionists, whether you are whispering or not? I mean I was watching you! I saw your body language and I knew what you were saying. Yes I am annoyed that I am having to do this and still have to work things out with your clinic! But you're doctor, that you worked for, is really the root cause of all of this. He hasn't talked to me in over 2 weeks! He was trying to treat me like a Type 2 diabetic! DANGEROUS! NEGLECTFUL! I do not recommend the Foothill Family Clinic to anyone! VERY unprofessional! Rude, frustrating and neglectful!
However, two wonderful things this weekend! I scored a $45 jogging stroller off of KSL! Isn't it a beauty! I have already taken Autumn on 3 runs around the block and she loves it! She's always encouraging me to go faster. "Faster Mommy! Faster!" Love it!
Last but most certainly not least, Rob scored RSL box tickets for the second time this season from his Company! YAY! Love Real Salt Lake! Even though they lost. It was a good game, even though they got 3 yellow cards within the first 20 minutes! Haha! Oh love the RSL fans! They chanted "You suck Ref!" plus some other chants that I will not post, because of the audience. They may not have found it as funny as we did. But yes, regardless of the frustrations encountered with the doctor's office, It's still been a good weekend and I will not let that bring me down!
10 minutes pass... Yes, you read that right, 10. She finally calls me up to the desk to hand me a form for me to fill out. Now I'm angry! I mean seriously! First, she couldn't have just given that to me first!? Even if she didn't know that I needed to fill that out, she could have preemptively given me the form to fill out while I was waiting those 10 minutes. Second, WHAT IN THIS WORLD takes you 10 minutes to check if I have that form filled out. Third and final thing, why on earth do you think it's ok to be rude and to talk about me to the other receptionists, whether you are whispering or not? I mean I was watching you! I saw your body language and I knew what you were saying. Yes I am annoyed that I am having to do this and still have to work things out with your clinic! But you're doctor, that you worked for, is really the root cause of all of this. He hasn't talked to me in over 2 weeks! He was trying to treat me like a Type 2 diabetic! DANGEROUS! NEGLECTFUL! I do not recommend the Foothill Family Clinic to anyone! VERY unprofessional! Rude, frustrating and neglectful!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Blessing in Disguise
I have to be grateful for what's happened over the last couple of weeks. All things considered, things could have been a lot worse. Rob and I could have decided not to have a baby and I would never have gotten my IUD out and had that urine test that resulted in the glucose test that ultimately diagnosed me. Most of the time for Type 1 diabetics, they end up in the hospital because they get so sick their blood sugars raise too high. That's when they usually find out. My best childhood friend was exactly like that. Out of the blue, she ended up in the hospital and was immediately diagnosed with type 1. That could have been me.
So I am grateful that I found out early on and didn't land in the hospital. I mean I haven't been feeling all that well for the last 3-4 months and I was on the verge of going to the doctor to figure out why I was so tired all of the time. I thought that it was work coupled with a UTI. Obviously I was WAY wrong. If Rob and I hadn't gotten our answer to many prayers about having children, I probably wouldn't have gone to the doctor for quite some time, if at all and landed in the hospital.
So despite that I have this disease, and despite I have to shot up 4 times a day, I'm grateful that I didn't have to go to the hospital and make this a lot worse. I'm also grateful that Rob and I didn't have the chance to get pregnant before we found out. Our plans our now pushed back at least a year, but if we got pregnant and I didn't know, then there would have been a lot more risks that I wouldn't have known about. So I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for answering my prayers in odd way. I'm grateful to Him for looking out for my health and knowing me so well that He knew I wouldn't have gone to a doctor before it was too late. While our plans are pushed back for the time being, I'm grateful that I have the ability and the chance to being a healthier child into this world than if I had gotten pregnant before knowing. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that loves me!
So I am grateful that I found out early on and didn't land in the hospital. I mean I haven't been feeling all that well for the last 3-4 months and I was on the verge of going to the doctor to figure out why I was so tired all of the time. I thought that it was work coupled with a UTI. Obviously I was WAY wrong. If Rob and I hadn't gotten our answer to many prayers about having children, I probably wouldn't have gone to the doctor for quite some time, if at all and landed in the hospital.
So despite that I have this disease, and despite I have to shot up 4 times a day, I'm grateful that I didn't have to go to the hospital and make this a lot worse. I'm also grateful that Rob and I didn't have the chance to get pregnant before we found out. Our plans our now pushed back at least a year, but if we got pregnant and I didn't know, then there would have been a lot more risks that I wouldn't have known about. So I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for answering my prayers in odd way. I'm grateful to Him for looking out for my health and knowing me so well that He knew I wouldn't have gone to a doctor before it was too late. While our plans are pushed back for the time being, I'm grateful that I have the ability and the chance to being a healthier child into this world than if I had gotten pregnant before knowing. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that loves me!
Friday, August 17, 2012
Type 1 vs Type 2
While I had gestation diabetes with Autumn, I didn't quite have the knowledge that I needed. My nutritionist with the midwife clinic backwoods Idaho didn't really give me much to go on. In fact, she hardly told me what I needed to do. She gave me this list of certain servings I could have per meal. Such as 3 carbs, 1 meat, 1 fruit, etc. I didn't understand what that meant. AND on top of it, it seemed like a lot of servings. Again, not a lot of information. If she did give me the correct information, then she poorly explained things.
That's exactly how I felt when being diagnosed by Dr. T (not the awesome doctor, but the one that hasn't talked to me for 2 weeks now!). No answers, especially when it came to the diet. I feel like he gave me insulin to cover his butt; not really help me. He got lucky though. He told me to take 9 units in the morning before breakfast and 7 units at night before dinner. I was a roller coast with my blood sugars for about a week and a half until I saw Dr. W. What makes me more frustrated about Dr. T more than him not talking to me is that he wanted to treat me like I was a Type 2 diabetic. Which, if you're type 1 like me, can be very dangerous! Now to the point of my post:
Type 1 diabetics: It doesn't matter if you're over weight, under weight, eat healthy, eat poorly, you exercise or you don't exercise. You're body just stops producing Insulin on it's own. Essentially your body's immune system attacks the cells the produce insulin. Insulin is very important for your body to digest the sugars (or glucose) that you eat. Insulin helps push the sugars into the blood cells so that you're body can use it as energy. Which is why I was so tired all of the time. My body couldn't use the sugars. There is a natural way to help you push the sugars into your blood cells, but for Type 1 diabetics, it helps, but doesn't solve the problem. When you exercise your body uses the energy from the blood cells and burns it, thus forcing the sugars that haven't been pushed into the cells, into the blood cells to be used as energy. Type 1 usually onsets in children and young adulthood. There is no prevention. It just happens and doctors aren't sure what triggers it.
Thus taking us to Type 2: While Type 2 is somewhat preventable, it is not always. Type 2 diabetes is when your body produces low insulin and/or doesn't use the insulin properly. Most people can manage the diabetes with diet and exercise. However, there are people that dependent on pills that help your body produce more insulin, or they are just straight up on insulin. Type 2 diabetes also usually is onset in adults that are overweight. However, Type 2 is beginning to become more common in children as well. This should be concerning for new parents and be a warning to them to not let their kids eat anything they want. Diabetes is VERY serious.
For both types of diabetes though, if it runs in the family, you're risk is MUCH higher to getting it. Specifically the type of diabetes that runs in the family. For me, Type 2 runs in the family-- on both sides. So getting diagnosed as Type 1 was a HUGE shocker!
There are also major health issues other than your body not producing insulin. Higher risk for heart disease, stroke, foot and leg amputations, eye problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, etc. But it could easily be managed so long as I manage my blood sugars. I really don't want to have these issues and am really motivated by it.
So below are the two links that I needed help to fill in the gaps of my knowledge on the difference between Type 1 and Type 2. (which wasn't a whole lot because I have been researching the difference for weeks). I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't giving false information. But here you have it, The difference.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-center/diabetes-differences-between-type-1-and-2.aspx
http://www.puristat.com/diabetes/default.aspx
That's exactly how I felt when being diagnosed by Dr. T (not the awesome doctor, but the one that hasn't talked to me for 2 weeks now!). No answers, especially when it came to the diet. I feel like he gave me insulin to cover his butt; not really help me. He got lucky though. He told me to take 9 units in the morning before breakfast and 7 units at night before dinner. I was a roller coast with my blood sugars for about a week and a half until I saw Dr. W. What makes me more frustrated about Dr. T more than him not talking to me is that he wanted to treat me like I was a Type 2 diabetic. Which, if you're type 1 like me, can be very dangerous! Now to the point of my post:
Type 1 diabetics: It doesn't matter if you're over weight, under weight, eat healthy, eat poorly, you exercise or you don't exercise. You're body just stops producing Insulin on it's own. Essentially your body's immune system attacks the cells the produce insulin. Insulin is very important for your body to digest the sugars (or glucose) that you eat. Insulin helps push the sugars into the blood cells so that you're body can use it as energy. Which is why I was so tired all of the time. My body couldn't use the sugars. There is a natural way to help you push the sugars into your blood cells, but for Type 1 diabetics, it helps, but doesn't solve the problem. When you exercise your body uses the energy from the blood cells and burns it, thus forcing the sugars that haven't been pushed into the cells, into the blood cells to be used as energy. Type 1 usually onsets in children and young adulthood. There is no prevention. It just happens and doctors aren't sure what triggers it.
Thus taking us to Type 2: While Type 2 is somewhat preventable, it is not always. Type 2 diabetes is when your body produces low insulin and/or doesn't use the insulin properly. Most people can manage the diabetes with diet and exercise. However, there are people that dependent on pills that help your body produce more insulin, or they are just straight up on insulin. Type 2 diabetes also usually is onset in adults that are overweight. However, Type 2 is beginning to become more common in children as well. This should be concerning for new parents and be a warning to them to not let their kids eat anything they want. Diabetes is VERY serious.
For both types of diabetes though, if it runs in the family, you're risk is MUCH higher to getting it. Specifically the type of diabetes that runs in the family. For me, Type 2 runs in the family-- on both sides. So getting diagnosed as Type 1 was a HUGE shocker!
There are also major health issues other than your body not producing insulin. Higher risk for heart disease, stroke, foot and leg amputations, eye problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, etc. But it could easily be managed so long as I manage my blood sugars. I really don't want to have these issues and am really motivated by it.
So below are the two links that I needed help to fill in the gaps of my knowledge on the difference between Type 1 and Type 2. (which wasn't a whole lot because I have been researching the difference for weeks). I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't giving false information. But here you have it, The difference.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-center/diabetes-differences-between-type-1-and-2.aspx
http://www.puristat.com/diabetes/default.aspx
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Maple Bars and Mini Fridges
I can't believe how much people pry. I mean complete strangers asking me why I can't have a maple bar, or why I am returning a monstrous mini-fridge just barely after buying one.
So Friday before my appointment, I had to fill up with gas. I went in to get a soda, because I had a feeling that it was going to be a long day and I needed the caffeine to help me wake up a bit. As I was checking out, the attendant offered me a maple bar. I responded, "Oh no thank you. I can't have that." He then proceeded to pry into why I couldn't have it and just couldn't help but put his two cents in. I eventually told him that I have diabetes and that I was just barely diagnosed. Then he began to tell me his life story and about his daughter and how she was diagnosed when she was a little kid. Sorry, but not entirely the same thing. I'm not entirely sure why, but I was quite annoyed.
On Monday, among my various adventures with my dear best friend, we went shopping for a mini-fridge for my desk at work. I need to keep my insulin cold, and since I work 9 hour days, an ice pack in a cooler just isn't going to last. Anyway, we went to Wal-Mart and found a mini-fridge that was small, but could still hold more than I was looking for. I just wanted something very small. After we bought it, I seemed to remember a smaller one at Target. So we headed over to Target and sure enough there was something smaller and cheaper. SCORE! Back to Wal-mart we went with their mini-fridge to return it. The guy that helped me get the fridge from the back earlier that morning had wondered up to the front for returns at the exact same moment that I was returning the fridge. He looked at me and said "really!?". I just smiled and said, "Yes! I found something smaller and cheaper." He then began to pry: "Where did you find something smaller?" "Sounds like you just need a powered cooler." etc. all the way down to "What do you need something that small for?" To which I responded, "I need to keep my insulin cool at my desk at work." At this point, I was no longer amused and quite frustrated. I think that it was showing on my face, because after I had said that, the guy shut up and gave me the "oh... crap, I shouldn't have pried"-face.
WHY do people pry and then when I tell them that I have this disease they get uncomfortable? You're prying and prying to get me to tell you and then when I do, you become all awkward! Oh geez! I mean, Diabetes is not a death sentence unless I want to make it one. I have the choice to live a healthy rewarding life. Unfortunately it means that I'm shooting up insulin 4 times a day, but a small price to pay when I can have a rich rewarding life with family.
I'm also kind of tired of everyone feeling sorry for me. Yes it sucks! It sucks that I can't eat whenever and whatever I want to. It sucks that I have to stick myself 4 times a day in order for my body to do it's thing properly. It sucks, I get it. Yes, I also get that it's very rare for someone my age to be diagnosed with Type 1. Yes! I know! It's freaking ridiculous! I don't get it, I don't know why now. I don't know what triggered it. I just know that I need to make the best of this and I need to keep my spirits up no matter what.
So I guess my rant is mainly this. I'm fine; I'm dealing with this. I'm going to have good days and bad days. It's just what is going to happen. I'm having to relearn who I am (yes I know I'm exactly the same person as I was before) with this disease. So I don't need people to treat me like I'm dying or even giving me motivational speeches (unless I ask for one). I just need people to treat me like they always have. I still need to feel like a human being. That's the biggest thing you can do for me. Make me feel normal and like my disease does not rule my life.
So Friday before my appointment, I had to fill up with gas. I went in to get a soda, because I had a feeling that it was going to be a long day and I needed the caffeine to help me wake up a bit. As I was checking out, the attendant offered me a maple bar. I responded, "Oh no thank you. I can't have that." He then proceeded to pry into why I couldn't have it and just couldn't help but put his two cents in. I eventually told him that I have diabetes and that I was just barely diagnosed. Then he began to tell me his life story and about his daughter and how she was diagnosed when she was a little kid. Sorry, but not entirely the same thing. I'm not entirely sure why, but I was quite annoyed.
On Monday, among my various adventures with my dear best friend, we went shopping for a mini-fridge for my desk at work. I need to keep my insulin cold, and since I work 9 hour days, an ice pack in a cooler just isn't going to last. Anyway, we went to Wal-Mart and found a mini-fridge that was small, but could still hold more than I was looking for. I just wanted something very small. After we bought it, I seemed to remember a smaller one at Target. So we headed over to Target and sure enough there was something smaller and cheaper. SCORE! Back to Wal-mart we went with their mini-fridge to return it. The guy that helped me get the fridge from the back earlier that morning had wondered up to the front for returns at the exact same moment that I was returning the fridge. He looked at me and said "really!?". I just smiled and said, "Yes! I found something smaller and cheaper." He then began to pry: "Where did you find something smaller?" "Sounds like you just need a powered cooler." etc. all the way down to "What do you need something that small for?" To which I responded, "I need to keep my insulin cool at my desk at work." At this point, I was no longer amused and quite frustrated. I think that it was showing on my face, because after I had said that, the guy shut up and gave me the "oh... crap, I shouldn't have pried"-face.
WHY do people pry and then when I tell them that I have this disease they get uncomfortable? You're prying and prying to get me to tell you and then when I do, you become all awkward! Oh geez! I mean, Diabetes is not a death sentence unless I want to make it one. I have the choice to live a healthy rewarding life. Unfortunately it means that I'm shooting up insulin 4 times a day, but a small price to pay when I can have a rich rewarding life with family.
I'm also kind of tired of everyone feeling sorry for me. Yes it sucks! It sucks that I can't eat whenever and whatever I want to. It sucks that I have to stick myself 4 times a day in order for my body to do it's thing properly. It sucks, I get it. Yes, I also get that it's very rare for someone my age to be diagnosed with Type 1. Yes! I know! It's freaking ridiculous! I don't get it, I don't know why now. I don't know what triggered it. I just know that I need to make the best of this and I need to keep my spirits up no matter what.
So I guess my rant is mainly this. I'm fine; I'm dealing with this. I'm going to have good days and bad days. It's just what is going to happen. I'm having to relearn who I am (yes I know I'm exactly the same person as I was before) with this disease. So I don't need people to treat me like I'm dying or even giving me motivational speeches (unless I ask for one). I just need people to treat me like they always have. I still need to feel like a human being. That's the biggest thing you can do for me. Make me feel normal and like my disease does not rule my life.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Starting Out/Diagnosing Story
So I was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The last three weeks of my life have been tossed up, turned about, with slap after slap after slap in the face from doctors and tests. I have been poked with more needles in the past 3 weeks than I have in my WHOLE life. For those that don't know me, I'm DEATHLY afraid of needles.... well not as much anymore. More just those that have to poke me other than myself.
A little side story here. September 2011, I noticed that I had gained a little too much weight. This was concerning because I had gestational diabetes. It was very mild and didn't require medicine. I was able to control my blood sugars with diet and exercise. In fact, I would often wake up in the 40's and 50's (that's very close to hypoglycemic coma levels). I would obviously remedy that by eating sugar to get it up, but the point is I controlled it. It was easy to control. However, I was now at a higher risk to be type 2 diabetic for the next 10 years. I would have to be very careful of my weight and diet and the amount of sugar that I ate. So in September, after I had noticed that amount of weight I had gain (I was only 5 pounds overweight) I knew I had to do something. I changed my diet and I started exercising. I lost a whopping 25 pounds and 2 pant sizes! Then May 2012 came around and was probably the most stressful months I had in a LONG time. I was tired all of the time, drinking a LOT of water and going to the bathroom almost every 2-3 hours. This should have been my first warning sign. But I stopped exercising and started stress eating. But I was still losing weight. I lost an additional 5 pounds. I just thought that I had kicked my metabolism into high gear and I wouldn't have to worry about that kind of thing anymore. That should have been my second clue. My last clue was that I was not healing as fast I ought to have been. It took me almost a month and half to heal a small wound on my leg, and now there is a huge scar from where it was.
Now on to the regularly programmed story: So let's begin about a month and a half ago. Rob and I had decided that we would try to get pregnant again. Autumn just turned 2 in May and we didn't want our kids too spread out, but not close together either. I was using an IUD for birth control for the last year and was scheduled to get it out three weeks ago yesterday. Well everything went fine with the removal with one exception. I experienced some pain that concerned the doctor. He was concerned that I had an infection that would have caused sterility. I was completely devastated. He had blood work done to check for red blood cell count and white blood cell count to look for infection; as well as a urine test, to check for UTI (which I am very prone to having). My blood work came back normal with no sign of infection. However, they forgot to take a culture for my urine test to see what strain of bacteria was growing, if it was growing.
I had to go back in to the doctor's office for more blood work and another urine test to check and see if I had gotten worse and my blood cell counts had dropped out of normal counts. That's when they noticed the absurd amount of sugar passing through my urine. They called me in after the weekend to have a glucose test done. I read 267 three hours after eating. For those that don't know, you should be back down around 120 two hours after reading. My doctor immediately diagnosed me as diabetic, but wouldn't tell me what type I was. He insisted that we wouldn't know for 4-6 weeks, until I got my blood sugars under control. He was going to perform a test that if my blood sugars were out of control would throw it completely out of whack and give a false reading.
This doctor hasn't talked to me in almost 2 weeks! He gave me insulin and told me to take it morning and night. My blood sugars would drop sooooo sticking low before lunch and I would start shaking and feeling like I would almost pass out. But then I would spike after lunch! I told his MA that I was concerned about this, but they obviously weren't concerned. I had enough with not knowing what was going on, not knowing what Type of diabetic I was, and not getting the attention I needed from this doctor. So I started looking for a new doctor. I was referred to this AMAZING doctor from some co-workers.
We had the appointment on Friday morning. I learned more information in 30 minutes with this doctor (who we shall call Dr. W) than I had when I was pregnant and from the other doctor combined! The doctor walked into the room and I told him what was going on and before I could even finish, we point blank told me that I was Type 1. He said that there was no way I was type 2. I am young (23) and I am skinny and well within the acceptable BMI chart range (I weigh 130 at 5' 6"). He gave me instructions with taking insulin that has kept my numbers better under control. I cannot believe the difference in the way that I feel. I feel more energetic and more motivated than I have in months! This is very exciting for me. I thought that being tired was from being a working mother while supporting a husband through school. But now I know better. And I am so glad.
So why am I writing about this very personal matter? Because, I don't want to feel alone and hopefully another diabetic will find this blog and help me not feel alone. Also, I need to be able to express myself and understand my feelings and write it out. So this will be my journey through learning how to better manage my diabetes. Including recipes that I found that are SUPER tasty, but surprisingly healthy! So welcome to my journey!
A little side story here. September 2011, I noticed that I had gained a little too much weight. This was concerning because I had gestational diabetes. It was very mild and didn't require medicine. I was able to control my blood sugars with diet and exercise. In fact, I would often wake up in the 40's and 50's (that's very close to hypoglycemic coma levels). I would obviously remedy that by eating sugar to get it up, but the point is I controlled it. It was easy to control. However, I was now at a higher risk to be type 2 diabetic for the next 10 years. I would have to be very careful of my weight and diet and the amount of sugar that I ate. So in September, after I had noticed that amount of weight I had gain (I was only 5 pounds overweight) I knew I had to do something. I changed my diet and I started exercising. I lost a whopping 25 pounds and 2 pant sizes! Then May 2012 came around and was probably the most stressful months I had in a LONG time. I was tired all of the time, drinking a LOT of water and going to the bathroom almost every 2-3 hours. This should have been my first warning sign. But I stopped exercising and started stress eating. But I was still losing weight. I lost an additional 5 pounds. I just thought that I had kicked my metabolism into high gear and I wouldn't have to worry about that kind of thing anymore. That should have been my second clue. My last clue was that I was not healing as fast I ought to have been. It took me almost a month and half to heal a small wound on my leg, and now there is a huge scar from where it was.
Now on to the regularly programmed story: So let's begin about a month and a half ago. Rob and I had decided that we would try to get pregnant again. Autumn just turned 2 in May and we didn't want our kids too spread out, but not close together either. I was using an IUD for birth control for the last year and was scheduled to get it out three weeks ago yesterday. Well everything went fine with the removal with one exception. I experienced some pain that concerned the doctor. He was concerned that I had an infection that would have caused sterility. I was completely devastated. He had blood work done to check for red blood cell count and white blood cell count to look for infection; as well as a urine test, to check for UTI (which I am very prone to having). My blood work came back normal with no sign of infection. However, they forgot to take a culture for my urine test to see what strain of bacteria was growing, if it was growing.
I had to go back in to the doctor's office for more blood work and another urine test to check and see if I had gotten worse and my blood cell counts had dropped out of normal counts. That's when they noticed the absurd amount of sugar passing through my urine. They called me in after the weekend to have a glucose test done. I read 267 three hours after eating. For those that don't know, you should be back down around 120 two hours after reading. My doctor immediately diagnosed me as diabetic, but wouldn't tell me what type I was. He insisted that we wouldn't know for 4-6 weeks, until I got my blood sugars under control. He was going to perform a test that if my blood sugars were out of control would throw it completely out of whack and give a false reading.
This doctor hasn't talked to me in almost 2 weeks! He gave me insulin and told me to take it morning and night. My blood sugars would drop sooooo sticking low before lunch and I would start shaking and feeling like I would almost pass out. But then I would spike after lunch! I told his MA that I was concerned about this, but they obviously weren't concerned. I had enough with not knowing what was going on, not knowing what Type of diabetic I was, and not getting the attention I needed from this doctor. So I started looking for a new doctor. I was referred to this AMAZING doctor from some co-workers.
We had the appointment on Friday morning. I learned more information in 30 minutes with this doctor (who we shall call Dr. W) than I had when I was pregnant and from the other doctor combined! The doctor walked into the room and I told him what was going on and before I could even finish, we point blank told me that I was Type 1. He said that there was no way I was type 2. I am young (23) and I am skinny and well within the acceptable BMI chart range (I weigh 130 at 5' 6"). He gave me instructions with taking insulin that has kept my numbers better under control. I cannot believe the difference in the way that I feel. I feel more energetic and more motivated than I have in months! This is very exciting for me. I thought that being tired was from being a working mother while supporting a husband through school. But now I know better. And I am so glad.
So why am I writing about this very personal matter? Because, I don't want to feel alone and hopefully another diabetic will find this blog and help me not feel alone. Also, I need to be able to express myself and understand my feelings and write it out. So this will be my journey through learning how to better manage my diabetes. Including recipes that I found that are SUPER tasty, but surprisingly healthy! So welcome to my journey!
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